Black Art and Culture Awards
Each year, the Georgia Museum of Art hosts its annual Black Art and Culture Awards, one of the museum’s most popular programs.
The Larry D. and Brenda A. Thompson Award honors a living African American visual artist with a significant Georgia connection in an effort to raise his or her profile. Known nationally for their advocacy of African American art and artists, the Thompsons endowed a curatorial position at the museum and donated works aimed at supporting the museum’s mission of diversity and inclusion in American art. The museum subsequently named this award in their honor. Past recipients include Curtis Patterson (2024), Stefanie Jackson (2023), Lou Stovall (2022), Kevin Cole (2020), Leo Twiggs (2019), Freddie Styles (2018), Larry M. Walker (2017), Emma Amos (2016), Amalia Amaki (2015), Charles Pinckney (2014) and Harold W. Rittenberry (2013).
The Lillian C. Lynch Citation honors an African American leader who has made a significant contribution to African American cultural education and service. The late Ms. Lynch was a charter member of the Athens chapter of The Links, Incorporated. She was dedicated to the arts and was an advocate for cultural education in the Athens and Northeast Georgia community. Past recipients include Marie T. Cochran (2024), Annie Greene (2023), Doris Derby (2022), John H. Morrow Jr. (2020), Lemuel “Life” LaRoche (2019), Lillian Kincey (2018), Althea Natalga Sumpter (2017), Michael C. Thurmond (2016), Natasha Trethewey (2015), Jeanne Cyriaque (2014) and Rudolph Byrd (2013).
2024
2024 Committee
Shanell McGoy (chair), Ligia Alexander, Sige Burden Jr., Lacy Middlebrooks Camp, Cornelya Dorbin, Deborah Gonzalez, Bree Hayes, Elizabeth Katz, Courtney Khail, Monica W. Parker, Anita Pratt, Gloria Ricks Taylor, Lauren Schlesinger, Brionna Wilder
2024 Sponsors
$10,000 – Presenting Sponsor
Anonymous
United Bank of Switzerland
$5,000
Lacy Middlebrooks Camp & Thomas G. Camp
The Todd Emily Community Foundation
$2,500
Shanell McGoy & Terry Powers
Kathy B. Prescott & H. Grady Thrasher III
$1,000
Sige Burden Jr.
Mae & Louis A. Castenell Jr.
Bree & Richard Hayes
Libby B. & C. Van Morris
Monica & Sylvester Parker
Gloria Ricks Taylor
UGA School of Law
UGA Office of the President
UGA Office of the Provost
UGA Willson Center for Humanities & Arts
Mary M. Wood
$500
The Athens (GA) Chapter of the Links Incorporated
Teresa & Charlie Friedlander
Freda Scott Giles
Lillian Kincey & Steve C. Jones
Brenda & D. Hamilton Magill III
Tatiana A. Mosbey
Babe & Carl Mullis III
Sylvia Hilliard Pannell & Clifton W. Pannell
Jinx & Gordhan Patel
Perryander Studio
Sarah & Chris Peterson
Deborah G. Gonzalez & Robert A. Scott
Carla & Cleophus Thomas
Marilyn A. Vickers
Mary Lillie Watson & Ray Watson
Brionna & Eric Wilder
EVENT PARTNERS
The Athens Printing Company
Guide2Athens
Perryander Studio
Photos
2024 Black Art and Culture & Awards Celebration photos
2023 Black Art and Culture & Awards Celebration photos
2022 Black History Month Dinner & Awards Celebration photos / Video of the awards presentation
2020 Black History Month Dinner & Awards Celebration photos
2019 Black History Month Dinner & Awards Celebration photos
2018 Black History Month Dinner & Awards Celebration photos
2017 Black History Month Dinner & Awards Celebration photos
2016 Black History Month Dinner & Awards Celebration photos
2015 Black History Month Dinner & Awards Celebration photos
2014 Black History Month Dinner & Awards Celebration photos