COLUMBUS – A Darke County man is among nine winners selected to receive awards at the 2016 Governor’s Awards for the Arts in Ohio, which will be presented in May.
John Scalzi, of Bradford, is an author and was one of two chosen for an Individual Artist Award.
Scalzi was born and raised in California, and arrived in Ohio in 2001. Shortly thereafter, he started work on what would be his first published novel, “Old Man’s War.” Since then, Scalzi has become a New York Times Bestselling author; won science fiction’s prestigious Hugo Award in three separate categories, including Best Novel; and has seen his work published in two dozen languages around the world, winning awards in Germany, Japan and Israel.
The other Governor’s Awards for the Arts in Ohio winners were as follows:
-Arts Administration: Gary Hanson, of Cleveland, executive director, The Cleveland Orchestra;
-Arts Education: Joe Deer, of Dayton, professor, Wright State University;
-Arts Patron: George Barrett, of Dublin, chairman/CEO, Cardinal Health;
-Business Support of the Arts (small): First-Knox National Bank, Mount Vernon;
-Business Support of the Arts (large): Premier Health, Dayton;
-Community Development and Participation: Harmony Project, Columbus
-Individual Artist: Janice Lessman-Moss, of Kent, professor of textile arts, Kent State University;
-Irma Lazarus Award: James Conlon, of Cincinnati, music director, Cincinnati May Festival.
The Governor’s Awards Selection Committee, comprising four Ohio Arts Council Board members and three members selected by the Ohio Citizens for the Arts Foundation, recommended winners after reviewing 88 nominations submitted by individuals and organizations from across Ohio.
The award ceremony will take place during a luncheon May 18 at noon at the Columbus Athenaeum in downtown Columbus. Winners will receive an original work of art by photographer and visual artist Paula Kraus, of Dayton.
The Ohio Arts Council and the Ohio Citizens for the Arts Foundation host the luncheon to honor this year’s winners and acknowledge continued support by Ohio’s elected officials.
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.
