The Governor’s Arts & Heritage Awards recognize Washington’s outstanding arts and cultural leaders, artists, culture bearers, and organizations. ArtsWA administers the awards on behalf of the Governor.
On February 4, ArtsWA held a celebration honoring 60 years of the Governor’s Arts & Heritage Awards, Washington State’s highest honor in art, culture, and heritage.
Unlike past years, this anniversary event included no new nominations, offering space to celebrate the enduring impact of all those who have shaped Washington’s creative legacy. This special anniversary event brought together past and present honorees from across the state for an evening of live performances, recognition, and community.
ArtsWA and Governor Ferguson presented the Arts Champion Award to Sub Pop Records. Watch the video below to learn more about their impact in Washington State.
The Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA) is proud to announce the 2024 Governor’s Arts & Heritage honorees. Spanning seven award categories, including a new category for Tribal Arts & Culture, the honorees encompass carving, painting, hip-hop, woodturning, and children’s programming. This year, thanks to support from the Governor and the State Legislature, honorees will now receive one-time funding to support their work.
🏆 Arts Champion Award: Pearl Jam
The Arts Champion Award recognizes an individual or organization that has shown extraordinary commitment to the vitality of arts & heritage in Washington State.
🏆 Tribal Arts and Heritage Award: Philip H. Red Eagle
The Tribal Arts and Heritage Award recognizes any individual, organization, or group whose work has made significant contributions to the vitality, understanding or preservation of Tribal arts and culture in Washington State.
🏆 Organization Award: 206 Zulu
🏆 Organization Award: Look, Listen & Learn
The Organization Award recognizes an organization who has made significant contributions to Washington’s arts landscape or its cultural heritage. ArtsWA names 2 awardees for this category.
🏆 Community Impact Award: Inspire Washington
The Community Impact Award recognizes an individual, organization, or group that has dedicated significant time and effort to positively impact the creative economy, the arts, or cultural heritage in their local community.
🏆 Educator Award: Danh T. Pham
The Educator Award recognizes an individual who has provided outstanding instruction in creative practice or cultural heritage.
🏆 Young Leader Award: Dennis Robinson Jr.
The Young Leader Award recognizes an individual between the ages of 18 and 35 who has shown outstanding impact through artistic practice or cultural heritage activities.
🏆 Legacy Award: Consuelo Soto Murphy
The Legacy Award recognizes an individual who has shown outstanding impact through creative practice or cultural preservation for at least 20 years.
🏆 Individual Award: John Furniss
🏆 Individual Award: Joe Feddersen
The Individual Award recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to Washington’s arts landscape or its cultural heritage. ArtsWA names 2 awardees for this category.
The panel for the 2024 Governor’s Arts & Heritage Awards comprised of ArtsWA commissioners and creative professionals from across the state:
The Washington State Arts Commission is thrilled to announce the honorees of the 2023 Governor’s Arts & Heritage Awards. The nine honorees’ work spans glasswork, music education, community murals, and more.
“These awards are a true community celebration,” said Karen Hanan, Executive Director of ArtsWA. “Nominations poured in from across the state with a clear message: Washington is home to outstanding artists, organizations, and culture bearers that deserve to stand up and be recognized. Their work enriches our communities and enlivens the entire state.”
The Governor’s Arts & Heritage Awards will be presented on November 15, 2023.
Explore the full list of honorees:
🏆 Individual Award: Lino Tagliapietra
🏆 Individual Award: Ginny Ruffner
🏆 Organization Award: Urban ArtWorks
🏆 Organization Award: Sequim City Band
🏆 Young Leader Award: Collin J. Pittmann
🏆 Educator Award: Dr. Ashley DeMoville
🏆 Community Impact Award: Allied Arts of Whatcom County
🏆 Legacy Award: Dr. Paul-Elliott Cobbs
🏆 Arts & Heritage Champion Award: Mimi Gardner Gates
We invite you to watch the recording of the 2023 Governor’s Arts & Heritage Awards from November 15, 2023. Celebrate with us as we honor the nine extraordinary honorees who are working to keep arts and heritage vibrant across Washington State.
