About the Governor’s Arts Awards

Since 1981, 144 distinguished Arizona artists, arts organizations, businesses, educators and individuals have been recognized for their devotion, passion and creativity to the excellence and diversity of Arizona’s arts and cultural community.

On Tuesday, March 27, 2012, Arizona Citizens for the Arts, the Arizona Commission on the Arts and the Office of the Governor will present the 2012 Governor’s Arts Awards at the beautiful Herberger Theater in downtown Phoenix.

The annual presentation is much more than a tradition. The awards reflect three decades of the best in Arizona’s arts and culture community and the magnificent contributions they’ve made to our state’s arts and cultural heritage.

The Governor’s Arts Awards are presented in six categories. Each honoree receives a custom-designed award created annually by Arizona artists or an arts organization.

Awards categories are:

• Artist: A living Arizona artist active in the field of literature, visual arts, performing arts, folk arts, architecture, design or film.
• Individual: A living Arizona individual who has made a significant impact on arts/culture in Arizona through philanthropy, leadership and/or direct involvement.
• Business: A business or corporation that has made a significant contribution to support arts/culture in Arizona. Government agencies are not eligible.
• Community: An Arizona community organization or institution for an outstanding arts-based community program or project. Schools and school districts are not eligible in this category.
• Arts In Education (Individual): An educator, teaching artist, school administrator or school volunteer who has demonstrated significant support or participation in fostering excellence in, appreciation of, or access to arts education in Arizona.
• Arts In Education (Organization): A nonprofit arts organization or school that has demonstrated significant support or participation in activities which foster excellence in, appreciation of, or access to arts education in Arizona.

In addition, The Shelley Award has been presented each year since 2006 to an Arizona individual who has advanced Arizona arts and culture through strategic and innovative work to create or support public policy beneficial to the arts in Arizona. The award is named for Shelley Cohn, who spent more than 25 years as executive director of the Arizona Commission on the Arts.

2012 Nominees

For a complete list of this year’s nominees, click here.

History of Recipients

For a complete list of previous Governor’s Arts Award recipients, click here.

Event Parking Information

Thanks to Wells Fargo for providing complimentary parking in their garage at 1^st Avenue & Washington for the Governor’s Arts Awards, 1 block southeast of the Orpheum Theatre.

Gates will open at 5:00pm

Parking Garage:

100 W Washington.
Access garage only from 1^st Avenue, a one-way street going south bound.

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