The 2011 awards, "Enumerating My Distractions,"
are linoleum block prints hand painted
by artist John Lackey
of Lexington, Ky.

On October 20, 2011, Gov. Steven L. Beshear and the Kentucky Arts Council cordially invite you to join in the celebration of the 2011 Governor's Awards in the Arts in the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort.

The Governor’s Awards in the Arts are the Commonwealth’s highest honor in the arts, recognizing individuals, organizations and businesses that have made extraordinary and significant contributions to the arts in Kentucky. The Kentucky Arts Council coordinates the nomination process for the nine categories of awards.

The Artist Award recognizes a lifetime of achievement in the arts by an artist in any discipline who is a resident of Kentucky.

The Business Award honors a Kentucky business or business person for outstanding interest in and support of the arts.

The Community Arts Award is awarded to a Kentucky individual or organization that has made a positive impact on the community through the arts.

The Education Award for significant contributions to the arts in education is awarded to a Kentucky individual, school or organization.

The Folk Heritage Award is presented to an individual resident of Kentucky, an organization located in Kentucky, or an individual or organization closely related to Kentucky that has made an outstanding effort to perpetuate and promote Kentucky’s unique artistic traditions.

The Government Award for significant support for the arts through government action is awarded to a Kentucky son or daughter, an individual Kentucky resident or an agency located in Kentucky.

The Media Award honors a Kentucky journalist or a media organization in Kentucky that has shown outstanding commitment to bringing the arts to the attention of the public.

The National Award is awarded to a Kentucky son or daughter who has achieved national acclaim in the arts.

The Milner Award was established in 1977 in honor of B. Hudson Milner, a Louisville utility executive and civic leader, whose contributions to the arts in Kentucky remain important to this day. The Milner Award is presented to individual Kentucky residents or organizations located in Kentucky for outstanding philanthropic, artistic or other contributions to the arts. The Milner Award is the most prestigious of the Governor’s Awards in the Arts.