Judith Hardes To Receive Philanthropist Award At 2018 Governor's Arts Awards

Judith Hardes of Phoenix will receive the second annual Philanthropist Award at the 37th annual Governor's Arts Awards dinner and celebration on March 22 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort.

Hardes is receiving the award for her long-term commitment to arts and culture organizations across Arizona.

Among the beneficiaries of Hardes' support have been The Phoenix Theatre, Theater Works in Peoria, Arizona Theatre Company, Nearly Naked Theatre and Prescott Center for the Arts.

"Those who support arts and culture through their generous philanthropy are deeply vital to the long-term success and vitality of so many nonprofit organizations that rely on community support from those who value and benefit from their good work," said Arizona Citizens for the Arts Executive Director Catherine "Rusty" Foley. "Judith is among the most ardent, consistent and important donors in Arizona through her unwavering commitment to and enthusiasm for the performing arts."

Hardes is keenly aware of the importance of nonprofit arts and culture organizations to Arizona's diverse communities and attends most of the events she supports, Foley said.

Of special note, Phoenix Theatre honored her by naming one of its three campus theaters The Judith Hardes Theatre, a space primarily used for the annual Festival of New Plays and Musicals, summer programming and is rented to many theater companies looking to build an audience. Similarly, she also has underwritten full seasons for Theater Works at the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts.

She also is committed to inspiring others to get involved by challenging them to become donors, Foley said. Recently, she offered a matching grant of $10,000 for contributions to The Phoenix Theatre Festival of New Plays and Musicals.

The Philanthropist category was added to the recognition awards for the first time last year and was presented to Mary Way of Paradise Valley.

At the Governor's Arts Awards Celebration, presented by Arizona Citizens for the Arts in partnership with the Office of the Governor, awards also will be presented in seven other categories: Artist, Arts in Education - Individual, Arts in Education - Organization or School, Business - Large, Business - Small, Community and Individual.

Finalists in each category are:

• Artist: Liliana Gomez, Phoenix; Doug Hyde, Prescott; Dennis Rowland, Phoenix.

• Arts in Education, Individual: Julian Ackerly, Tucson; Dennis Ott, Sedona; Karen Rolston, Mesa.

• Arts in Education, Organization or School: Foothills Fine Arts Academy, Glendale; Hilltop Gallery & Arts Education Center, Nogales; Young Arts Arizona, Ltd, Phoenix.

• Business, Large: Alliance Bank of Arizona, Phoenix; Vestar, Tucson.

• Business, Small: Benner Nawman, Inc., Wickenburg; Changing Hands Bookstore, Tempe; Manley Films and Media, Phoenix.

• Community: Del E Webb Center for the Performing Arts, Wickenburg; Phoenix Center for the Arts, Phoenix; PSA Art Awakenings, Phoenix.

• Individual: Hope Ozer, Paradise Valley; Sam, Phoenix; Vincent VanVleet, Phoenix.

Individual tickets are $250. Sponsorships are available. For information, visit www.azcitizensforthearts.org.

Arizona Citizens for the Arts, a 37-year-old 501 c3 organization, acts as the eyes, ears and voice of the nonprofit arts and culture sector in Arizona at the State Legislature, in local city halls and partnerships with business and community leaders involved in building and supporting quality of life in Arizona.

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