2021 Arizona Governor’s Arts Awards winners

The winners of the 40th annual Arizona Governor’s Arts Awards have been named.

Nominated by community members, the esteemed award is presented to individuals, businesses and organizations that have made an impact on arts and culture in Arizona.

Presented by Billie Jo and Judd Herberger, the awards show took place Friday night.

Among the highlights of the evening was Valley Youth Theatre artistic director Bobb Cooper receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The highest honor, the Shelley Award, was presented to anthropologist, folklorist and writer Maribel Alvarez of Tucson.

Since 1981, more than 250 artists, individuals, cultural organizations, educators, businesses and philanthropists have received Governor’s Arts Awards.

Winners were chosen by an independent committee from 24 finalists from 10 Arizona communities.

2021 Governor’s Arts Awards Winners

Artist Award:

Scottsdale.

Arts Educator: John Contreras, Tucson.

Large Arts Organization: Theatre Troupe, Phoenix.

Large Business: Art in Medicine, Phoenix.

Philanthropy:

Phoenix.

Small Arts Organization:

Arts Arizona, Phoenix.

Small Business: Emancipation Arts, Phoenix.

Elizabeth Montgomery is Arts and Culture Reporter for The Arizona Republic, azcentral.com. Reach her at emontgomery@azcentral.com or 602444-8764. Follow her on Twitter @emontnews.

Kristin Atwell Ford,

Molly

Black

DeFilippis,

Young

ELAINE CAMPBELL Clottee Hammons is the founder and creative director of Emancipation Arts, a Phoenix-based community organization aimed at raising the profile of Black artists in Arizona.

VALLEY YOUTH THEATRE Bobb Cooper is the longtime artistic director of Valley Youth Theatre in Phoenix.

JOHN BUTTEL Valley Youth Theatre’s production of “Madagascar — A Musical Adventure.”

COURTESY BLACK THEATRE TROUPE “The Black Nativity” by the Black Theatre Troupe.