Beaver Dam receives a Governor’s Award in the Arts

Gov. Andy Beshear announced Feb. 11 that the City of Beaver Dam was one of nine recipients of the Commonwealth’s most prestigious arts awards, the Governor’s Awards in the Arts.

Beaver Dam was honored with the Government Award. That award recognizes the city’s significant support of the arts through government action and its dedication to sharing Kentucky’s rich arts history with the citizens of the common- wealth. The Governor’s Awards in the Arts recognizes and celebrates the extraordinary and significant contributions of Kentuckians and Kentucky organizations to the state’s arts heritage.

Beaver Dam Mayor Paul Sandefur said he was thrilled the city was recognized for what it does overall for the arts.

“I was excited for the city,” he said. “It validates what we have been doing.”

Sandefur said some people don’t recognize the importance of the arts in a city like Beaver Dam but it increases the “livability” of the area and helps promote not just tourism but economic development as well.

“From an economic development, (the award) is huge. Not just because of the notoriety and PR you get from it, but industries want to know about the livability of a city,” he said.Efforts such as the Beaver Dam Amphitheater with its annual concert series, the Beaver Dam Farmer’s Market and numerous city events such as Sounds on 2nd, the Strawberry Festival, Oktoberfest and the Christmas Festival, attributed to the city being selected for the award.

The Kentucky Arts Council, which recommends honorees to the Governor, accepts nominations for the Governor’s Awards in the Arts annually.

The Kentucky Arts Council solicits nominations and coordinates award presentations on behalf of the Governor of Kentucky. The 2021 Governor’s Awards in the Arts recipients are:

Milner Award – James Gifford, Boyd County

Artist Award – The Northern Kentucky Brotherhood Singers, Kenton County

Business Award – Paducah Bank, McCracken County

Community Arts Award – Butler County Arts Guild

Education Award – Jane Dewey, Boyle County

Folk Heritage Award – Sue Massek, Washington County

Government Award – City of Beaver Dam, Ohio County

Media Award – Louisville Public Media, Jefferson County

National Award – Martha Redbone, Harlan County

Each year, the arts council commissions a Kentucky artist to create custom works of art to serve as the award for recipients. The artist creates 10 awards – nine for the recipients and one for the Kentucky Arts Council’s permanent collection. Jefferson County glass artist Ann Klem created the 2021 Governor’s Awards in the Arts.