By Tom McClimon
September 25, 2006

The United States Conference of Mayors and Americans for the Arts are accepting nominations for the 2007 Public Leadership in the Arts Awards. The categories for this year’s awards are Congressional (US Senator or Representative), State (governor) and Local (mayor). These awards will be given out at the Conference’s 75th Winter Meeting, January 24-26 in Washington (DC). The awards are given in recognition of an elected official whose role in advancement of the arts and arts education within his or her community and whose vision and leadership provide heightened visibility to the value of the arts. The deadline for nominations is Monday, October 23. For application materials and more information on the Arts Awards, contact Lina Garcia, Director of Local Arts Policy for Americans for the Arts, at lgarcia@artsusa.org

Past recipients of the Local Arts Awards have included: Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell, Meridian (MS) Mayor John Roberts Smith, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson, and Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr.