Announcing the 2017 Governor's Awards for the Arts Recipients January 24, 2017 COLUMBUS, Ohio—Nine winners have been selected to receive awards at the 2017 Governor’s Awards for the Arts in Ohio on Wednesday, May 17, 2017. The Governor's Awards Selection Committee, comprised of six Ohio Arts Council (OAC) board members and three members selected by the Ohio Citizens for the Arts (OCA) Foundation, recommended winners after reviewing 81 nominations submitted by individuals and organizations across Ohio. The 2017 award recipients and categories, including city and county, are: ARTS ADMINISTRATION | RAYMOND BOBGAN CLEVELAND (CUYAHOGA) ARTS EDUCATION | JIM MCCUTCHEON DAYTON (MONTGOMERY) ARTS EDUCATION | STUDENTS MOTIVATED BY THE ARTS (SMARTS) YOUNGSTOWN (MAHONING) ARTS PATRON | PUFFIN FOUNDATION WEST, LTD., COLUMBUS (FRANKLIN) BUSINESS SUPPORT OF THE ARTS (LARGE) | PROMEDICA TOLEDO (LUCAS) BUSINESS SUPPORT OF THE ARTS (SMALL) | PEOPLES BANK MARIETTA (WASHINGTON) COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PARTICIPATION | LINDA STONE, MD COLUMBUS (FRANKLIN) INDIVIDUAL ARTIST | C.F. PAYNE LEBANON (WARREN) IRMA LAZARUS AWARD | PROCTER & GAMBLE (P&G) CINCINNATI (HAMILTON) Award recipient descriptions and images: oac.ohio.gov/governorsawards. Award Ceremony and Luncheon | Wednesday May 17, 2017 The award ceremony will take place during a noon luncheon at the Columbus Athenaeum in downtown Columbus. Winners will receive an original work of art by textile artist and 2016 Governor’s Award winner Janice Lessman-Moss. The Governor’s Awards luncheon is held in conjunction with Arts Day, a daylong arts advocacy event sponsored by the Ohio Citizens for the Arts Foundation. ABOUT THE OHIO ARTS COUNCIL The Ohio Arts Council is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically. Connect with the OAC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or visit our website at oac.ohio.gov. ABOUT THE OHIO CITIZENS FOR THE ARTS FOUNDATION Through the efforts of thousands of individuals and arts and education organizations, Ohio Citizens for the Arts advocates on behalf of arts and culture, and funding for the same, through the Ohio Arts Council. The Ohio Citizens for the Arts Foundation, formed in 1990 as a companion organization, leverages additional support for the arts and arts education. ###