By Mollie Allen
mollie@thenewsobserver.com
The Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association (BRMAA) is one of 10 recipients of the State of Georgia’s 2020 Governor’s Awards for the Arts and Humanities.
BRMAA is currently in their 40th year, and Executive Director Nichole Potzauf said of receiving the award, “I am extremely honored and proud. I’m just really grateful that Dr. Kathleen Thompson nominated us, so she kinda got the ball rolling.
“I know that’s something, for years we’ve been talking or hoping or looking forward to, so it’s nice to have, especially this year.”
The award honors “outstanding individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to Georgia’s civic and cultural vitality through excellence and service to the arts and humanities,” according to the website.
“I’m honored to recognize the organizations and individuals whose efforts have preserved and enhanced our culture and stories to create a better Georgia,” said Governor Brian Kemp.
“When our arts and humanities sectors thrive, we see prosperity and revitalization in communities across our state. I applaud the work of each of our recipients of the 2020 Governor’s Awards for the Arts and Humanities and the valuable impacts they have made in our state.”
Nominations for the award are submitted from throughout the state, and “a competitive selection process” is carried out in order to select winners.
“Just to be recognized is a blessing,” Potzauf said. “Just the idea of being recognized kinda keeps that mission for us of having Blue Ridge stay as an art town or focus as an art town and really kind of adding to those accolades.”
Visit BRMAA at The Art Center, 420 West Main St., Blue Ridge, or extend a congratulations by calling 706-632-2144.
