Complete List of Governor’s Arts Awards Recipients (1978-2020)

Abendmusik: Lincoln Inc | Lincoln | Governor’s Arts Award | 1988
African Culture Connection | Omaha | Heritage Award | 2012
Albion Area Arts Council Inc | Albion | Organizational Achievement | 1994
Alegent Health | Omaha | Partner in the Arts | 2008
Alexander Payne | Omaha | Outstanding Artist | 2018
Allan Tubach | Falls City | Governor’s Arts Award | 1988
Andrew Ek & Matt Mason | Omaha | Emerging Leader | 2014
Andrew Norman | Omaha | Emerging Leader | 2016
Anna Nolan & Allen Covault | David City | Partner in the Arts (Thomas C. Woods III) | 2018
Anne Trumble | Omaha | Emerging Leader | 2012
Art Farm | Marquette | Organizational Achievement | 2008
Art in Park Arts Festival Inc | Kearney | Governor’s Arts Award | 1981
Arthur Pierce | Kearney | Outstanding Artist (Artist of the Year) | 2008
Arts for All, Inc | Omaha | Organizational Achievement | 2016
Audun Ravnan | Lincoln | Governor’s Arts Award | 1981
Bailey-Lauerman and Associates | Lincoln | Partner in the Arts | 2004
Bankers Life of NE & Harry Seward | Lincoln | General Award | 1978
Barbara Zach | Lincoln | Emerging Leader | 2010
Bassett City Council & James Shaw, Mayor | Bassett | General Award | 1979
Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts | Omaha | Organizational Achievement | 2000
Bernice Slote – University of Nebraska | Lincoln | General Award | 1979
Black Ministerial Association | Omaha | Governor’s Arts Award | 1982
Blue Barn Theatre | Omaha | Organizational Achievement | 2012
Bob Hall | Lincoln | Outstanding Artist (Artist of the Year) | 2010
Bob Nefsky | Lincoln | Leonard Thiessen Award | 2018
Bob Schmer and His Polka Plybys | Scottsbluff | Heritage/Folk Arts | 1992
Brownville Concert Series | Brownville | Organizational Achievement | 2010
Brownville Village Theatre & Henry & Phyllis Blanke | General Award | 1979
Butler County Arts Council | David City | Organizational Achievement | 2002
Carl Beck & Susan Baer Collins | Omaha | Outstanding Artist | 2014
Carnegie Arts Center | Alliance | Organizational Achievement | 2000
Carol Cope | Kearney | Partner in the Arts (Thomas C. Woods III) | 2006
Carolyn Owen Anderson | Omaha | Access to the Arts | 2020
Cathedral Arts Project | Omaha | Organizational Achievement | 1998
Catherine & Terry Ferguson | Omaha | Leonard Thiessen Award | 2012
Charles Monasee | Omaha | Partner in the Arts (Thomas C. Woods III) | 1992
Charles Trimble | Omaha | Heritage/Folk Arts | 2006
Chip Davis | Omaha | Outstanding Artist (Artist of the Year) | 1990
Cliffs Notes Inc | Lincoln | Partner in the Arts | 1994
Community Players, Inc. | Beatrice | Organizational Achievement | 2006
Connie Dillow | Wahoo | Excellence in Arts Education | 2012
Cooper Foundation | Lincoln | Governor’s Arts Award | 1984
Dave Stewart | Hastings | Outstanding Artist | 2020
D.B “Woody” Varner | Lincoln | Leonard Thiessen Award | 1992
Don Doll | Omaha | Outstanding Artist (Artist of the Year) | 2006
Don Hinds | Fremont | Partner in the Arts (Thomas C. Woods III) | 2004
Donald D. Ruleaux | Chadron | Excellence in Arts Education | 2012
Douglas Marr | Omaha | Outstanding Artist (Artist of the Year) | 1994
Duane Hutchinson | Lincoln | Outstanding Artist (Artist of the Year) | 1998
