Captured Event

February, 03 2003 - Arts & Education Council's 12th Annual Arts Awards

What: The St. Louis Arts Awards honor excellence in the fields of visual and performing arts, lifetime achievement, corporate support for the arts, philanthropic gifts and art educator of the year.

Where: Chase-Park Plaza Hotel/ Khorrasan Ballroom

When: February 3, 2003

Time: 6:00 PM

Ticket Prices: $200.00 Per Person

Beneficiary: Arts & Education Council

Master of Ceremonies: Jim Connett

Attire: Business

Information: Sandi Wright (314) 535-3600 x 110

Blacktie Photos by: Harry R. Bean

Marsha Rusnack, honorary chair, Donna Wilkinson
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What are the Arts Awards?
In 1992, the Arts & Education council began the Arts Awards as a way to recognize the breadth, depth, and diversity of the arts in the St. Louis area. While a number of organizations give awards, there had been no singular event that recognized and presented awards to the arts community as a whole. 2003 will also be celebrated as the Ruby 40th Anniversary of The Arts & Education Council.

Seven Local Individuals and Corporations Honored at The 12^th Annual St. Louis Arts Awards

The Arts & Education Council honored seven individual and corporate contrivutors to the arts in our community at the 12^th Annual St. Louis Arts Awards last night. The Arts awards paid a star-studded tribute to Alice Gerdine who was honored for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts. Lighting designer and dean of the Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts at Webster University, Peter Sargent; Agnes Wilcox, director of the Prison Performing Arts Program and Rock-and-Roll Hall of Fame piano legend Johnnie Johnson each received Excellence in the Arts Awards. The Whitaker Foundation was recognized for its many contributions to arts groups with the Excellence in Philanthropy Award. The Corporate Support for the Arts Award was presented to The Boeing Company. St Gabriel the Archangel School instrumental music teacher, Sr. Gail Buckman, SSND, was named Art Educator of the Year.

The Arts Awards, an annual fundraising event sponsored by the Arts & Education Council, drew an estimatied audience of 560 to the Khorassan Ballroom at the Chase Park Plaza Hotel.

The evening included cocktails, dinner and entertainment. Classic99 program director and former air personality, Jim Connett, served as master of ceremonies and introduced the award winners and entertainment for the evening. Throughout the event the Arts & Education Council took time to look back at 40 years of contributions to the arts and arts organizations with a video retrospective created by the May Company. Events like Camelot auctions and the Children's Arts Festivals provided a nostalgic journey for many of the guests who had chaired or volunteered over the years with these successful fundraisers.

Special performing guests included highly-anticipated appearance by artist and award recipient, Johnnie Johnson. The Carolbeth Trio entertained during cocktails. Featured entertainment included a high-stepping number from "Kiss Me Kate," performed by members of the Webster University Jazz Bank and Musical Theatre Program at Webster University. Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra string musicians Amy Oshiro, Angie Smart, Chris Woehr and Mark Voapek provided a salute to Alice gerdine. Broadway vocalist, Ron Bohmer, and accompanist, Donna Vince, provided the perfect tribute to Peter Sargent. But when the members of Johnnie Johnson's band, Tom Maloney, Kenny Rice, and Gus Thornton were joined on stage by "Johnnie B. Goode" himself, it definitely provided a high point for this night of glitz and high energy.

The Arts & Educational Council was incorporated in 1963 to work in partnership with corporate and individual donors to raise private money to support the arts and arts education activities of cultural entities in a 12-county Missouri and Illinois reduis of St. Louis. The St. Louis Arts Awards serves as the official kick-off for the 2003 Arts & Education Council fundraising campaign, which runs until June and has set its goal at $2.3 million.

The Arts & Education Council Announces 2003 Allocations
$1.1 Million Goes to Local Arts and Arts Education Groups

The Arts & Education Council has announced its grant allocations for 2003. In addition to granting nearl $1.1 million to arts groups in 12 Missouri and Illinois counties, The Arts & Education Council has expanded its number of recipients to 93 arts and arts education organizations. This is up from 79 recipients last year.

"These are difficult times for fundraising organizations," said James F. Weidman, Arts & Education Council president. "I am very pleased to announce that we are able to make all of our grants. To provide needed financial support of this magnitude bodes well for the cultural climate of our community and the philanthropic nature of its citizens."

Six organizations will receive operating support grants totaling $80,000, ten organizations will receive sustaining funding grants in the amount of $910,131 and 77 project grants totaling $100,000 will provide $1,090,131 in arts funding from The Arts & Education Council.

The largest funded organizations, in order of dollar amounts, are The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis($235,000), Opera Theatre of Saint Louis ($225,000), Dance St. Louis ($82,000), Young Audiences of St. Louis ($76,246), Center of Contemorary Arts - COCA ($75,000), The St. Louis Black Repertory Company ($55,000), The Community Music School of Webster University ($45,300), Craft lliance ($40,000), and KETC-Channel 9 ($38,585). This marks The Sheldon's first year of advanced funding.

The Arts & Education Council receives no government funding. Instead, it relies on private contributions from individuals and corporations and foundation grants. 2003 marks The Arts & Education Council's 40th anniversary. Since 1963, The Arts & Education Council has raised more than $65 million to support arts and arts education organizations in the 12-county bi-state area.

For more information about The St. Louis Arts Awards, please call (314) 535-3600 ext. 121.