Arts Leaders, Organizations Honored

The Duluth Fine Arts League and Sherry Ingbritsen, president and artistic director of New Dawn Theater Company, were among the Duluth artists, arts leaders, supporters and organizations honored at the second Fusion ArtWorks! Gwinnett Art Awards.

Fusion Awards were presented at the second annual awards ceremony Feb. 25 at the Buford Theatre and Community Center. The awards recognized the artists, arts administrators, and citizens who support the arts countywide.

The Duluth Fine Arts League won the Community Impact Award for Community Arts Program. Kay Montgomery, president of DFAL, accepted the award.

Ingbritsen was the winner of the Community Impact Award for Performing Artist.

Suzanna’s Kitchen, located in Duluth and Peachtree Corners, won the Corporate Arts Citizen Award. Company founder Barbara Howard accepted the award.

The Hudgens Center for the Arts in Duluth was named the winner of the Community Impact Award for Visual Arts Organization.

Judy Waters, representing the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia, was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Arts supporter Bill McCargo won the Vision Award.

Sally Corbett, former executive director of Duluth-based ArtWorks! Gwinnett, was recognized for her service as the inaugural director and for organizing the first Fusion Art Awards.

“This was a wonderful night for the arts in Gwinnett County,” according to Raye Varney, ArtWorks! Gwinnett’s interim executive director. “Arts leaders, corporate patrons of the arts, and artists all came together tonight, and the result was an exceptional evening – and a vision of a wonderful future for the arts in Gwinnett County.”

The event began with a reception in the Phillip Beard Ballroom and moved to the Sylvia Beard Theatre for the awards ceremony, which featured acceptance speeches by the winners and performances by Gwinnett artists. Performances included a dynamic hip-hop routine by the Kingsmen from Royal Dance Academy, a soulful original song composed and performed by Herman Pennamon, a captivating contemporary dance routine from Advocate Arts, an original orchestral work by Zephyr Instrumental, and a sneak peak at “The Drowsy Chaperone,” the upcoming musical from Aurora Theatre.

Fusion is a fundraiser for ArtWorks! Gwinnett, a non-profit organization that promotes and supports the arts in Gwinnett County.

Complete Fusion Art Award Winners List

(Winners highlighted in bold)

Lifetime Achievement Award – an individual who has had a significant, multi-year impact on the arts in Gwinnett. (Last year’s winners: Ann Parsons Odum, Barbara Howard, and Cynthia Sutt)

Nominees: Johnnie Rowe and Judy Waters

Corporate Arts Citizen Award for Individuals – a member of the corporate community who has made a significant impact on the arts. (Last year’s winners: Karen Fine Saltiel and Theresa Bullock)

Nominees: Laura Grams, Suzanne Holtcamp and Eddie Owen

Corporate Arts Citizen Award for Organizations – a company in Gwinnett that has made a significant impact on the arts. (Last year’s winners: Chocolate Perks, Gwinnett Daily Post, and Primerica Foundation)

Nominees: Advance Auto Parts and Ultra Car Wash, Gwinnett Tech, Holtcamp Heating and Air, Peach State Federal Credit Union, Suzanna’s Kitchen

Community Impact Award for Community Partnership – a community partnership that has made a significant impact in Gwinnett this past year. (Last year’s winner: Barefoot in the Park)

Nominees:  Art Thru the Lens, Aurora Theatre and Georgia Gwinnett College, Barefoot in the Park, Gwinnett Plein Air Challenge, Holtcamp Heating and Air, The Hudgens Center for the Arts, Zephyr Instrumental

Community Impact Award for Community Arts Program: a community arts program that has made a significant impact in Gwinnett this past year. (Last year’s winners: Gwinnett Public Libraries Arts Programs and Suwanee SculpTour)

Nominees: Barefoot in the Park, Duluth Fine Arts League, Eddie Owen Presents, Live Arts Theatre, North Gwinnett Arts Association, Tannery Row Artist Colony

Community Impact Award for Creative Business – a creative for-profit business that has made a significant impact in Gwinnett this past year. (Last year’s winner: Accent South Media)

Nominees: Eddie Owen Presents and Mighty 8th Media

Community Impact Award for Performing Artist – a performing artist who has made a significant impact in Gwinnett this past year (New Award)

Nominees: Jennifer Hite, Sherry Ingbritsen, John Lazlo, Rebecca Parker

Community Impact Award for Visual Artist – a visual arts artist who has made a significant impact in Gwinnett this past year. (New Award) (Last year’s artist category winner: Vickie Johnson)

Nominees: Donna R. Biggee, Richard Calmes, Vernon Smith, Mavis Stevens

Community Impact Award for Visual Arts Organization – visual arts nonprofit that has made a significant impact in Gwinnett this past year (New Award)

Nominees:  Duluth Fine Arts League, Hudgens Center for the Arts

Community Impact Award for Performing Arts Organization – a performing arts nonprofit that has made a significant impact in Gwinnett this past year. (Last year’s Arts Presenter category winner: Aurora Theatre)

Nominees: Eddie Owen Presents, Gwinnett Ballet Theatre, Live Arts Theatre, New Dawn Theatre, Zephyr Instrumental

Arts Educator of the Year Award – an outstanding arts educator. (Last year’s winner: Robert Andrews)

Nominees:  Chase Garner, Whitney Sue Jones, Lynn Urda, Debi West

Arts Volunteer of the Year Award – an outstanding arts volunteer. (Last year’s winner: Holley Calmes)

Nominees: Holley Calmes, Sean Casey, Jean Harrivel, Suzanne Holtcamp, Ann Morrow, Rebecca Parker

Community Impact  Award for Arts Leaders – an arts leader who has made a significant impact in Gwinnett this past year. (Last year’s winner: Teresa Osborn)

Nominees:  Sally Corbett, Duluth Fine Arts League, Angela Nichols, Eddie Owen, Rebecca Parker, Anthony Rodriguez and Ann-Carol Pence, Zephyr Instrumental

Vision Award – an individual (or company) who has changed the arts in Gwinnett for the better through their vision and focus. (Last year’s winner: Margaret Parsons Andrews)

Nominees: Sally Corbett, Nancy Harris, Bill McCargo, Anthony Rodriguez and Ann-Carol Pence, Cathy Rohloff