Known for its advocacy of creativity across the region, the Tri-County Arts Council will honor artists, arts organizations and arts supporters from Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties at the annual Celebration of the Arts event.
Winners will be celebrated at 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11, at the Palmer Opera House, 12 W. Main St., Cuba, with a Silent Disco. Tickets are $45 for one, $80 for two, and can be purchased at tricountyartscouncil.org/shop.
The Thomas Barnes Lifetime Achievement Award, named after longtime Arts Council board president, will go to Carson Waterman of Salamanca.
The Barnes Award celebrates the career of an individual artist, organization, individual at an organization or individual artist who, among other distinctions, has demonstrated particular commitment to his or her work throughout a long career and has made important contributions regionally, nationally or internationally in his/her field, especially at a milestone marker, such as retirement, job change, posthumous recognition, etc.
The Distinguished Artist of the Year is Laurie Donner of Allegany. This award honors individual artists in any discipline for their creative excellence and superior accomplishments in 2023.
The Excellence in Arts Education Award honors one arts educator from each county for their work in providing art instruction that helps to guide the next generation of artists in the region and cultivating lifelong supporters of the arts.
The winners are Debra Eck in Chautauqua County, Dana Crandall in Cattaraugus County and Zachary Hamm in Allegany County.
Many of the region’s arts and cultural organizations rely on volunteers to put on the show. The Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes the efforts of an unpaid individual or group from each county that has had a major impact on the arts and culture sector.
The winners are Marcia Merrins in Chautauqua County, Paul Nelson in Cattaraugus County and Eric Jones in Allegany County.
The Program of the Year Award will honor the achievement, dedication and creativity of an individual or organization from each county.
The winners are Sukanya Burman Dance in Chautauqua County, Griffis Sculpture Park night lights in Cattaraugus County and the Palmer Opera House in Allegany County.
Meanwhile, the Arts Council is presenting the art show “An Artistic Journey, From watercolors to oils and back again” by Barbara Fox from now through Aug. 30 in the Peg Bothner Gallery.
The Arts Council is always adding to their Artisan Market and class schedule at 110 W. State St. in Olean. Summer hours are from Wednesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All Tuesday classes will still be happening, and morning arts classes will be added soon.
WE MESSED UP earlier this week when we noted that photographer Dan Jordan’s reception for his upcoming photo exhibition at the Olean Public Library is on Aug. 2, “a Thursday.”
The reception is indeed Aug. 2, but that’s a Friday on the calendar. Just wanted to make that correction.
