Piedmont Arts Honors Supporters with Clyde Hooker Awards

Piedmont Arts will honor the recipients of the 14th Annual Clyde Hooker Awards with a reception at the museum on Thursday, June 9 at 5:30 pm.

Each year, Piedmont Arts honors individuals and businesses for their support of the arts in Martinsville-Henry County. This year’s Clyde Hooker Award recipients are:

• Jacob (Jay) E. Frith, II
• City of Martinsville

“It is a privilege to be able to honor such worthwhile recipients of the Clyde Hooker Award as Jay Frith and the City of Martinsville,” said Executive Director Kathy Rogers. “Without the support of people like Jay Frith and the City, the arts and culture in our community would not be at the forefront of economic development and community vitality.
 
“Jay has been a major supporter of Rooster Walk and the Rives Theater for many years, and has made significant contributions to both,” said Rogers. “The Frith family have been long-time supporters of Piedmont Arts and Jay has made a long-term commitment to the new Piedmont Arts Public Art Garden on the corner of Mulberry and Starling.

“In addition to Jay’s support of the public art garden, the City of Martinsville is a key partner in this project,” explained Rogers. “Without the City’s support and in particular, the hard work of City Planner Susan McCulloch, Piedmont Arts would not have been able to move forward on this project. Susan’s expertise and knowledge were critical in applying for and receiving the NEA Our Town grant that allowed us to get this project off the ground. She has also been instrumental in supporting public art projects throughout the City. We also are extremely grateful to the City and its leaders for recognizing the importance of arts and culture to community vitality, which is evident through their appropriation of funding to Piedmont Arts over the years.”

In addition to the recipients of the Clyde Hooker Award, the reception will also recognize the museum’s 2016 Arts in Education Award recipients: 

• Jessica McAlexander, art teacher at Bassett High School 
• Kristina Weldin, art teacher at Magna Vista High School

The recipients of the Nicodemus Hufford Memorial Arts Scholarship: 

• Cassandra Cardarelli, Bassett High School 
• Kelsey Newman, Bassett High School
• Haley Reid, Magna Vista High School

And the recipients of the Harold Knowlton Work Memorial Scholarship:

• Damaris Dailey, studying performing arts at Radford University
• Alyssa Prillaman, studying performing arts at Belmont University
• Rocky Ankeny, studying performing arts at University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• Darius Hairston, studying performing arts at Lee University
• Cody McVey, studying performing arts at Boston Conservatory
• Haley Ferguson, studying visual arts and arts education at Virginia Commonwealth University

Light refreshments will be served at the reception. In lieu of an admission cost, guests are invited to make a donation to Piedmont Arts’ scholarship fund. Please RSVP attendance to 276.632.3221 or online at PiedmontArts.org.

About the Clyde Hooker Awards

The Piedmont Arts Board of Directors established the Clyde Hooker Award in 2003 to recognize individuals and businesses in Martinsville-Henry County that have made significant contributions to arts and culture in our community. The award is named in honor of J. Clyde Hooker, Jr. for his generous support of the arts.