Council seeks nominations for Arts Person of the Year
Published 4:37 pm Thursday, January 13, 2022
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The Stanly County Arts Council is seeking nominations for the Arts Person of the Year award.
This award was created in 2014 by the Arts Council to recognize those who have made a significant positive impact on the arts in Stanly County, and who have worked to support, promote and create quality arts experiences for the whole community. Previous winners include Charlotte Maness, Angela Moore, Wes Tucker, Carmella Hedrick, Tim Harris, John Williams and Aza Hudson.
Anyone who lives or works in Stanly County can nominate someone for this award. The nominees should also live or work in Stanly County and should meet the previously mentioned award criteria.
Nominations are accepted by visiting the Arts Council’s website at www.stanlycountyartscouncil.org and clicking on the “Community Awards” tab, visiting their Facebook page and filling out the Google form or you can also request a nomination form by calling 704-982-8118, or emailing stanlycountyartscouncil1974@gmail.com. The deadline for nominations is Feb. 4.
The 2020 Fine Arts Educator and Arts Person of the Year were recognized prior to the Charlotte Symphony Concert. Derek Smith, former band director at West Stanly High School was the recipient of the Fine Arts Educator Award and Aza Hudson, director of the Stanly County Chorale, was the recipient of the Arts Person of the Year award. These awards were originally scheduled to be awarded during the Celebration of the Arts in 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the presentation had to be delayed. From left: Lynn Plummer, chairman of the Stanly County Arts Council; Renee VanHorn, executive director of the Stanly County Arts Council; Derek Smith, Fine Arts Teacher of the Year 2020; Bradley Eudy, 2020 chairman of the Stanly County Arts Council; and Aza Hudson, Arts Person of the Year 2020. Nominations for 2022 are being accepted. Deadline is Feb. 4. (Contributed)
Along with the Arts Person of the Year award, the Arts Council is also accepting nominations for the Fine Arts Educator of the Year award, known as the Jim Kennedy award in memory of long-time arts advocate, teacher and coach, James D. Kennedy.
The award recognizes a fine arts teacher in the Stanly County public school system who has made a significant positive impact on the arts in education, and who has inspired students to pursue, appreciate and respect the fine arts. Previous winners include Lori Watson, music teacher at Stanfield and Locust Elementary Schools; Michelle Osborne, art teacher at Central Elementary; Stacy Bottoms, art teacher at West Stanly Middle School; Jessica Kiser, band/music teacher at Albemarle Middle School; Frank Poolos, band director at North Stanly High School; Rebekah Crisco, art teacher at North Stanly Middle School; and Derek Smith, band director at West Stanly High School.
In 2021, due to the challenges that all arts teachers faced during the Covid pandemic, all 31 fine arts teachers in elementary, middle and high schools were recognized with classroom grants, funded by the Stanly County Arts Council, Uwharrie Bank and a grant from the Albemarle Rotary Club.
Nominees for Fine Arts Educator of the Year Award can only come from the principals at Stanly County Schools. Students and parents who know of an exceptional fine arts teacher are encouraged to notify their school principal as soon as possible and express their support of that teacher. Nomination information has already been sent to the schools.
Both awards will be presented at the Arts Council’s Celebration of the Arts March 19 at the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center. The awards ceremony will be in the auditorium at 2 pm.
The Celebration of the Arts is free and open to the public from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. The recipient of the Arts Person of the Year award will be honored with a $250 donation to the arts group of their choosing in Stanly County. The Jim Kennedy award recipient will receive a $250 scholarship to help them purchase classroom supplies and materials.
The Stanly County Arts Council was founded in 1974. It continues to promote and support all art forms in the community. The Stanly County Arts Council is supported by private donations and by the NC Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.
