Cathey Sawyer of the Greenbrier Valley Theater, (right) presents a limited edition Blenko Glass vase to Mary Hott, Executive Director of the Morgan Arts Council at the recent Governor's Awards in the Arts in Charleston. Hott accepted the award for MAC presented for Leadership in the Arts.
Photo by Michael Keller

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- 6/20/08
Morgan Arts Council • Berkeley Springs, WV
Press contact only: Jeanne Mozier --304-258-4248

MORGAN ARTS COUNCIL WINS GOVERNOR'S ARTS AWARD
PHOTOS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST
BERKELEY SPRINGS, WV -- The Morgan Arts Council (MAC) of Berkeley Springs won the prestigious West Virginia Governor's Award for Leadership in the Arts recently. The longtime grass roots organization was one of a dozen individuals and groups honored in four categories. MAC was the only winner from the Eastern Panhandle.


Presentor Cathey Sawyer of Greenbrier Valley Theater cited the organization for "translating vision into reality." She explained that "MAC is the product of many people, much dedication and a true passion for the arts. It holds a special place in a special community and is a model for small town arts leadership." Sawyer listed the national recognition earned for Berkeley Springs through the activities of the arts council and mentioned accomplishments ranging from establishing the first studio tour in the Eastern Panhandle and staging West Virginia's first statewide Arts Assembly to developing the Ice House as an art center now used daily. Sawyer concluded by saying, "MAC’s thirty-one years are filled with consistently innovative, creative and successful programs aimed at carrying out its simple and to-the-point mission – Getting Art Out There! ".


Mary Hott, MAC's Executive Director traveled to Charleston to accept the award. "I was sincerely impressed by the remarkable quality of the West Virginia performance art presented as part of the evening," said Hott. "It made me proud to be a West Virginian and to have MAC on stage receiving an award in such great company." Among the performers specially mentioned by Hott were the Appalachian Children's Chorus and Pianafiddle. "I'm hoping MAC can bring both of these groups to Berkeley Springs in the near future, " she said. The awards ceremony was held on the Capitol Complex in Charleston, in the Cultural Center's Norman Fagan Theater.


In her acceptance speech, Hott told the near-capacity crowd about her own art odyssey from Paw Paw to Manhattan and Boston to study music. "I was encouraged to return home with my family because of the strong arts presence in Morgan County thanks to the work of all the dedicated volunteers and artists of the Morgan Arts Council," she said. Hott closed by inviting the audience to visit Berkeley Springs and see for themselves how the arts can help make a town shine.


For information about the Morgan Arts Council's many programs and activities, call 258-2300 or check online at macicehouse.org.

Photo by Michael Keller