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Governor’s Awards in the Arts

Governor’s Awards in the Arts

Each year the Kentucky Arts Council coordinates the presentation of the Governor’s Awards in the Arts, which recognize individuals and organizations who have made extraordinary and significant contributions to the arts in Kentucky. 

Awards go to artists, arts organizations, art critics, volunteers, schools, educators, local governments, elected officials and corporate citizens. The Kentucky Arts Council solicits nominations for these awards and coordinates the panel selection process, and the awards are presented by the Governor of Kentucky. Each year the arts council commissions a Kentucky artist to create custom works of art to serve as the awards.

Continuing the tradition of recognizing Kentuckians, businesses and arts organizations for outstanding contribution to, achievement in and support of the arts, the Kentucky Arts Council is proud to announce the 2024 Governor’s Awards in the Arts recipients.

Thursday, Nov 21, 2024 at 2:30 p.m.
Capitol Rotunda
700 Capital Ave.
Frankfort, Ky.

The recipients of the commonwealth’s most distinguished awards in the arts are:

The Governor’s Milner Award is awarded to individuals and organizations in Kentucky for their outstanding philanthropic or other contributions to the arts. 

The Governor’s Artist Award is a Lifetime Achievement award in the arts presented to an individual and groups of artists.

The Governor’s Community Arts Award for Organizations is awarded to recognize outstanding interest in and support of the arts.

The Governor’s Community Arts Award for Individual Artists is awarded to recognize the positive impact they have made in the community through the arts.

The Governor’s Education Award is awarded to teachers, schools and organizations who have made significant contributions to arts in education.

The Governor’s Folk Heritage Award is awarded to individuals, groups, and organizations for their outstanding effort to perpetuate and promote Kentucky’s unique artistic traditions.

The Governor’s Government Award is awarded to individuals and Kentucky government agencies for significant support for the arts through government action.

The Governor’s Media Award is awarded to journalists for their commitment to bringing the arts to the attention of the public.

The Governor’s National Award is  an achievement of national prominence awarded to individuals of, or closely related to, Kentucky.

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