Fund for the Arts and Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC announce the opening of nominations for the 3rd 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 September 1 – 30 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 Sat. Dec. 8 at the Louisville Ballet’s opening of the Brown-Forman Nutcracker.
“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 Morton Boyd, chairman emeritus of The Gheens Foundation, Inc., who served on the board of directors for Fund for the Arts, Actors Theatre and the Speed Museum. In its inaugural year, the award was presented to 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.”
Fund for the Arts is the oldest united arts fund in the country and has generated more than $180 million since its establishment in 1949. In 2012, the Fund for the Arts awarded 417 grants to various organizations throughout the region to provide financing for arts experiences and administrative support. The Fund for the Arts also hosts power2give.org, a micro-funding website for any 501(c)3 organization in Kentucky and Southern Indiana to post arts and culture projects. Other Fund sponsored activities include the annual Whittenberg Young Artist Scholarship and the NeXt! leadership development program for young professionals. For more information, visit www.fundforthearts.com.
In operation since 1897, Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC offers diverse legal services to local, regional, national and international clients. As one of Kentucky’s largest, most established firms, SKO has offices in Lexington, Louisville, Frankfort, Henderson and Morganfield, KY and Pittsburgh, PA. SKO is characterized by a commitment to client success and strong community engagement. For more information, visit www.skofirm.com.