40th Annual Governor’s Arts Awards
The 2021 Governor’s Arts Awards winners were announced in six categories during the hybrid 40th annual Governor’s Arts Awards organized by Arizona Citizens for the Arts on March 26. Winners were chosen by an independent committee from 24 finalists from 10 Arizona communities.
Presented by Billie Jo and Judd Herberger, the 2021 Governor’s Arts Awards winners are:
Artist: Kristin Atwell Ford, Scottsdale
Arts Educator: John Contreras, Tucson
Large Arts Organization: Black Theatre Troupe, Phoenix
Small Arts Organization: Young Arts Arizona, Phoenix
Large Business: Art in Medicine/The University of Arizona, Phoenix
Small Business: Emancipation Arts, Phoenix
Philanthropy: Molly DeFillipis, Phoenix
Jonathan Stone of Flagstaff Arts Council and models dressed in Sisi Aduke designs
Also during the event, Bobb Cooper, Valley Youth Theatre artistic director received a Lifetime Achievement Award and Maribel Alvarez of Tucson, an anthropologist, folklorist, writer and curator, received the 2021 Shelley Award.
40th annual Governor’s Arts Awards finalists were:
Artist Award: Kristen Atwell Ford, Scottsdale; Stella Pope Duarte, Phoenix; James Garcia, Phoenix; Sareya Taylor, Maricopa.
Arts Educator: John Contreras, Tucson; Lisa Falk, Tucson; Katherine Fizz, Black Canyon City; Andre Licardi, Peoria.
Small Arts Organization: Dancing in the Streets, Tucson;Sounds Academy, Phoenix; Young Arts Arizona LTD, Phoenix; Yuma Orchestra Association, Yuma.
Large Arts Organization: Black Theatre Troupe, Phoenix; The Nash Jazz Club and Education Center, Phoenix; Museum of Contemporary Art, Tucson.
Small Business: Emancipation Arts, Phoenix; Davisson Entertainment, Phoenix; LDVinci Art Studio, Chandler.
Large Business: Art in Medicine, Phoenix; Cosanti Originals, Paradise Valley; Foothills Elementary, Glendale.
Philanthropy: Priscilla Baldwin, Tucson; Molly DeFilippis, Phoenix; Eric Yungermann, Phoenix.
Festivities included pre-event celebrations at 10 restaurants across the state. A commemorative Governor’s Arts Award Program includes recipes of one meal from each restaurant chef and photos with models from local fashion designers.
Since 1981, more than 250 distinguished artists, individuals, cultural organizations, educators, businesses and philanthropists have received Governor’s Arts Awards. For more information, visit azcitizensforthearts.org.
