Five arts/heritage individuals & organizations honored
Governor Jay Inslee and the Washington State Arts Commission congratulate the recipients of the 2016 Governor's Arts and Heritage Awards. The awards are given to outstanding individuals and organizations that have contributed significantly to the arts and cultural traditions of Washington State. 

The 2016 Governor's Arts & Heritage Awards honorees are:
 
Arts Award - Individual:    Barbara Earl Thomas, Seattle
Arts Award - Organization:   Vashon Center for the Arts, Vashon Island
Heritage Award - Individual:   Oscar M. Galvan, Sunnyside
Heritage Award - Organization:   Asia Pacific Cultural Center, Tacoma
Young Arts Leader Award:   Quinton Morris, Seattle
Meet the honorees
Barbara Earl Thomas is a Seattle-based artist who has exhibited professionally since the early 1980s.  She is a graduate of the School of Art, University of Washington, Master of Arts, 1977. Thomas is noted  for a social commitment to her community that is broad and inclusive. She values good citizenship  and social responsibility. In 2012 she stepped down from the directorship of the Northwest African  American Museum where she was instrumental in creating the agency and the broad-based support  that now sustains it.

Vashon Center for the Arts - For 50 years Vashon Center for the Arts (VCA) (formerly Vashon Allied Arts) has been a home for the arts on Vashon Island. From humble grassroots beginnings, VCA has grown into a thriving organization. In 2015 VCA showcased the works of 290 visual artists, held 97 performances and events with 10,581 attendees, and paid $36,000 to local teaching/visual artists and performers. Additionally, VCA offered 144 arts and dance classes with an enrollment of over 1,400 students, with over $75,000 in scholarships awarded to ensure that the arts are accessible to everyone regardless of their financial situation.

Oscar Galvan was born in Eagle Pass, Texas and now resides in Sunnyside, Washington. During the 1950s and 1960s, he and his family migrated from Texas to Idaho and Washington State, eventually settling in Toppenish, Washington. At the age of 13, Oscar started playing Conjunto and Orquestra Tejano music with local groups in the Yakima area. He plays several musical instruments including bass, drums, keys, trombone, trumpet and his main instrument which is the Saxophone (Tenor and Alto).

Asia Pacific Cultural Center (APCC) - Founded in 1996, APCC's mission is to bridge communities and generations through art, culture, education, and business.  APCC's programs promote the folk art and cultural traditions of Asia and the Pacific Islands and represent 47 countries of the Pacific Rim. A hub of local and regional activity, APCC served more than 98,000 people through its cultural programs and activities in 2015. 

Dr. Quinton Morris enjoys a multifaceted career as a concert violinist, chamber musician, educator and entrepreneur. Among his many accomplishments, Quinton has taught violin and chamber music master classes throughout the state of Washington and performs solo concerts/recitals and chamber music and presents lectures all over the world: the United States, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East. 
Save the date: November 15, 2016
Governor's Arts & Heritage Awards dinner & celebration

You're invited to celebrate the 2016 Honorees at a special awards dinner to be held November 15th at Teatro ZinZanni in Seattle. The $40 ticket price includes hors d'oeuvres, a three-course dinner, Teatro ZinZanni entertainment, and many more surprises. 


Place a congratulatory ad in the program!
Deadline: October 14, 2016

New this year, friends, family, and colleagues are invited to submit congratulatory messages in the Governor's Arts & Heritage Awards dinner program. The color ads can include logos and photos as well as text. A full-page ad (8" X 5") is available for $80; or a half-page ad (4" X 5") is available for $40. If you'd like to place an ad in the program, contact Glenda Carino  or call (360) 586-8093. Camera-ready ads will be accepted until  October 14th.
The 2016 Governor's Arts & Heritage Awards are presented by the Washington State Arts Commission, with support from The Boeing Company, Vulcan Inc, and Teatro ZinZanni.



Glenda Carino | ArtsWA Communications Manager | 360.586.8093
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