Make Your Nominations for FRAA's 2014 Arts Awards Now!

The Florence Regional Arts Alliance is currently accepting nominations for four Florence County awards:  The John W. Baker Distinguished Service Award, The Business & Arts Partnership Award, the Outstanding Arts Organization Award and the inaugural Greg Fry Arts Educator of the Year Award.

The deadline for nominations is March 15, 2014.  Award nominations should be submitted by email to peedeearts@gmail.com.  An acceptable nomination will include the following:

Name of Nominee

Name of Nominator

Nominator's Contact Information

Reason for Nomination (approximately one paragraph)

You can now make your nominations online.  Click here to view the nomination form.

Below are descriptions of each award:

John W. Baker Distinguished Service Award

The John W. Baker Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual from Florence County who has significantly impacted the quality of life in our community through his/her activities, contributions, and/or accomplishments in the arts.  Any individual may be nominated with the exception of current members of the Florence Regional Arts Alliance Board of Directors or Staff.

The 2013 Baker Award recipient was Jane Madden.

Business & Arts Partnership Award

The Business and Arts Partnership Award recognizes a Florence County business for its vital commitment to the arts as evidence by operational and/or project support provided on a substantial and ongoing basis.

The 2013 Business & Arts Partnership Award winner was Honda of SC.

Outstanding Arts Organization Award

This award is presented annually to the Florence County arts organization that has a tremendous impact on the community.  This may be through programming, projects, resource development, advocacy or other innovation.  No organization may win this award twice in a four year period.

The 2013 Outstanding Arts Organization Award went to Florence Little Theatre.

The Greg Fry Arts Educator of the Year Award (new in 2014)

This award will be presented annually to an educator who either resides or works in Florence County.  Public and private schools educators are eligible for this award, as well as individuals in higher education and those who teach through registered 501(c)(3) arts organizations. 

For more information about the Florence Regional Arts Alliance's Awards Program, contact Bruce Douglas at peedeearts@gmail.com.  

Through March 15th: FRAA Accepting Arts Awards Nominations

The Florence Regional Arts Alliance (FRAA) is currently accepting nominations for its 2014 Arts Awards.  For 2014, four awards will be presented.  More information about the awards can be found below.

The deadline for 2014 Arts Awards nominations is March 15, 2014.
Award nominations should be submitted by email to peedeearts@gmail.com.
An acceptable nomination will include the following:

Name of Nominee
Name of Nominator
Nominator's Phone Number
Reason for Nomination (approximately one paragraph)

Below is information about each award.

John W. Baker Distinguished Service Award

The John W. Baker Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual from Florence County who has significantly impacted the quality of life in our community through his/her activities, contributions, and/or accomplishments in the arts.  Any individual may be nominated with the exception of current members of the Florence Regional Arts Alliance Board of Directors or Staff.

The 2013 Baker Award recipient was Jane Madden.

Business & Arts Partnership Award

The Business and Arts Partnership Award recognizes a Florence County business for its vital commitment to the arts as evidence by operational and/or project support provided on a substantial and ongoing basis.

The 2013 Business & Arts Partnership Award winner was Honda of SC.

Outstanding Arts Organization Award

This award is presented annually to the Florence County arts organization that has a tremendous impact on the community.  This may be through programming, projects, resource development, advocacy or other innovation.  No organization may win this award twice in a four year period.

The 2013 Outstanding Arts Organization Award went to Florence Little Theatre.

The Greg Fry Arts Educator of the Year Award (new in 2014)

This award will be presented annually to an educator who either resides or works in Florence County.  Public and private schools educators are eligible for this award, as well as individuals in higher education and those who teach through registered 501(c)(3) arts organizations. 

For more information about the Florence Regional Arts Alliance's Awards Program, contact Bruce Douglas at peedeearts@gmail.com.  

Click below to watch the video announcement of the 2013 FRAA Arts Awards:

Bill Kress received the 2013 Frank Crow Award from FRAA

The Florence Regional Arts Alliance recently presented the Frank Crow Award to Bill Kress.  Kress has served the organization in various capacities, including treasurer, committee chair and board member, for over 12 years.  

The Frank Crow Award, presented for the first time in 2013, will be presented annually to an FRAA board member, staff member of volunteer who has had a tremendous impact on the organization over the last year or a longer period of time.  

