St. Louis, MO – On Wednesday, February 7, the Missouri Arts Council will honor the recipients of the 2024 Missouri Arts Awards, the state’s highest honor in the arts, at the Missouri State Capitol. The ceremony is open to the public.
Since 1983, the Missouri Arts Awards have acclaimed 248 individuals, organizations, and communities throughout the state for their significant contributions to Missouri’s artistic and cultural legacy. An independent panel of Missourians representing the statewide arts community selected the honorees from public nominations.
“The Arts have a profound impact on the cultural, educational, and economic vitality of our state, and each of these honorees exemplifies the range of talent and creativity we have across Missouri,” Lieutenant Governor Kehoe said. “Congratulations to the recipients of the 2024 Missouri Arts Awards.”
Wednesday, February 7, 2024
When: 2:00 p.m.
Where: Missouri State Capitol – First Floor Rotunda
Media: Open
The 2024 Missouri Arts Awards recipients include:
Arts Education | Liberty Public School District, Liberty
This district is wholeheartedly committed to bringing the multifaceted benefits of the arts to its 12,500 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Over 80 fine arts specialists partner with classroom teachers and teach visual and performing arts, utilizing enhancement activities such as in-school visits from artists and field trips to concerts and museums.
Arts Organization | Laumeier Sculpture Park, St. Louis
Founded in 1976 and now one of the top such parks in the world, more than 70 modern sculptures spread across 105 acres of lawns and woodlands in the heart of St. Louis County at Laumeier Sculpture Park. Laumeier’s mission of engaging the community through art and nature drives everything the park does, from festivals and special exhibitions to camps and hands-on classes.
Creative Community | City of Perryville
For nearly a decade, this southeastern agricultural city has been expanding its already rich historical and cultural assets with an abundance of arts initiatives, and the pace is accelerating. Programs include downtown murals, the annual rotating Perryville Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit, the 69-farm Perry County Barn Quilt Trail, and the new Perry County Creative Arts group.
Individual Artist | Catherine Dudley-Rose, St. Louis
Writer, musician, actress, and director Catherine Dudley-Rose brings together all these aspects in her burgeoning filmmaking career. Her first feature-length film, Parallel Chords, won many awards when theatrically released in 2019. She has also created many screenplays and short films and is now filming a multi-episode series about St. Louis-area artists, Broken Strings.
Leadership in the Arts | Kathleen Morrissey, West Plains
Arts administrator Kathleen Morrissey has championed rural community arts in her 30-year career ranging from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks to the Missouri Arts Council. Among her many current volunteer contributions are as administrator of West Plains’ Media Arts Center, coordinator of The Alliance: Arts and Cultural Organizations, and president of the West Plains Council on the Arts.
Philanthropy | Charlotte Street, Kansas City
Since 1997, Charlotte Street has been a bedrock of support, an incubator for growth, and a locus for connection and collaboration for Kansas City’s contemporary arts community. Through grants, awards, and residencies, Charlotte Street supports innovative visual artists, writers, filmmakers, and performers. Charlotte Street also brings artists’ work to audiences with over 100 free public programs annually.
About the Missouri Arts Council
The Missouri Arts Council provides support to nonprofit organizations through grants that meet its strategic goals: 1) engage people in meaningful arts experiences, 2) grow Missouri’s economy using the arts, 3) strengthen Missouri education through the arts. This funding makes quality arts programming possible in communities statewide.
The Council also provides expertise in community development, fundraising, marketing, grant writing, arts education, and artistic disciplines (visual arts, music, literature, theater, dance, festivals, and film/media).
Established as a state agency in 1965, the Missouri Arts Council is a division of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. The Council is funded through the Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Cultural Trust, and National Endowment for the Arts.
For more information on the Missouri Arts Council, contact Barbara MacRobie, public information coordinator, barbara.macrobie@ltgov.mo.gov, 314-340-6852, www.missouriartscouncil.org.
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