Pittsburgh to Host 2019 Governor’s Awards for the Arts on Sept. 27
Pittsburgh—Aug. 22, 2019 – Pittsburghers are invited to celebrate Pennsylvania’s outstanding artists, cultural leaders, and creative innovator during the 2019 Governor’s Awards for the Arts on Friday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. For the first time since 1997, Pittsburgh is hosting the statewide ceremony recognizing the highest standards of artistry and the significant role the arts play in Pennsylvania’s economy, vitality, and creative spirit.
“It has been 22 years since the Governor’s Awards for the Arts have been hosted in Pittsburgh, and a lot has changed in the city within that time,” said Mitch Swain, CEO of the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, who is part of the host committee. “We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase our city’s vibrant arts and culture community to the rest of the state, all while celebrating the incredible work of this year’s honorees.”
The public is invited to attend an array of free activities in celebration of the arts on the evening of the awards, including a street festival featuring live musical performances, Gallery Crawl in the Cultural District and the awards ceremony itself. The host committee includes the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, the August Wilson African American Cultural Center and the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, as well as Pennsylvania Council on the Arts members, Emmai Alaquiva, Dennis Astorino and Jim West, Jr.
“We are honored to host the Governor’s Awards for the Arts at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center,” said Janis Burley Wilson, president and CEO of the August Wilson African American Cultural Center. “This event celebrates the numerous accomplishments of artists in our community and we strive to do the same through our programming. What better way to recognize them than in the place named for Governor’s Awards for the Arts recipient, August Wilson.”
The public can join in the celebration of the arts and reserve their free tickets to the Governor’s Awards for the Arts at showclix.com/event/governors-awards. The street festival and Gallery Crawl do not require tickets or registration. Learn more about the evening’s event schedule at bit.ly/governors-awards-pa.
The Governor's Awards for the Arts are administered by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency under the Office of the Governor. Private contributions support the ceremony, reception, award objects and related expenses.
Schedule of Events – 2019 Governor's Awards for the Arts
All events are free and open to the public.
- 4:00-7:00 p.m. – Street festival in front of the AWAACC, featuring DJ Nate Tha Barber, the Funky Fly Project and Hill Dance Academy Theatre.
- 5:30-10:00 p.m. – Gallery Crawl in the Cultural District.
- 7:00-8:30 p.m. – Governor's Awards for the Arts awards ceremony. RSVP is required.
- 8:30-10:00 p.m. – Ceremony after-party for all attendees in the AWAACC lobby, featuring music, a cash bar, and dessert.
- 10:00 p.m. and beyond – Continue exploring Pittsburgh's Cultural District and the Crawl After Dark.
About the Honorees
Vanessa German – Artist of the Year: Internationally-renowned visual and performance artist known for her explorations of the power of art and love as a transformative force in communities and neighborhoods. She is the founder of Love Front Porch and the ARThouse, community arts initiatives for the children of Homewood. Her work is in private and public collections around the country. German is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2018 Don Tyson Prize from Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.
Roger Humphries, Sr. – Lifetime Achievement in the Arts: Renowned Pittsburgh jazz percussionist, educator and philanthropist who has played with a host of musical legends and released multiple albums. He began playing the drums at age three and played at Carnegie Hall by the age of 16. Humphries was the first and longest serving percussion instructor at the Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts High School (CAPA), taught at the University of Pittsburgh, and conducted clinics at Slippery Rock University and Mellon Jazz Masters. In the spring of 2019, Humphries was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from West Virginia Wesleyan College.
Joe Negri – Lifetime Achievement in the Arts: Beloved Pittsburgh jazz artist and composer who began playing the guitar as a child. Negri taught music at the University of Pittsburgh for 49 years, as well as at Carnegie Mellon and Duquesne universities. He has released six albums, including a 2010 release with the pianist Michael Feinstein. In 2019, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presented Negri with the JazzLive Legacy Award. Negri is also well-known to many for his regular appearances as Handyman Negri on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.
Rock Lititz – Creative Industries: Located in Lititz, Lancaster County, Rock Lititz is a one-of-a-kind production community that supports creativity within the live event industry. Founded in 2014, the purpose-built 96-acre campus brings together top production-based vendors and resources to enhance creative partnership. It has grown to include a hotel, several multi-tenant facilities, walking trails, community space, and more. Rock Lititz, which continues to expand today, has spurred the creation of a variety of jobs in the technical and performing arts.
Mary Brenholts – Arts Leadership & Service: As the director of Artists in Schools and Communities at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts for more than 20 years, Brenholts has facilitated hundreds of school and community-based artist residencies. Brenholts, who has worked with hundreds of Pittsburgh area artists over the years, has developed a reputation as a passionate advocate for arts in education, as well as for the stellar quality of her work and groundbreaking practices in residency development.
Photos of each honoree are available for media use courtesy of the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council: https://we.tl/t-cYCxSsmBB0
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