FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Mollie LaFavers
859-324-0181
2021 AWARDS IN THE ARTS BRINGS DINNER AND A SHOW TO THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME
Annual Fund for the Arts’ benefit honors artists and organizations for their impact on Greater Louisville’s arts and culture scene
Louisville, KY (May 8, 2021) – The fifth annual Awards in the Arts will take place virtually on Saturday, May 8th at 7:30 pm. Louisville’s Awards in the Arts (AITA) celebrates the extraordinary arts landscape in Greater Louisville and the artists themselves, their talent and passion, to create, produce, and present transformative and inspiring works of art, in and for our community.
In a world that remains socially and physically distant in many ways, this year’s Awards in the Arts will bring a one-of-a-kind celebration to the comfort of your own home.
Each ticket to the 2021 Awards in the Arts includes a gourmet dinner by Louisville’s own Susan Hershberg of Wiltshire Pantry, dessert by local Hip Hop Sweets, a bottle of wine, and an extraordinary party kit filled with unique party favors and swag. Anyone, ticket holders and non-ticket holders, can view the online event on May 8th live on the Fund for the Arts Facebook page or at fundforthearts.org/awardsinthearts.
The Awards in the Arts Auction is live now and will close at the end of the virtual event, 8:30 pm on May 8th. The auction will include a variety of unique items including collectible, signed bottles of Old Forester and Woodford Reserve, paintings that were created by local artists live during Opening Night of Churchill Downs, unique experiences at Ashbourne Farms and Buffalo Trace, and a variety of private Master Classes from experts in dance, music, film, and more. Patrons can participate in the auction at fly.causepilot.com/fundforthearts/awardsinthearts
Fund for the Arts President and CEO Christen Boone said, “Awards in the Arts is our opportunity to celebrate the incredible artists and cultural organizations of our community, and this year above any other, it is time to celebrate the resilience, inspiration, and joy the arts bring. And although this year’s AITA may look different, we will not disappoint. We can’t wait to bring all of the excitement, uniqueness, and surprise you have come to expect from this event.”
After canceling the event last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fund for the Arts is excited to celebrate the 2020 Awards in the Arts recipients. Seven local and national artists and arts organizations were selected to receive an award based on their exceptional passion and dedication to the arts.
In recent years, Awards in the Arts has recognized national and local talent such as Jim James, Bryson Tiller, Tim Daly, Teddy Abrams, and organizations such as the River City Drum Corps and Actors Theatre of Louisville.
This year’s award recipients include Emerging Leader in the Arts Award winner, Darren Harbour; Arts Innovation Award recipient, Louisville Children’s Film Festival; Kindred Healthcare Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award winner, Ken Clay; Arts Education Award recipient, Louisville Visual Art; Arts Impact Award winner, Americana Community Center; Derby Diversity Business Summit Cultural Equity Award recipient, Matthew Kaufmann and the SMART Students; and National Award in the Arts winner, LaVon Fisher-Wilson.
“It is an honor to have been selected to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from Fund for the Arts,” said Ken Clay. “I’m so pleased to be a part of the arts scene in Louisville. The arts are something I’ve always loved, even from my youth. The arts have a unifying strength to pull people together.”
In addition to celebrating the award recipients, this year’s virtual event will feature appearances and performances by local and national celebrities, an exclusive one-of-a-kind auction, and artists from Churchill Downs’ Opening Night.
Find out more information about the event and participate in the auction at fundforthearts.org/awardsinthearts.
About Fund for the Arts
Fund for the Arts is a regional nonprofit with the mission to maximize the impact of the arts on economic development, education, and quality of life in our community. The Fund is a convener, promoter, leader, and driver of Imagine Greater Louisville 2025, the region’s arts and cultural plan. It facilitates the largest arts grant program in Kentucky as well as conducts one of the oldest united arts campaigns in the country. For more information, visit www.fundforthearts.org.
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