Arts organization seeks nominations

Columbia County Arts Inc. is looking for outstanding artists.

The arts organization is currently accepting nominations for its annual Outstanding Individual Artist Award, said organization President Philip Hedgecoth.

"Last year was our first one," Hedgecoth said of the Outstanding Individual Artist Award. "Ron Jones was the first recipient of it."

Columbia County Arts is a volunteer organization that assists and promotes the artists and arts organizations in Columbia County for the education, inspiration and enjoyment of its citizens.

Hedgecoth said the two criteria for nominees are that they are a living Columbia County artist and that they have dedicated themselves to the excellence, growth, support and/or availability of arts in the county.

Nominators and nominees do not have to be a member of Columbia County Arts Inc. to be eligible.

"We'll get a committee together that evaluates all of (the nominations) and makes a choice," Hedgecoth said.

Determining factors will be the artist's outstanding achievement in his or her art discipline and ways the same artist has been dedicated to supporting arts in Columbia County. The winner will be announced at an Oct. 16 Columbia County Arts Inc. meeting.

Nominations must be received by Aug. 21. Nomination forms are available on the organization's Web site at www.columbiacountyarts.org. For more information, call Hedgecoth at (706) 650-2527.

Forms and other supporting materials should be mailed to Arts Recognition Awards, Columbia County Arts Inc., P.O. Box 2025, Evans, GA 30809.