CULTURE

18th Annual Mayor’s Award for the Arts Thursday Jan. 29 Hoogland Center for the Arts 420 S. Sixth St. 217-753-3519 www.scfta.org 5:30pm Free

Celebrating art

The 18th annual Mayor’s Awards for the Arts acknowledges people and businesses who have dedicated their time and life to the arts in Springfield and surrounding areas. The award ceremony is sponsored by the Springfield Area Arts Council and includes six categories of awards that encompass all aspects of the arts. The categories include awards for Individual Artist, Art Organization, Literature, Dance, Business or Corporation, Arts Volunteer, Arts Educator and Exceptional Student in Menard or Sangamon County. Recipients are nominated by arts organizations and individuals in the community. Then a selection committee from the mayor’s office makes the final decision. This year the award comes in the form of a framed photograph of the Old State Capitol taken by Stephen Ritchie, local photographer. The event is free and open to the public.