History of the Governor's Awards for the Arts

The Governor's Awards for the Arts represent a Pennsylvania tradition begun in 1980 by Governor Dick Thornburgh. Presented annually in Harrisburg at the State Capitol, these awards honored artists in each of the following categories: painting, sculpture, photography, music, literature, dance, theatre, crafts, and media arts. An award was also made for service to the arts. The awards, which recognized Pennsylvanians who contributed their creative talents to their communities, were named the Hazlett Memorial Awards for Excellence in the Arts, after the late Theodore L. Hazlett Jr. of Pittsburgh, the first chairman of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. The awards were administered by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. A Distinguished Pennsylvania Artist Award was also established to be chosen by the Governor. [Note: No standard policy was established for this category, but it was generally agreed that the recipient would be a native Pennsylvanian and an artist of world renown.]

Following the 1982 awards, the Hazlett awards were presented in no more than six disciplines, in alternating years, and architecture was added as a category.

The awards were suspended in 1987 in the first year of Governor Robert P. Casey's administration. In 1988, through his cultural advisors office, Governor Casey established a "comprehensive Governors's awards program" with the Governors's Awards for Excellence in the Arts, Humanities, and Sciences to honor outstanding individual creativity and achievement, to focus attention upon the critical importance of the arts, humanities, and sciences in the life of an enlightened democratic society, and to pay tribute to Pennsylvanias rich cultural and intellectual traditions. A single award was presented in each area.

In 1996, oversight and administration of the Governor’s Awards returned to the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Four new award categories were established by Governor Tom Ridge to recognize not only the contributions of Pennsylvania’s individual artists and patrons of the arts, but also the outstanding arts organizations which make the Commonwealth a leader in the cultural life of the nation. For the first time, a category was established which recognizes the significant contributions to the arts made by corporations and foundations (the Patron Award).

Currently, the Governors's Office has developed five award categories:

The Distinguished Arts Award recognizes a Pennsylvania artist of international fame, leadership or renown whole creations or contributions enrich the state.;

The Patron Award recognizes an individual, corporation, or foundation patrons significant contributions to the vitality and availability of the arts in Pennsylvania.;

The Arts Leadership & Service/Arts Innovation Award Recognizing an organization or individual(s) for outstanding leadership and service or innovation in the arts.

The Artist of the Year Award (The Hazlett Memorial Award) recognizes an individual artist for their creations and contributions to the excellence of the arts in Pennsylvania.

2013 Governors's Awards for the Arts -- Harrisburg
	Jerry Pinkney	Distinguished Arts Award
	Beverlee and Bill Lehr	Patron Award
	LIVE: Chad Taylor, Patrick Dahlheimer and Chad Gracey	Arts Innovation
	Kathleen Mulcahy and Ron Desmett	Artists of the Year
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2012 Governors's Awards for the Arts --Erie
	Peter Q. Bohlin FAIA		Distinguished Arts Award
	Tom and Susan Hagen		Patron Award
	Bruce Katsiff		Arts Leadership & Service Award
	Jane Golden and the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program		Arts Innovation
	Susan Hale Kemenyffy		Artist of the Year
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2010 Governors's Awards for the Arts -- Philadelphia
	Charles Dutoit		Distinguished Arts Award
	Carole Price Shanis ; Joseph Shanis		Patron Award
	ArtsQuest		Outstanding Leadership & Service in Arts for Youth
	John Vanco		Pennsylvania Creative Community Award
	Moe A. Brooker		Artist of the Year
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2009 Governors's Awards for the Arts -- York
	Jeff Koons		Distinguished Arts Award
	Louis J. Appell Arthur J. Glatfelter		Patron Award
	Caroline S. Nunan		Outstanding Leadership & Service in Arts for Youth
	Ridgway Chainsaw Carvers		Pennsylvania Creative Community Award
	Del McCoury		Artist of the Year
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2008 Governors's Awards for the Arts -- Williamsport
	Michael Keaton		Distinguished Arts Award
	Barbara B. Hudock		Patron Award
	The PAL Center for the Arts Unit of The Olivet Boys & Girls Club of Reading & Berks County		Outstanding Leadership & Service in Arts for Youth
	Taller Puertorriqueno Carmen Febo-San Miguel, M.D., Executive Director		Outstanding Leadership & Service in Arts in Education Award
	Phil Woods & the Delaware Water Gap Celebration of the Arts (COTA)		Pennsylvania Creative Community Award
	Sascha Feinstein		Artist of the Year
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