Rena Wren of Hot Springs is the recipient of an Individual Artist Fellowship.

Gov. Mike Beebe and the Arkansas Arts Council will present the Governor’s Arts Awards and Individual Artist Fellowships in recognition of outstanding contributions to the arts in Arkansas at noon Tuesday (Oct. 18) at The Peabody Little Rock.

The Governor’s Arts Awards recognize individuals and corporations for outstanding contributions to the arts in Arkansas. The recipients were nominated by the public then selected by an independent panel of arts professionals from around the state. Each recipient will receive an original work of art created by Winston Taylor of Russellville, recipient of the 2011 Arkansas Living Treasure award.

The Individual Artist Fellowships are awarded annually to artists in Arkansas in recognition of their individual abilities. The fellowships enable artists to set aside time for creating art and improving their skills.

Three artistic disciplines are selected each year as categories for the awards. This year they are music composition (folk, jazz, pop), poetry and sculpture/installation art. Nine artists were selected to receive fellowships worth $4,000 each. The recipients were selected by a jury of out-of-state professional artists, writers, performers and art administrators.

Luncheon tickets are $35 and may be purchased by contacting Cheri Leffew by e-mail or by calling (501) 324-9766.

Governor's Arts Awards recipients:

  • Lifetime achievement award -- Vincent Insalaco, North Little Rock
  • Arts community development award -- John Gaudin, North Little Rock
  • Arts in education award -- Nicole Capri, Little Rock
  • Corporate sponsorship of the arts award -- Thoma Thoma, Little Rock
  • Folklife award -- Mike Shirkey, Fayetteville
  • Individual artist award -- Larry Foley, Fayetteville
  • Patron award -- Hershey and Denise Garner, Fayetteville
  • Judges' special recognition award -- Claire Haun, North Little Rock

Individual artist fellowship recipients

  • Music composition: Richard Salonen of Farmington, Rena Wren of Hot Springs, Shannon Wurst of Fayetteville
  • Poetry: Mary Angelino of Fayetteville, J. Camp Brown of Fort Smith, Cynthia King of Fayetteville
  • Sculpture/installation art: Ty Brunson of Russellville, John Rankine of Eureka Springs, Cary Voss of Conway

For more information click here.