The Idaho Falls Arts Council’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2009 Annual Arts Awards. All of the nominees are commendable for their artistry and service to the arts, but the 2009 awards will be given to jazz performer and aficionado Kevin Young, who will receive the Achievement in the Arts Award; and recently retired Arts Council Director Carrie Getty Scheid will be receiving the Support for the Arts Award. The Award presentation will be on Friday, January 15, 8:00 pm, prior to the iO! Theater- The Improvised Shakespeare Company performance in the Colonial Theater.
The Achievement in the Arts award recognizes outstanding achievement in visual or performing artistry or arts programming. Kevin Young's performing career started as a child during his Christmas morning concerts with his 3 brothers. He went on to be a drum major in the Skyline High School Band and then a member of the Utah State University Jazz Ensemble. Kevin is thrilled there are currently so many cool venues for live music in Idaho Falls and he can regularly be seen performing with the Kevin Young Jazz Quartet at Vino Rosso, The Cellar, The Snake River Concert Series, and other events, as well as the infamous Snake River All Stars- which will be making a stop here at the Colonial Theater on May 1. He has released two CDs "Sax for the Soul", and "Sax For The Holidays". But he is most proud of launching the Eastern Idaho Jazz Society, whose mission is to continue to provide a foundation for people to experience live jazz.
The Support for the Arts award recognizes outstanding financial or volunteer support of local arts organizations and/or artists. Carrie Getty Sheid moved to Idaho Falls from New York City and quickly made a splash. She had worked in marketing, publicity, and fundraising and was VP of the NYC Better Business Bureau. She started with the Arts Council in November 1994, when she served as capital campaign coordinator for the Miles and Virginia Willard Arts Center which successfully raised $4.2 million. She was hired as the Arts Council’s Executive Director in January 1997 and oversaw the renovation of two downtown buildings and adjacent former vaudeville theater into a regional arts Center (Miles and Virginia Willard Arts Center). She grew the Arts Council from a $90,000 operating budget in 1996 to over $800,000. She was the recipient the “Governor’s Arts Award” for being an outstanding arts administrator in Idaho in 2002. She also served as eastern Idaho’s liaison with the Idaho Commission on the Arts, the state arts agency. She initiated the Cultural District as well as the “Art You Can Sit On” public art bench project. Carrie recently retired the end of November, 2009 and the board for the Idaho Falls Arts Council didn’t want to miss this chance to honor her great contributions to the arts in Idaho Falls.
Past award winners in Achievement in the Arts include: Liatt Potter 2008, Betty Anderson 2007, Joe & Jacie Sites 2006, Linda Martin 2005, Dave Burger 2004, Eagle Rock Art Guild 2003, Actors Repertory Theatre of Idaho 2002, Shari Chadwick 2000, Deanne Hally 1999, Jerry Shively 1998, and Gloria Miller Allen 1997.
Past Support of the Arts Award winners include: Linda Guay 2008, Bechtel BWXT Idaho 2007, Dick Clayton, Sr. 2006, Ralph & Mary Lynn Hartwell 2005, Anne Voilleque 2004, Steve, Cindy, Greg, Taylor & Betty Carr 2003, Bank of Idaho 2001.
