The Longwood Center for the Visual Arts (LCVA) will honor award recipients for the 2017 Community Achievement in the Arts on Saturday, April 29 from 5-6:30 p.m. The awards ceremony is free and open to the public.

According to an LCVA press release, the awards, established more than 20 years ago, recognize the individuals, volunteers, businesses and non-profit organizations that have enriched lives in Southside Virginia through their contributions to the arts.

“Mainly Clay, Mary Jo Stockton and The Virginia Children’s Book Festival (VCBF) will receive the Business, Individual and Organization Awards respectively,” according to the release.

“(Farmville) Town Manager Gerald J. Spates will be presented with the Arts Advocacy Award, and Nancy Lockwood will be honored with the Barbara Dixon Lifetime Achievement Award.”

“Alec Hosterman and Austin D. Van Horn will be awarded with the Volunteer of the Year and the Student Volunteer of the Year Awards, respectively,” according to the release.

“An all-volunteer committee determined the award winners based on nominations from within the community. Noelle Prince Shear was the chair of the committee and Susan Harwood, Richard McClintock, Robin Sedgwick and Greg Tsigaridas served as general members. Nominees were evaluated based on the community impact of their contributions to the visual, performing or literary arts and participation in activities such as arts education and advocacy, youth/adult services, program development, arts festivals and events, volunteering and mentoring.”

Stockton was chosen for her dedication to community theatre, in particular for her contribution to Waterworks Players, according to the release.

“Since its creation, VCBF has brought children from many parts of the state together with authors and illustrators of children’s books. Mainly Clay is being recognized for their pioneer efforts in offering community arts classes in the center of Farmville. Following the ceremony, the LCVA will hold the Beaux-Arts Bash. This ticketed event, starting at 8 p.m., will be an evening of celebration and dancing in support of artists, acquisitions and preservation.”