To see a list of all of FRAA's 2013 Arts Awards winners, click here.

To learn more about the Florence Regional Arts Alliance, click here.

Check out the Florence Regional Arts Alliance's 2013 Arts Awards Video

Click on the image above to view the 

Florence Regional Arts Alliance's 2013 Arts Awards Video!

FRAA announces its 2013 Arts Awards

The Florence Regional Arts Alliance (FRAA) recently announced its 2013 Arts Awards recipients.  Among the winners were two local arts leaders, one arts organization and a global corporation.  “We’re very fortunate in Florence County to have more worthy candidates than awards to give away,” said Quincy Kennedy, President of FRAA.  “We feel like our Board did a great job in narrowing down the nominations we received from the community; it’s not an easy task though,” Kennedy remarked.  

Jane Madden, the engine behind the Art Trail Gallery’s quick and continued success, received the John W. Baker Distinguished Service Award.  Madden’s efforts over the last five years have been a major factor in the “people side” of Florence’s downtown revitalization.  “As improvements are continuously being made downtown, Jane is one of the main people promoting events and encouraging folks to visit our revitalized downtown,” said Kennedy.  

The Florence Little Theatre received the Outstanding Arts Organization Award from FRAA.  “Most people are aware of the great shows FLT produces.  Not everyone is aware of the outstanding programming they put on for young people and for lifelong learners through their Senior Readers Group.  The impact FLT has on Florence County is truly amazing,” said Bruce Douglas, Executive Director of FRAA.  

The Business & Arts Partnership Award recipient for 2013 is Honda of South Carolina.  Honda, which operates out of Timmonsville, supports several community-based programs, projects and events, both arts and non-arts-related.  “Honda’s continuous support of the arts, and the Arts Alliance, is why they are receiving this award,” said Kennedy.  Honda partners with FRAA to present the Excellence in Arts Education Awards to Florence County’s public high schools.  Honda also funds FRAA’s quarterly grants program, which disburses money to organizations, artists and teachers throughout Florence County.  

The inaugural Frank Crow Service Award winner is Bill Kress.  Kress, a long-time Florence Regional Arts Alliance board member, staff member and volunteer, worked with Frank Crow and was honored to receive the award. “This award means alot to me because it has Frank’s name on it,” said Kress.  Crow served as FRAA’s director from 2003-2012 before medical issues forced him into retirement.  The Crow Award will be presented annually to an FRAA board member, staff member or volunteer who has had a tremendous impact on the organization.  

In 2014, FRAA will add a fifth award to its lineup.  The Greg Fry Arts Educator of the Year Award will be presented in May of next year.  More information about the award will be announced soon.  

To honor the winners, FRAA produced a series of videos.  Visit floscarts.org or http://vimeo.com/channels/peedeearts to view the videos.

For more information about these awards or any other Florence Regional Arts Alliance program, contact Bruce Douglas at peedeearts@gmail.com.  

The Florence Regional Arts Alliance will announce its Arts Awards recipients this month!

The Florence Regional Arts Alliance will be announcing its 2013 Arts Awards winners later this month.  Check back with Pee Dee Arts for a special video announcement of the Baker Distinguished Service Award, The Arts & Business Partnership Award, the Outstanding Arts Organization of Florence County Award and the Frank Crow Award.

About the Awards:

John W. Baker Distinguished Service Award

The John W. Baker Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual from Florence County who has significantly impacted the quality of life in our community through his/her activities, contributions, and/or accomplishments in the arts.  Any individual may be nominated with the exception of current members of the Florence Regional Arts Alliance Board of Directors or Staff.

Business & Arts Partnership Award

The Business and Arts Partnership Award recognizes a Florence County business for its vital commitment to the arts as evidence by operational and/or project support provided on a substantial and ongoing basis.

Outstanding Arts Organization Award

This award is presented annually to a Florence County arts organization that has a tremendous impact on the community.  This may be through programming, projects, resource development, advocacy or other innovation.  No organization may win this award twice in a four year period.

The Frank Crow Award

This award is presented to an Arts Alliance volunteer, staff member or board member who has positively impacted the organization over the last year or over a longer period of time. 

New to the Arts Alliance's Arts Awards lineup in 2014 will be the Greg Fry Educational Leadership Award.  Exact award criteria has not been determined yet, though the award will be presented to an educator from Florence County.