Fund for the Arts and Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC announce the opening of nominations for the 4th annual James Welch Sr. Arts Leadership Award, an honor that recognizes substantial impact to the Louisville arts made by an individual through volunteer commitment and leadership.
Nominations are accepted July 15 – Aug. 15 at Fund for the Arts’ website, www.fundforthearts.com.
Qualified nominees are ones who significantly contribute to the various groups in the Louisville arts community, leaving lasting effects while demonstrating quiet leadership and continuous dedication. The James Welch Sr. Arts Leadership Award will be presented Thurs. Oct. 10 at Actors Theatre’s opening of “The Mountaintop.”
“The Fund for the Arts welcomes nominations for this prestigious award,” said Barbara Sexton-Smith, president and CEO of Fund for the Arts. “We believe art is the common thread that connects all of humanity, and Mr. Welch was a wonderful role model in how he connected with various parts of our community.”
The award was created in honor of the late James Welch Sr., one of the founding members of Stoll Keenon Ogden’s legacy law firm, who quietly provided strong guidance and support to the Louisville arts for decades. Fund for the Arts and SKO seek to recognize someone who, like Welch, has made significant contributions and a lasting impact on the Louisville arts in a quiet, often unrecognized manner.
Last year the award was presented to Todd Lowe, president and founder of Parthenon LLC. Previous recipients are Morton Boyd, chairman emeritus of The Gheens Foundation, Inc. and Tom Noland who served on the board for the Fund for the Arts, Louisville Orchestra and Kentucky Opera as well as the Partnership for Creative Economies.
“James Welch enhanced the stature of our law firm and the arts community with his civic-minded engagement and strong commitment to excellence,” said Kendrick Riggs, vice chair of the board of directors at SKO. “It’s very fitting to have this award in his name, and we are proud to partner with Fund for the Arts to honor individuals who continually advance the opportunities within Louisville’s arts community.”