FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky Arts Council is accepting nominations until March 1, 2011, for the 2011 Governor’s Awards in the Arts. The 2011 awards will be presented in October at a special public ceremony and reception in the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort.

The awards are the state’s highest honor in the arts, recognizing individuals and organizations with extraordinary achievement in the arts or those making outstanding contributions through the arts.

“The Kentucky Arts Council is pleased to present the Governor’s Awards in the Arts,” says Lori Meadows, executive director of the Kentucky Arts Council. “Now in its 33rd year, every governor since Gov. Julian Carroll has honored the recipients and recognized the important role the arts play in our economy, educational environment and community life.”

The nine award categories (Artist, Business, Community Arts, Education, Folk Heritage, Government, Media, Milner and National) recognize the broad range of support the arts enjoy in Kentucky. Any individual, organization or business may make nominations.

For guidelines, instructions and nomination forms, go to http://bit.ly/KACgovawards. The Kentucky Arts Council welcomes all questions regarding this program. For more information, contact Dan Strauss at dan.strauss@ky.gov or 888-833-2787, ext. 474.

The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, creates opportunities for Kentuckians to value, participate in and benefit from the arts. Kentucky Arts Council funding is provided by the Kentucky General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts.

- ### -