The Governor’s Arts Awards were established in 1971 to recognize individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the arts or cultural life of Tennessee. These awards are Tennessee’s highest honor in the arts, celebrating the outstanding contributions of artists, arts organizations, volunteers, schools, educators, local governments, legislators and corporate citizens on the state or national level. Recipients will be honored in Nashville at The Tennessee Residence in the spring of 2013 during a ceremony produced by the Tennessee Arts Commission.
Presented to folk artists or organizations that have made outstanding contributions to artistic tradition. The award honors significant achievements within art forms that are rooted in the traditional or ethnic cultures of Tennessee.
Presented to arts organizations, businesses, educators, patrons, arts administrators, corporations and volunteers that have demonstrated significant support or participation in activities on a statewide basis that advances the value of the arts in Tennessee communities.
Presented to Tennessee artists of exceptional talent and creativity in any discipline who have contributed to the arts and influenced directions, trends and aesthetic practices on a state and national level.
The nomination form is available by clicking here.
It should be completed online, printed and returned to the Tennessee Arts Commission with a narrative about the nominee (see nomination form for further instructions), and at least three, but no more than five letters of support for each nominee. The items supplied with the nomination form are expected to clearly represent the nominee’s strengths and contributions to the arts in Tennessee.
Nominations may be submitted by organizations or individuals.
The Commission will only accept one nomination in each award category from individual(s) submitting nominations. Nominees for a Governor’s Arts Award must be a Tennessee organization or individual living in or with close ties to Tennessee. (No awards will be presented posthumously.)
Prior recipients are not eligible for the 2013 Governor’s Arts Awards. (See History).
Recipients are selected by an inter board committee of the Tennessee Arts Commission comprised of the Commission’s board members and representatives from the Governor’s and First Lady’s offices.
Nomination forms and letters of support must be received by the Tennessee Arts Commission no later than 4:30 P.M. CST, on February 12, 2013
For information about the nomination process, please contact Hal Partlow at 615-532-9801 or hal.partlow@tn.gov.
For accessibility accommodation requests including alternate digital formats, captioning, ASL, and assistive technologies please contact the Tennessee Arts Commission’s 504 Coordinator, William Coleman, at 615-532-9797 or william.coleman@tn.gov.