2025 Governor's Arts Awards

The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism has three major divisions: Arkansas State Parks, Arkansas Heritage and Arkansas Tourism. Arkansas State Parks manages 52 state parks and promotes Arkansas as a tourist destination for people around the country. Arkansas Heritage preserves and promotes Arkansas’s natural and cultural history and heritage through four historic museums and four cultural preservation agencies. Arkansas Tourism improves the state’s economy by promoting travel and enhancing the image of the state. In addition to the three major divisions, ADPHT also includes the Office of Outdoor Recreation.

Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism

The Arkansas Arts Council's Luncheon and Awards Ceremony

Robinson Center

GetSmART! Learning Series

GetSmART! Learning Series workshops and webinars offer business and professional development for creatives and arts organizations.

<p>Come honor artists, arts educators, and arts supporters during the Governor’s Arts Awards at noon Friday, March 7, at the Robinson Center in Little Rock.</p><p>"The Governor's Arts Awards are bestowed upon those artists, philanthropists and educator who have helped build and strengthen Arkansas' thriving creative communities," said Shea Lewis, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. "It's our annual opportunity to showcase these leaders' contributions to Arkansas' creative economy and quality of life."</p><p>Short films about the award recipients will be unveiled during the ceremony. Artists and arts patrons will speak about their work and accept one-of-a-kind artworks created by glass artist Ed Pennebaker of Clinton, Arkansas.</p><p>Tickets to attend the luncheon are $40 each. The deadline to purchase tickets is February 24, 2025.</p><p>Governor’s Arts Awards recipients are nominated by the public, then selected by an independent panel of arts professionals from around the state. Nominees are judged, in part, on the significance of their contributions and achievements in the arts.</p><h3><strong><strong>This year’s awardees are:</strong></strong></h3><ul><li>Mayor Robert "Butch" Berry of Eureka Springs - Arts Community Development Award</li><li>TheatreSquared of Fayetteville - Arts in Education Award</li><li>Proctor &amp; Gamble in Fayetteville- Corporate Sponsorship of the Arts Award</li><li>Northwest Arkansas Handweavers Guild in Springdale - Folklife Award</li><li>Suzanne Underwood Rhodes of Fayetteville - Individual Artist Award</li><li>The Dulcimer Shoppe in Mountain View - Judges Recognition Award</li><li>Brigita Gardner of Roland - Patron Award</li><li>Becky Witsell of Little Rock - Lifetime Achievement Award</li></ul><p>For more information visit ArkansasArts.org or contact Cheri Leffew, special events-projects manager, at 501-324-9767 / <a href="mailto:cheri.leffew@arkansas.gov" title="mailto:cheri.leffew@arkansas.gov" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">cheri.leffew@arkansas.gov</a>.</p>

<h4>About the Governor's Arts Awards</h4><p>Established in 1991, the annual Governor's Arts Awards program recognizes Arkansas artists, arts patrons, arts educators, arts organizations and businesses for their outstanding contributions to the arts community. Recipients are nominated by the public, then selected by an independent panel of arts professionals from around the state. Each recipient receives an original work of art created by an Arkansas artist.</p>

<h4>About the Arkansas Arts Council</h4><p>The Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of Arkansas Heritage, which is a division of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, advances and empowers the arts in Arkansas. The agency supports and perpetuates cultural, educational and economic opportunities in the arts for the benefit of all Arkansans. </p><p><br></p>

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