🏆 The Individual Award recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to Washington’s arts landscape or its cultural heritage. The selection panel will evaluate Individual Award nominees on the strength or impact of their creative work. ArtsWA will name 2 awardees for this category.
🏆 The Organization Award recognizes an organization who has made significant contributions to Washington’s arts landscape or its cultural heritage. The selection panel will evaluate Organization Award nominees for their impact on Washington creativity and cultural expression. ArtsWA will name 2 awardees for this category.
🏆 The Community Impact Award recognizes an individual, organization, or group that has dedicated significant time and effort to positively impact the creative economy, the arts, or cultural heritage in their local community. The selection panel will evaluate Community Impact Award nominees on the significance of their activities.
🏆 The Educator Award recognizes an individual who has provided outstanding instruction in creative practice or cultural heritage. The selection panel will evaluate Educator Award nominees on the strength or impact of their educational work.
🏆 The Young Leader Award recognizes an individual between the ages of 18 and 35 who has shown outstanding impact through artistic practice or cultural heritage activities. The selection panel will evaluate Youth Award nominees on the strength or impact of their activities.
🏆 The Legacy Award recognizes an individual who has shown outstanding impact through creative practice or cultural preservation for at least 20 years. The selection panel will evaluate Legacy Award nominees on the significance and lasting impact of their activities.
ArtsWA will select an Arts & Heritage Champion Award honoree. This award recognizes an individual or organization that has shown extraordinary commitment to the vitality of arts & heritage in Washington State. Nominations are not accepted for this award.
ArtsWA is thrilled to announce the 2022 Governor’s Arts & Heritage Award honorees.
Individual Artist | Yegizaw (Yeggy) Michael
Organization | One Reel
Legacy | Robb Hunt
Advocacy | Dow Constantine
Community Organization | MusicWorks4Veterans
Individual | Yvonne A.K. Johnson
Individual | Carol Emarthle-Douglas
Individual | Deepti Agrawal
Organization | Historic Lincoln Theatre
Thank you to everyone who sent in a nomination. Your stories revealed the amazing arts-based work being done to lift people up across the state. Stay tuned in the weeks ahead for more news about these honorees and the digital celebration.
We invite you to watch a special virtual presentation of the 2022 Governor’s Arts & Heritage Awards. Meet the nine extraordinary honorees who are working to keep arts and heritage vibrant across Washington State.
The 2021 Governor’s Arts & Heritage Luminary Awards streamed live on Thursday, January 13 at 7:00 p.m. PST on YouTube. We invite everyone to enjoy this free presentation.
ArtsWA is thrilled to announce the 2021 Governor’s Arts & Heritage Luminary Award honorees.
Spotlight honoree | The Governor’s Spotlight award is given to an individual chosen by the Governor for their extraordinary use of the arts and humanities to benefit their community during the pandemic. Join us in celebrating:
Governor’s Spotlight | Delbert Richardson
Regional honorees | These exceptional individuals and organizations used the arts and humanities to shine a light for their communities during the darkness of the pandemic. Join us in celebrating:
Southwest Region | Organization – Asia Pacific Cultural Center
Southwest Region | Individual – Douglas Orr
Central Region | Organization – Gallery One
Eastern Region | Organization – Spokane Valley Summer Theatre
Eastern Region | Individual – Jeremy Whittington
Northwest Region | Organization – Path with Art
Northwest Region | Individual – Akuyea Karen Vargas
Thank you to everyone who sent in a nomination. Your stories revealed the amazing arts-based work being done to lift people up across the state.
1966
PONCHO
1967
City of Bellingham
Angus L. Bowmer
Pike Place Market
Washington State Library
1968
Eunice P. Ziegler
1969
Western Washington State College
Seattle First National Bank
Olympia Brewing Company
Richard E. Fuller
Atlantic Richfield Hanford Company
1970
Allied Arts Council of the Yakima Valley
Boise Cascade Corporation and the Blue Mountain Committee of the Pacific Northwest Ballet Association
Farm Credit Banks of Spokane
Erna Gunther
Rainier Brewing Company
Seattle Opera Association
Taholah Elementary School District #77
Mark Tobey
James Washington, Jr.
