Piedmont Arts to honor Hooker Award, Art in Education, and Scholarship recipients

It is with great pride that Piedmont Arts announces this year’s recipients of the J. Clyde Hooker Award: Guy Stanley, a pillar of Piedmont Arts and Martinsville and Henry County, and Rooster Walk, the beloved music festival that is integral to this community. The Arts in Education award recipients and Scholarship recipients will be honored in a special ceremony on Wednesday, June 5 at 5:30 p.m. in the Piedmont Arts gallery.

The Clyde Hooker Award was established in 2003 by the Piedmont Arts Board of Directors to recognize businesses and individuals that are involved in and support Piedmont Arts and other arts and cultural organizations in Martinsville-Henry County. The award is named in honor of J. Clyde Hooker Jr. for his support of the arts.

In the letters nominating Guy Stanley, he was praised for his dedication to Piedmont Arts and its mission. As Board President, he tackled tasks of all sizes, from painting parking lot lines to leading the successful Growth and Restoration Capital Campaign. His expertise in fundraising, management, and project planning were invaluable, driving bold changes that improved daily operations. Piedmont Arts is deeply appreciative of his contributions and proactive approach.

Rooster Walk Inc. is a community nonprofit dedicated to promoting music, arts and education in  Martinsville and Henry County. Rooster Walk presents shows throughout the year, along with a premiere music festival on Memorial Day Weekend. Rooster Walk was started as a tribute to two friends who passed away in their mid-twenties: Edwin “The Rooster” Penn and Walker Shank. Proceeds from the festival go to a college scholarship for Martinsville High School seniors and they have raised over $323,000. Rooster Walk’s Executive Director and Co-founder, Johnny Buck, has made a tremendous impact on the culture and way of life in this community that is sustained through his dedication and vision. Rooster Walk has helped put Martinsville on the map and is a great draw for tourism, the arts, and arts education.

The Arts in Education awards are given to educators in Martinsville and Henry County who emphasize the importance of the arts in their classrooms and programming. These educators go above and beyond to create opportunities for their students’ creativity to shine. This year, the award goes to three recipients. Anne Norman Young of Carlisle School, Bryan Dunn of Magna Vista High School, and Martinsville City Public Schools’ Performing Arts Academy.

The Nicodemus Hufford Memorial Arts Scholarship is given to an outstanding student of the arts who plans to study the visual or performing arts in college. This award is for rising college freshmen and was named after the famed portrait artist. 

The Harold Knowlton Work Memorial Arts Scholarship is given to rising college sophomores, juniors, or seniors who are working to finish their degree in the visual or performing arts. Julia Ascough Work and Harold Knowlton Work shared a lifelong passion and respect for education and the arts. This generous scholarship will ensure that their legacy of learning and imagination lives on by supporting the artists of future generations.

Please RSVP to attend by Monday, June 3. In lieu of admission, guests may make a donation to Piedmont Arts’ scholarship fund.