News…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Culture and History and the West Virginia Commission on the Arts continue to accept nominations for the 2014 Governor’s Arts Awards. All West Virginians are encouraged to nominate individual artists, organizations and communities in five categories. Nominations must be postmarked by Feb. 21 or hand delivered to Robin Hodge, The Culture Center, 1900 Kanawha Blvd., E. in Charleston by the same date.

The award categories are Arts in Education Award to recognize efforts to strengthen arts education in West Virginia public schools; Distinguished Service Award to the Arts to recognize individuals and organizations of exceptional talent and creativity that have fostered growth and influenced trends and aesthetic practices on a state and national level; Leadership in the Arts Award to recognize individuals and organizations that have demonstrated exceptional leadership and access to the arts throughout the state; Artist of the Year Award to recognize an individual artist who has impacted the exposure to the arts in West Virginia through his or her work; and Governor’s Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement to recognize an individual or organization for significant achievement in the arts.

A ceremony and gala to present the awards will be held in the spring at the Culture Center, State Capitol Complex in Charleston.

Nomination forms are available online at www.wvculture.org/arts/artsindex.aspx or by contacting Hodge at (304) 558-0240, ext. 155.

For more information about the Governor’s Arts Awards, contact Renée Margocee, arts director, at (304) 558-0240, ext. 145 or by email at Renee.Margocee@wv.gov.

The West Virginia Division of Culture and History is an agency within the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts with Kay Goodwin, Cabinet Secretary. The division, led by Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith, brings together the past, present and future through programs and services focusing on archives and history, arts, historic preservation and museums. For more information about the division’s programs, events and sites, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

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