Dudley’s Dry Cleaners and Launderers | Norfolk | Partner in the Arts | 2002
Durwood B “Woody” Varner | Lincoln | General Award | 1978
E.N. “Jack” Thompson | Lincoln | Leonard Thiessen Award | 2002
Educational Service Unit #11 | Holdrege | Excellence in Arts Education | 1998
El Museo Latino | Omaha | Heritage/Folk Arts | 2002
Elmer Crumbley | Omaha | Excellence in Arts Education | 2002
Emmy Gifford | Omaha | Governor’s Arts Award | 1983
Ernest Richardson | Omaha | Excellence in Arts Education | 2016
Frances Thurber, Ph.D | Omaha | Excellence in Arts Education | 2006
Freemont Area Arts Association | Freemont | Organizational Achievement | 2020
Fred & Eve Simon | Omaha | Leonard Thiessen Award | 2010
Fred & Lorraine Teller | Hastings | Partner in the Arts (Thomas C. Woods III) | 2006
Friends of the Midwest Theater | Scottsbluff | Organizational Achievement | 2012
Ft. Robinson Centennial, Inc. | Crawford | Governor’s Arts Award | 1984
Garan Coons | Macy | Heritage Award | 2020
GFWC/NE Fed of Women’s Clubs | Statewide | Excellence in Arts Education | 1996
Gladys M. Lux | Lincoln | General Award | 1979
Gospel Music Workshop | Omaha | Heritage Award | 2010
Grace Varney | Broken Bow | General Award | 1978
Greeley Irish Festival | Greeley | Heritage Award | 2016
Gulizia Brothers | Omaha | Excellence in Arts Education | 1996
Hal & Gretchen Lainson | Hastings | Partner in the Arts (Thomas C. Woods III) | 2002
Harold & Marian Andersen | Omaha | Partner in the Arts | 1996
Harriet Hughes | Ainsworth | Excellence in Arts Education | 2004
Harry & Nancy Duncan | Omaha | General Award | 1979
Hastings Civic Symphony | Hastings | General Award | 1978
Helen Cherniack | Omaha | Leonard Thiessen Award | 1996
Henry Fonda | Los Angeles, CA | Governor’s Arts Award | 1982
Herb Mignery |  Loveland, CO | Outstanding Artist | 2020
James and Rhonda Seacrest | Lincoln | Leonard Thiessen Award | 2006
Jamie Burmeister | Omaha | Outstanding Artist | 2016
Jennifer Boomgaarden |Omaha | Emerging Leader | 2010
Jerome Dubas | Grand Island | Excellence in Arts Education | 2020
Jim & Ruth Keene | Omaha | Partner in the Arts (Thomas C. Woods III) | 1998
Joan Squires | Omaha | Partner in the Arts (Thomas C. Woods III) | 2012
John Beasley | Omaha | Partner in the Arts (Thomas C. Woods III) | 2010
John Mangan | Macy | Excellence in Arts Education | 2010
Johnny Carson Foundation | Beverly Hills CA | Leonard Thiessen Award | 2016
Jordan Huether | Gordon | Emerging Leader | 2018
Joseph Cabral | Omaha | Heritage/Folk Arts | 1996
Josie Metal-Corbin | Omaha | Excellence in Arts Education | 2000
Joslyn Art Museum | Omaha | Organizational Achievement | 2016
Joslyn Art Museum | Omaha | Governor’s Arts Award | 1985
Juli Burney | Lincoln | Outstanding Artist (Artist of the Year) | 2002
Jun Kaneko | Omaha | Outstanding Artist (Artist of the Year) | 2012
Karen Janovy | Lincoln | Excellence in Arts Education | 2006
Karen Kunc | Avoca | Outstanding Artist (Artist of the Year) | 2000
Kathy & Marc LeBaron | Lincoln | Partner in the Arts (Thomas C. Woods III) | 2012
Kearney Community Theatre | Kearney | Organizational Achievement | 1996
Kearney State Bank and Trust | Kearney | Governor’s Arts Award | 1986
Keith Heckman | Lincoln | Partner in the Arts (Thomas C. Woods III) | 2010
