News Release

Kathy Buxton to receive Governor's Arts Award

Nov. 6, 2007

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Ann Dee Lee
Public Information Director
Oklahoma Arts Council
(405) 521-2931
anndee@arts.ok.gov

Oklahoma City, OK – Kathy Buxton, Duncan, will be honored by Governor Brad Henry at the 32nd Annual Governor’s Arts Awards. Buxton will receive a Community Service Award which recognizes individuals for significant contributions to the arts in specific Oklahoma communities in the areas of leadership and volunteerism.

Sponsored by the Oklahoma Arts Council, 16 individuals and four organizations will be honored for their contributions to the arts in their communities or throughout the state. The ceremony is scheduled for 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 28th in the 4th Floor Rotunda of the State Capitol and is open to the public. Presiding at the ceremony will be Council Chair Jim Tolbert and Interim Executive Director Suzanne Tate.

Buxton’s bookkeeping prowess and fiduciary stewardship has impacted the success of the Duncan Arts and Humanities Council (currently the Chisholm Trail Arts Council) as well as many other arts oriented and civic groups. In 1988, she became a member of the Duncan Council where she served as treasurer for four years. Her talents and real world business knowledge led her to the position of the Arts Council's fiduciary watchdog, during some economically challenging times. She has also served as the treasurer for the American Music Festival, the Chisholm Trail Arts Council, Duncan Little Theatre and the Stephens County Museum. She established strong financial practices and tutored other individuals, instructing them on grant writing processes and budgeting practices.

Chisholm Trail Arts Council made an early commitment to the Artist in Schools program during the 1980s, and Buxton led efforts to bring that program to grade schools in Duncan. Now professional artists bring the arts to all six public school districts in Stephens County.

A reception on the first floor of the Capitol will follow the 4 p.m. ceremony.  A complete list of Governor’s Arts Awards recipients and their photos are available at www.arts.ok.gov. For more information about the Governor’s Arts Awards, please contact Ann Dee Lee at (405) 521-2931 or at anndee@arts.ok.gov.

ABOUT THE OKLAHOMA ARTS COUNCIL

The Oklahoma Arts Council is a state agency whose mission is to improve lives through the arts by promoting and sustaining the development of a thriving arts environment, which is essential to quality of life, education and economic vitality for all Oklahomans.

---End---