Artist Mary Edna Fraser, Hootie & the Blowfish to receive Verner Awards
March 3, 2016
The South Carolina Arts Commission announces the 2016 Elizabeth O’Neill Verner Governor’s Awards for the Arts, the highest honor the state presents in the arts. Established in 1972, the annual awards recognize outstanding achievement and contributions to the arts in South Carolina.
This year’s recipients:
Special recognition:
Hootie and the Blowfish
Nikky Finney, Columbia
Artist: Mary Edna Fraser, Charleston
Individual: Betty Plumb, Rock Hill
Arts in Education: Joye in Aiken, Aiken
Business/Foundation: The Phifer-Johnson Foundation/The Johnson Collection, Spartanburg
Government: The City of Greenville, South Carolina
Organization: The Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia
“Each of these Verner Award recipients has attracted positive national attention for the Palmetto State,” said S.C. Arts Commission Chairman Henry Horowitz. “Their dedication to the arts greatly benefits South Carolinians and materially enhances our state’s economic vitality. Their contributions regionally and nationally are a source of pride for South Carolinians living anywhere. The Verner Awards recognize service, commitment and passion, and we are honored to have these individuals and organizations working to enhance our state’s reputation as a leader in the arts.”
Awards will be presented May 11 at 11 a.m. during a ceremony at the Statehouse.
That evening, the S.C. Arts Foundation will honor the recipients and the arts community at the South Carolina Arts Gala, a fundraiser supporting the programs of the S.C. Arts Commission. The gala begins at 7:15 in the Grand Hall, 701 Whaley St. in Columbia. Gala tickets are $75 per person and may be purchased online.
The 2016 Verner Awards are sponsored by Colonial Life.
For more about the Verner Awards or the S.C. Arts Gala, call (803) 734-8696 or visit www.SouthCarolinaArts.com.
About the S.C. Arts Commission
The South Carolina Arts Commission is the state agency charged with creating a thriving arts environment that benefits all South Carolinians, regardless of their location or circumstances. Created by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1967, the Arts Commission works to increase public participation in the arts by providing services, grants and leadership initiatives in three areas: arts education, community arts development and artist development. Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., the Arts Commission is funded by the state of South Carolina, by the federal government through the National Endowment for the Arts and other sources. For more information, visit www.SouthCarolinaArts.com or call (803) 734-8696.
