Nominations Sought for Mayor's Arts Awards 2012

Sue Zimmermann,
Artist of the Year 2011

The Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana and the City of Lake Charles are currently accepting nominations from the public for persons to be honored at the 2012 Mayor’s Arts Awards ceremony which is scheduled for Friday, October 12^th at 6 p.m. in the Benjamin W. Mount Auditorium at Central School.

Categories include Artist of the Year, Citizen of the Arts, Citizen of the Humanities, Arts Educator of the Year, Cultural Organization of the Year, and Business/Corporate Patron of the Year. The Keystone Award is also given to an individual who works diligently behind the scenes, without whom programs and performances would not be possible. Abbie Fletcher was selected as the 2011 Keystone Award recipient for her work with the Louisiana Choral Foundation.

Mayor Roach, who is an avid arts supporter, gives out the awards each year. Last year’s winners included Sue Zimmermann for Artist of the Year, Knight Media Printing for Corporate Patron of the Year, and McNeese Banners Cultural Series and Lake Charles Civic Ballet who shared the Arts Organization of the Year.

The Mayor’s Arts Awards offers the public the opportunity to recognize the individuals, groups, and organizations of Southwest Louisiana that have invested countless hours and continuous efforts to make our region a gravitational center for tourism, new businesses, and artists through the development of local arts and culture.

Mary Richardson of Banners,
Arts Organization of the Year
Co-recipient 2011

Those who wish to nominate an organization, individual, or group should send a letter providing the nominator’s name and full contact information along with the name of the nominee, a statement of why that person/group/organization is being nominated, and the contact information for the nominee.

You may mail your nomination to the Arts and Humanities Council at P.O. Box 1437, Lake Charles, LA, 70602. You may also e-mail your nomination to director@artsandhumanitiesswla.org or fax to 439-8009.  All nominations must be received in the Arts Council office no later than Friday, September 14, 2012.  For more information about this year’s Mayor’s Arts Awards, call the Arts Council at 439-2787.