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Five Honored at 33rd Annual Arts Awards
More than 450 people gathered at the 33rd Annual Arts Awards to honor five local arts supporters and celebrate the theme, “The Arts: Now More Than Ever.” Presented by the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, the event was held on the stage of the Moran Theater at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts and sponsored by Regions Bank.
Marty Lanahan received the Individual Award for her commitment to advocacy on behalf of the arts. Marty serves on numerous cultural boards and committees including the Florida Theatre and the Cultural Council. She was instrumental in the completion of economic impact and creative communities research, and led the effort to develop the event web site ExperienceJax.com
The Corporate Award was presented to Bank of America which supports numerous arts events and organizations including The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, the Jacksonville Zoo, the Jacksonville Symphony, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville (MOCA). With a focus on neighborhoods, Bank of America has sponsored MOCA’s Family Free Day since the museum opened downtown six years ago. The event has allowed more than 20,000 people to visit the museum free of charge.
Jack Matthews, district specialist in visual arts, dance and theatre for Duval County Public Schools, was named the 2009 Arts Educator. Matthews has promoted arts education in Duval County for more than 30 years. In his role, he raises awareness of the importance of making art available to all students, and raises funds for professional development for teachers. For 25 years, Matthews has supported the Second Harvest Food Bank’s Empty Bowls fundraiser by facilitating the donation of original art vessels created by students and teachers.
The 2009 Small Business Award was presented to Agility Press, Inc. For five years, Agility Press has provided high quality printed materials for The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens. Further, the company has donated print services to many other cultural organizations including Cathedral Arts Project, the Cultural Council, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville.
A Special Recognition Award was presented to The Community Foundation in Jacksonville which is celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Art Ventures Fund. The fund was developed through a matching grant challenge with the National Endowment for the Arts. The fund, to date, has made grants totaling more than one million dollars to individual artists and small and mid-sized arts organizations. In all 53 grants have been made to emerging arts organizations and 106 grants have been awarded to individual artists.
Keynote remarks were offered by Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization advancing participation in the arts. Lynch discussed the ways in which a city’s cultural scene impacts its economic vitality, and the importance of citizen engagement on behalf of the arts. Winners received an original piece of art by Jacksonville artist Grant Ward. The Cultural Council presents the Arts Awards annually to recognize extraordinary contributions to the growth of the arts in Jacksonville.