Keith Jacobshagen | Lincoln | Governor’s Arts Award | 1986
Kim Dinsdale | Grand Island | Partner in the Arts (Thomas C. Woods III) | 2018
Kris Ann Sullivan | Kearney | Excellence in Arts Education | 2000
Ky & Jane Rohman | Lincoln | Partner in the Arts (Thomas C. Woods III) | 1994
LaVon Crosby | Lincoln | Governor’s Arts Award | 1986
Lawrence A. “Larry” Enersen | Lincoln | General Award | 1979
Leonard Thiessen | Omaha | General Award | 1978
Lexington Arts Council | Lexington | Organizational Achievement | 2004
Lied Center for Performing Arts | Lincoln | Organizational Achievement | 2008
Lincoln Community Playhouse |Lincoln |Organizational Achievement | 1994
Lincoln Community Playhouse’s Penguin Project | Lincoln | Access to the Arts | 2020
Lincoln Friends of Chamber Music | Lincoln | Organizational Achievement | 1990
Lincoln Symphony Orchestra | Lincoln | Organizational Achievement | 2018
Lincoln Symphony Orchestra | Lincoln | Governor’s Arts Award | 1986
Linda M. Garcia | Omaha | Heritage Award | 2020
Luigi Waites | Omaha Outstanding Artist (Artist of the Year) | 1996
Lux Center for the Arts | Lincoln | Organizational Achievement | 2014
Margaret Hornady | Grand Island | Partner in the Arts (Thomas C. Woods III) | 2016
Mary Reipma Ross | NYC | Leonard Thiessen Award | 1994
Matt and Shelly Sehnert | McCook | Thomas C. Woods III Partner in the Arts | 2020
Meadowlark Music Festival | Lincoln | Organizational Achievement | 2006
Megan Terry | Omaha | Outstanding Artist (Artist of the Year) | 1992
Merle Stalder | Falls City | Partner in the Arts (Thomas C. Woods III) | 2008
Metropolitan Community College | Omaha | Partner in the Arts (Thomas C. Woods III) 2014
Michael and Gail Yanney | Omaha | Partner in the Arts (Thomas C. Woods III) | 2000
Michael James | Lincoln | Outstanding Artist (Artist of the Year) | 2008
Museum of Nebraska Art | Kearney | Organizational Achievement | 2010
Museum of the Fur Trade | Chadron | Heritage/Folk Arts | 2008
Nancy Duncan | Omaha | Outstanding Artist (Artist of the Year) | 2004
NE Art Collection Foundation | Kearney | Governor’s Arts Award | 1985
NE Art Teachers Assoc. | Lincoln | Excellence in Arts Education | 2018
NE Shakespeare Festival | Omaha | Organizational Achievement | 2004
NE State Historical Society | State of NE | Heritage/Folk Arts | 2004
Nebraska Arts Association | Lincoln | General Award | 1979
Nebraska Council of Home Extension Clubs | Lincoln | General Award | 1979
Nebraska Public Radio Friday Live | Lincoln | Thomas C. Woods III Partner in the Arts | 2020
Nebraska State Senator John Nelson |Omaha |Leonard Thiessen Award | 2014
NETV & Ron Hull | Lincoln | General Award | 1978
Norfolk Arts Center| Norfolk | Organizational Achievement | 2014
Norman Geske | Lincoln | Leonard Thiessen Award | 2004
Norman Geske | Lincoln | Governor’s Arts Award | 1983
Norman Geske | Lincoln | General Award | 1978
North Platte Community Playhouse Inc | Governor’s Arts Award | 1983
Northern Natural Gas Co & Willis Strauss | Omaha | General Award | 1978
Omaha Community Playhouse (& C. Jones) | Governor’s Arts Award | 1982
Omaha Opportunities Industrialization Center | Governor’s Arts Award | 1981
Omaha Performing Arts | Omaha | Organizational Achievement | 2018
Omaha Steaks Inc. | Partner in the Arts (Business Leadership Award) | 1998