1971
Battelle Pacific
Northwest Laboratories
Morris Graves
Henry Art Gallery
Robert Joffrey
Helen Loggie
Mr. and Mrs. Lowell T. Murray, Sr.
Pacific Car and Foundry Foundation and the City of Renton
Seattle Symphony Orchestra and the Musicians’ Association (Local 76)
Tacoma School District #10
1972
Glen Alps
Ralph Anderson
Carnegie Center of the Arts
Richard Daugherty, Pullman, and the Makah Tribal Council
John and Anne Hauberg
Philadelphia String Quartet
Seattle Repertory Theatre
Spokane Civic Theatre
1973
A Contemporary Theatre
Allied Arts of Seattle, City of Seattle and King County
Park and Mildred Cook
Alan Hovaness
Ariel Lelooska
1974
Murray Morgan
Port of Seattle
Spokane Symphony Society
Whitworth College 1975
Allied Arts Association of Richland
Anacortes Arts and Crafts Festival, Inc and Anacortes School District #103
Lester S. Baskin
Vilem Sokol and the Seattle Youth
Symphony Orchestra
The City of Spokane and its People
1975
Richland Allied Arts Association
Anacortes Arts and Crafts Festival, Inc and Anacortes School District
Dr. Lester S. Baskin
Julia Butler Hansen
Vilem Sokol and the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra
The City of Spokane and its People
1976
Allied Arts Council of North Central Washington
Black Arts/West
Stanley Chapple
Ellensburg Community Art Gallery
Washington State Department of Highways
Bill Holm
Elida H. Kirk
George Laisner
Virginia and Bagley Wright
1977-1982 No awards presented
1983
Guy Anderson
Kenneth Callahan
The Capitol Theater Corporation
Columbia Basin Allied Arts
Mrs. David W. Gaiser
City of Kent
Safeco Insurance Company, R.M. Trafton, Chairman
Virginia Shackelford
WAMPUM
1984
Alcoa Foundation
Dale Chihuly and the Pilchuck School
Connoisseur Concerts
Anne Gerber
Jacob Lawrence
1985
Burlington Northern Foundation
Columbia Arts Center
Hans and Thelma Lehman
Tacoma Actors’ Guild
Victor Steinbrueck
George Tsutakawa
1986
Artists Unlimited
Mr. and Mrs. Morris Alhadeff
Dr. and Mrs. Elsworth Alvord, Jr.
Alfredo Arreguin
Ben B. Cheney Foundation
The Group Theatre
Old National Bank
Port Angeles Symphony
Jose Rambaldi
1987
Nelson Bently
Centrum Foundation
Chateau St. Michelle
Dr. Solomon Katz
Ramona Solberg
Tacoma Youth Symphony
1988
Harold Balazs
The Empty Space Theater
LaMar Harrington
Paul Horiuchi
The Music and Art Foundation
Ruth Slonin
Kent Stowell and Francia Russell
Vancouver Federal Savings Bank
Victory Music
The Wenatchee World
1989
Copper Canyon Press
Gaylen Hansen
Sheffield and Patricia Phelps
Seattle Children’s Theatre
Washington Trust Bank and Washington Trust Foundation
Marie Bakke Bremner
David Forlines
Marija Franulovich
Andrew George
Woodrow Gifford
Nhiua YiaHeu
Vi Hilbert
Lucy Liu
Esther Mumford
Ivan Novikoff
Gordon Ekvail Tracie
1990
Cecilia Svinth Carpenter
Ralph Hayes
Selma Muller
1991
Richard Gilkey
Carole Glickfield
Intiman Theater Company
Moses Lake City Council
Samuel Stroum
Tears of Joy Theater
Fred Cordova
Joseph Locati
Patrinell Wright
1992
The Boeing Company
Doris Chase
Robert Helm
Erasmo Gamboa
Bruce (Subiyay) Miller
1993
Judith Meltzer-Smith
Toppenish Mural Society
