Presented by Arizona Citizens for the Arts in partnership with the Office of the Governor.
The 37th annual Governor's Arts Awards will take place March 22, 2018 at the Arizona Biltmore, Phoenix.
Purchase a Table or Individual Tickets
Deadline Friday, March 16
Finalists for the 2018 Governor’s Arts Awards were announced February 6th, during a celebratory reception for the 72 artists, arts organization, businesses, educators and individuals nominated from 20 Arizona communities.
Judith Hardes of Phoenix also was announced as the 2018 Philanthropy Honoree. The 2018 Governor’s Arts Awards Honorees in eight other categories will be announced Thursday, March 22.
The 2018 Shelley Award also will be presented to Alberto Álvaro Ríos, Arizona’s first poet laureate and artistic director of the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing at ASU.
Join us as we celebrate the all of the nominees for the 37th annual Governor's Arts Awards for their substantial and outstanding contributions to arts and culture statewide!
View the 2018 finalists
Governor's Arts Awards Gala
March 22, 2018
Arizona Biltmore
2400 E Missouri Ave | Phoenix, AZ
5:00 – 6:15 Pre-Awards Cocktail Reception
6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Dinner and Awards Presentation
8:00 – 8:30 p.m. Silent Auction Checkout
A premium reserved table of 10 at the dinner, a half-page, full-color ad in the ON Media commemorative program, the opportunity to host a state legislator and his/her guest, special listing on the event website and the event program; year-round recognition as a Partner on the AzCA website. (We respectfully note that hosting arrangements for members of the Legislature will be coordinated by Arizona Citizens for the Arts.)
A reserved table for 10 at the dinner, the opportunity to host a state legislator and his/her guest, a special listing in the event program; and a special listing in the event program.
For non-profits arts and culture organizations who are current with their dues to Arizona Citizens for the Arts, a reserved table for 10, the opportunity to host a state legislator and his/her guest, and a special listing in the event program.
Contact Kristyn to learn about becoming a member with us
The deadline to submit an ad for the commemorative program is February 23, 2018.
Purchase a full or half-page ad in the ON Media commemorative program. Advertise your organization, performance season, upcoming special event or pay tribute to the finalists, Philanthropy Honoree and Shelley Award Winner.
If you wish to inquire about reservations or have questions, contact Kristyn Kozar at 602-2536535 or kristynkozar@azcitizensforthearts.org. Tickets range from $200 - $250 per person and a portion of each ticket is tax deductible.
Governor's Arts Awards History
Since 1981, more than 200 distinguished Arizona artists, arts organizations, businesses, educators, and individuals have been recognized for their passion, creativity and devotion to the excellence and diversity of Arizona’s arts and cultural community.
Beginning in 2006, The Shelley Award also has been presented annually to an Arizona individual who has advanced Arizona arts and culture through strategic and innovative work to create or support public policy beneficial to the arts in Arizona. The award is named for Shelley Cohn, who spent more than 25 years as executive director of the Arizona Commission on the Arts.
The Governor’s Arts Awards event is much more than a tradition. The awards reflect more than three decades of the best in Arizona’s arts and culture community and the magnificent contributions they’ve made to our state’s arts and cultural heritage.
View the 2018 nominees
The Selection Process
Each year, three volunteer selection panels comprised of community, business and arts leaders from across the state review the nominations for the Governor's Arts Awards based on the following criteria:
The significance of the contributions and achievements of the nominee
The range of individuals or groups served by the contributions of the nominee
The length and degree to which the nominee is dedicated to the arts
The Selection Panels:
Finalist Panel | Determines three finalists in seven categories from all nominees
Honoree Panel | Determines the honoree in seven categories from the finalists
Philanthropy Panel | Determines the Philanthropy Honoree
The 2018 Event
A “by invitation” reception for nominees, nominators, major event sponsors and other major supporters of Arizona Citizens for the Arts will take place at The Herberger Theater Center on February 6, 2018, to honor all nominees, announce three finalists in eight categories and announce the Philanthropy Honoree.
Governor's Arts Awards Gala
March 22, 2018
Arizona Biltmore
2400 E Missouri Ave | Phoenix, AZ
5:00 – 6:15 Pre-Awards Cocktail Reception
6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Dinner and Awards Presentation
8:00 – 8:30 p.m. Silent Auction Checkout