Omaha Symphony Association & Maestro T. Briccetti |Governor’s Arts Award | 1979
Omaha Theater Company for Young People | Organizational Achievement | 2002
Omaha Tribe of Nebraska | Macy | Heritage/Folk Arts | 1992
Opera Omaha | Omaha | Governor’s Arts Award | 1984 | Organizational Achievement | 2020
Oscar “Pop” Bennett | Lincoln | General Award | 1978
Patsy Koch Johns | Lincoln | Excellence in Arts Education | 2014
Pawnee Art Center | Dannebrog | Heritage Award | 2018
Peter Kiewit Foundation | Omaha | Governor’s Arts Award | 1987
Ponca Tribe of Nebraska | Niobrara | Heritage/Folk Arts | 1998
Prairie Schooner Magazine | Lincoln | Organizational Achievement | 1996
Prairie Visions/TETAC | Lincoln | Excellence in Arts Education | 1992
R. Jerry Hargitt | Omaha | Governor’s Arts Award | 1985
Rebecca Noble | Omaha | Excellence in Arts Education | 2020
Regional Arts Alliance | Gordon | Governor’s Arts Award | 1982
Reinhold Pieper Marxhausen | Seward | Governor’s Arts Award | 1983
Richard & Janyce Hunt | Blair | Partner in the Arts (Business Leadership Award) | 2000
Richard & Mary Holland | Omaha | Partner in the Arts (Thomas C. Woods III) | 2004
Rita Stinner | Scottsbluff | Excellence in Arts Education | 2008
Robert & Karen Duncan | Lincoln | Leonard Thiessen Award | 2000
Robert & Roberta Rogers | Omaha | Partner in the Arts (Thomas C. Woods III) | 1990
Robert Hillestad | Lincoln | Excellence in Arts Education | 2008
Roger Welsch | Dannebrog | Heritage/Folk Arts | 2002
Ruth Meints | Omaha | Excellence in Arts Education | 2016
Salem Baptist Church Voices | Omaha | Heritage/Folk Arts | 2000
Senator J. Robert Kerrey | Omaha | Partner in the Arts (Thomas C. Woods III) | 1996
Senator LaVon Crosby | Lincoln | Leonard Thiessen Award | 1998
Shari Hofschire | Omaha | Excellence in Arts Education | 2018
Sheldon Film Theater | Lincoln | Governor’s Arts Award | 1983
Sheldon Statewide | Lincoln | Excellence in Arts Education | 2002
Steve Barth & Brian Botsford | Kearney | Emerging Leader | 2014
Steve Tamayo | Omaha | Heritage Award | 2014
Sue Reiber | Shelton | Excellence in Arts Education | 1994
Ted Kooser | Garland | Governor’s Arts Award | 1988
Thomas Wilkins | Omaha | Outstanding Artist | 2014
Tri County Bank and Insurance | Stuart | Partner in the Arts | 1998
Tuesday Musical Concert Series | Omaha | Organizational Achievement | 1992
Union Pacific Railroad | Omaha | Governor’s Arts Award | 1981
University of Nebraska System | Partner in the Arts | 1990
Valmont Industries | Omaha | Partner in the Arts | 2006
Village Players Inc | Hyannis | Organizational Achievement | 1990
Wallace Richardson | Lincoln | Governor’s Arts Award | 1982
West NE Arts Center & Hod Kosman | Scottsbluff | Governor’s Arts Award | 1978
West Nebraska Arts Center | Scottsbluff | Governor’s Arts Award | 1983
Willa Cather Fdn. | Red Cloud | Organizational Achievement | 2018
Willa Cather Pioneer Memorial & Mildred R. Bennett | Red Cloud | 1979
William Kloefkorn | Kearney | Governor’s Arts Award | 1987
Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska | Winnebago | Heritage/Folk Arts | 1994
Woods Charitable Fund Inc | Lincoln | Governor’s Arts Award | 1981
Wright Morris | Mill Valley, CA | Governor’s Arts Award | 1981

*No Award Categories Before 1990