Joe Wheeler, Centrum
Santiago Almeida
Nettie Jackson
Lillian Pullen
1994
Corporate Council for the Arts (CCA)
Phillip McCracken
Northwest Asian American Theater
Palmer Johnson
Tazue Kiyono Sasaki
Emilija Tutlys
1995
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Benaroya
Columbia River Renaissance Art Committee
Eastern Washington State
Historical Society
Elaine Timentwa Emerson
Larry A. Geogre
Otta Oja
1996
The International Alliance of Theatrical Employees (Local 15), Studio Mechanics of the Pacific Northwest (Local 488), and Theatrical Wardrobe (Local 887)
The Seattle Arts Commission
The Walla Walla Foundry with Director Mark Anderson
Pauline Hillaire
Robert Sherwood
Maria Petrish
1997
Phillip Levine
Walla Walla Symphony
Citizens of Metaline Falls
Tacoma Art Museum
Carlton Appelo
Sara Quaempts
Maria Seo
Wing Luke Museum
1998
Max Benjamin
Hedgebrooks Writers Retreat
Alan Iglitzin and the Philadelphia String Quartet
Skaidrite Abolins
Ed Carriere
Trinidad Marquez
1999
Walter Graham
Jack Mackie
Museum of Northwest Art
Gloria Napalani Fujii
Michael Vlahovich
Bin-Liang Wang
2000
Crossroads Youth Theater
Sam Hamill
Linda Oestriech
Ralph Bennett
Mariachi Huenachi
Irene Martin
2001
Artist Trust
Carol Hassen
Gail Tremblay
Salvador Baldovinos
Tatjana Krynytzky
Hazel Pete
2002-2005 No awards presented
2006
Warren Chang
Fabrication Specialities Ltd
Southeast Effective Development
(SEED) Arts Program
Peter Donnelly
Virginia Beavert
Wilho Saari
Wapato Indian Club
2007
Richard Elliott
Elizabeth Herres Miller
Gage Academy of Art
Michael Sandner
Elaine Grinnell
Pete Peterson, Sr.
Skye K. Richendrfer
2008 -2011 No awards presented
2012
Book-It Repertory Theatre
Robert Maki
Lucia Perillo
Bailadores de Bronce
Heritage University
Johnny Moses
Maurice Rouman
2013 No awards presented
2014
Arts Council of Snohomish County (The Schack Arts Center)
Norie Sato
Speight Jenkins
The Evergreen State College
Longhouse Education and Cultural Center
Earl Davis
Johnpaul Jones
2015
Linda Hartzell
Northwest Sinfonietta
Jamie Valadez
Northwest Heritage Resources
Heidi Arbogast
Benjamin Hunter
2016
Dr. Quinton Morris
Oscar M. Galvan
Asia Pacific Cultural Center
Barbara Earl Thomas
Vashon Center for the Arts
2017
Peter Christenson
Terrance Robert Bernard Shaw
Living Voices
Lynn Di Nino
Seattle Art Museum
Deva Leinani Aiko Yamashiro
2018
Preston Singletary
Jim Kelly
Paul G. Allen
Leah Wilson-Velasco
Edmund Littlefield Jr.
Mery Swanson
Get Lit! Programs
Patsy Surh O’Connell
Port of Kennewick
2019
Michael Spafford
Juan Alonso-Rodriguez
Matthew Cadman
Davin Diaz
Anne Banks
The 5th Avenue Theatre
Juan Manuel Barco
Northwest Native American Basketweavers Association
2020 No awards presented
The Governor’s Arts Awards, established in 1966, recognize outstanding individuals and organizations for their significant contributions to the arts and cultural development of Washington State.
The Governor’s Heritage Awards, established in 1989, honor outstanding individuals and organizations whose dedication to preserving and promoting traditions and cultural heritage are worthy of state recognition.
