CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The Wyoming Governor’s Arts Awards will honor five recipients at its 41st Annual Awards Banquet in February. Each year, the awards banquet celebrates individuals and families who have made contributions to the arts in Wyoming.
This year’s recipients include Mary Jane Edwards, a recently retired arts educator and executive director of the Jentel Foundation; the Munsick Boys, a musical group from Dayton; Geoffrey O’Gara, a filmmaker and author from Lander; Milward Simpson, former director of the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources; and former Wyoming Governor and First Lady Mike and Jane Sullivan.
Winners are selected based on their substantial contributions that exemplify a long-term commitment to the arts through their outstanding impact, breadth of support, dedication to artistic excellence and involvement in special initiatives supporting the arts.
The Wyoming Arts Council accepted nominations for the awards in September. The Wyoming Arts Council Board reviewed the nominations and recommended recipients to the governor, who made the final selections for the awards.
The Wyoming Governor’s Arts Awards were first established in 1982 and are funded by an endowment from the Union Pacific Foundation. Over the years, 30 Wyoming communities and statewide organizations have been recognized for their contributions to the arts.
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