2004 Governor's Awards in the Arts Recipients

The biennial awards were established in 1970 by the Idaho Commission on the Arts to elevate recognition and awareness of Idaho arts and artists. Idaho was among the first in the nation to establish such a program.

Award Recipients:

Excellence in the Arts
Robert Wrigley , Moscow
Frank Werner, St. Maries
Twin Falls Municipal Band, Twin Falls
Company of Fools, Hailey

Excellence in Folk and Traditional Arts
Daniel Ansotegui, Boise
Dale Harwood, Shelley

Support of the Arts
Jane Falk Oppenheimer,
Boise Beaux Arts Société of the Boise Art Museum, Boise
Thelma Stephens, Boise

Support for Arts Education
Cathy Mansell, Boise
LaVar Steel, Twin Falls

2004 Excellence in Arts Education recipient, Cathy Mansell of Boise has been an arts educator for 20 years teaching for Boise schools at all grade levels. She has helped organize numerous arts festivals for children and was named 2002's Idaho Elementary Art Educator of the Year.

Lifetime Achievements
Nat and Sally Adams, Boise

Idaho Artist to the World
Paul Revere, Boise
Bruce Willis, Hailey
Reunion, Idaho Falls/Driggs

Brief History of the Governor's Awards in the Arts
1970 - 2004

The Governor's Awards in the Arts was initiated in 1970 by the Idaho Commission on the Arts to stimulate awareness of the arts in the state.Idaho was among the first in the nation to establish such a program. Today, however, nearly all of the states bestow similar awards.

The awards, given every two years, recognize and encourage excellence in the arts in Idaho and encourage and support the arts throughout the state.

Award categories include Excellence in the Arts, Excellence in Folk & Traditional Arts, Support of the Arts, Support of Arts Education, and Excellence in Arts Administration. Nominees must be Idaho residents, businesses based in Idaho, organizations or communities that have, through creative accomplishments or distinguished service, made a significant contribution to the cultural life of Idaho and to the arts.

On October 2, 2004 awards were given at a ceremony at the Warhawk Air Museum in Nampa. The next round of awards will occur fall 2006. Nomination forms will be available early spring of that year from the Commission.

A panel of out-of-state judges selected by the Commission reviews the nominations and makes its recommendations to the Governor, who then determines the recipients.

The Governor's Awards Medallion

The silver medallion, which is engraved on the back, has been presented to recipients in the various categories for over 30 years. The designer of the original medal is Nelson Curtis, a retired University of Idaho art professor and former Commission chair.

Nelson says there was no competition involved for the original 1970 design; he was contacted directly by the Commission. He submitted some designs, and his favorite was selected. He described the abstract design as reflecting Idaho as a state made up of many small parts that contribute to a unified place with a distinct identity. Coeur, the Precious Metal Company has donated the silver for the past several years.

In 2004, an RFP was issued asking artists to respond to the call for a new medallion design. A panel selected the top four artists and these were submitted to Governor Kempthorne for his final selection. He chose the design created by Elizabeth Wolf of Boise. Kay Seurat of Boise and Ramona Barger of Downey were given Honorable Mention.

The new medallions were cast by The Sunshine Minting, Inc. and presented to the recipients of the Governor's Awards in the Arts on October 2, 2004.

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