Governor Beshear Announces 2025 Governor’s Awards in the Arts Honorees
Awardees help boost Kentucky’s $6.9 billion arts industry, which supports over 51,000 jobs
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Nov. 24, 2025) Today, Gov. Andy Beshear was joined by arts and tourism leaders from across Kentucky to announce the recipients of the 2025 Governor’s Awards in the Arts, the commonwealth’s most prestigious arts honors. The awards recognize individuals and organizations whose contributions have strengthened the state’s $6.9 billion arts industry.
“Kentucky arts help create good jobs, build vibrant communities and invite more people and businesses to visit – or even relocate to – our commonwealth,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “This year’s honorees have helped contribute to our state’s success through their dedication to building a vibrant arts industry, and I am proud to recognize their work and impact.”
The 2025 Governor’s Awards in the Arts honorees are:
Steve Wilson and Laura Lee Brown, Milner Award
Visionary philanthropists and founders of 21c Museum Hotels, Steve Wilson and Laura Lee Brown have transformed how communities experience contemporary art. Their dedication to preserving Kentucky’s farmland and culture also led to the revitalization of Hermitage Farm in Oldham County, a unique destination celebrating horses, bourbon and local cuisine.
Sam McKinney, Artist Award
A celebrated Appalachian sculptor based in Menifee County, Sam McKinney creates hand-carved works that reflect the people and landscapes of Eastern Kentucky. His art has been exhibited across the region and collected by institutions and private collectors alike. Through his craftsmanship and storytelling, McKinney captures the spirit of resilience and authenticity that defines the mountain experience.
Owensboro Art Guild, Community Arts Award
Founded in 1961, the Owensboro Art Guild is Kentucky’s oldest continuously operating visual arts organization. Run entirely by volunteers, the guild cultivates a vibrant creative community through exhibitions, demonstrations and educational outreach. Its annual juried art show, launched in 1963, remains one of the state’s longest running and most respected showcases for Kentucky artists.
Wilma Bethel, Education Award
For more than 50 years, Wilma Bethel has championed arts education in Louisville, inspiring generations of students through her dedication to creativity and cultural understanding. As an educator and mentor, she has built programs that integrate the arts into everyday learning and foster connections between classrooms and communities. Her commitment to young artists continues to shape the future of arts education in Kentucky.
Lakshmi Sriraman, Folk Heritage Award
Born in India and based in Lexington, Lakshmi Sriraman is a Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer and visual artist whose work celebrates the intersection of tradition and transformation. Through teaching, performance and storytelling, she has introduced audiences across Kentucky to the depth and beauty of Indian classical dance, fostering cultural exchange and building bridges between communities.
Teddy Abrams, National Award
As music director of the Louisville Orchestra, Teddy Abrams has redefined what an American orchestra can be. Under his leadership, the ensemble has expanded its reach through bold collaborations, innovative programming and a renewed commitment to Kentucky’s artistic identity. Abrams’ work, locally and on national stages, continues to elevate Kentucky’s reputation as a center for creativity and cultural leadership.
Gov. Beshear was also joined by Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet Secretary Lindy Casebier and Kentucky Arts Council Executive Director Chris Cathers to celebrate the awardees.
“Celebrating the contributions of the 2025 Governor’s Award honorees reinforces our commitment to the arts as an integral part of Kentucky’s identity,” said Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet Secretary Lindy Casebier. “Their role in the arts strengthens our communities and inspires future generations to embrace their creative spirit. We are proud to honor these recipients for their great work and commitment to a more creative, compassionate and reflective Kentucky.”
“In honoring these artists today, we are affirming the importance of building a society where everyone can belong, connect and experience the fullness of life,” said Kentucky Arts Council Executive Director Chris Cathers. “Through their creativity, our honorees remind us of the power of social connection, and they challenge us to continue building a more inclusive, resilient and compassionate world for all.”
Each year, the Arts Council commissions a Kentucky artist to create custom works of art to serve as the award for recipients. Contemporary wooden collage artist Aleta Stone was commissioned to create this year’s Governor’s Awards in the Arts. Each one contains pieces from the debris left behind by the tornado that struck London on May 16, 2025. Stone created each work as a lasting remembrance for all those whose lives have been lost or have been forever changed by the tornadoes and floods.
Kentucky’s arts industry contributes to the commonwealth’s $14.3 billion tourism industry.
To capitalize on Kentucky’s historic economic momentum and record-breaking tourism success, Gov. Beshear announced New Kentucky Home, a strategic initiative to further drive economic investment, attract and retain talent and increase tourism across the commonwealth.
Earlier this year, the Governor announced that 2024 was the strongest year on record for tourism, generating $14.3 billion in economic impact and supporting 97,394 jobs. This milestone marks the third straight record-breaking year for tourism in Kentucky.
Kentucky’s impressive economic success over the last five years is a direct reflection of the Beshear administration’s continued investments in the tourism industry.
In December 2024, Gov. Beshear announced that the commonwealth achieved another historic milestone, marking a new record with 10 new tourism development projects set to generate an estimated $256 million in economic investment. These projects are also expected to create 1,696 jobs once operational.
In 2022, Gov. Beshear announced $75 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to boost the state’s tourism industry and economy. Previously, the Governor dedicated $5.3 million in federal funding to 103 tourism and destination marketing organizations in 88 Kentucky counties.
Since the beginning of the Beshear administration, 33 tourism development projects totaling an estimated investment of $1 billion have received final approval. Once operational, these projects will create roughly 4,825 jobs. This is the highest investment figure secured during the tenure of any governor in the commonwealth’s history.
The Kentucky Arts Council solicits nominations and coordinates award presentations on behalf of the Governor of Kentucky. The Kentucky Arts Council Governor’s Awards in the Arts nominations committee, which recommends honorees to the Governor, accepts award nominations annually. Nominations for the 2026 Governor’s Awards in the Arts will open in January 2026.
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