The postmark deadline for nominations for the 2007 Governor’s Arts Awards is Friday, April 20. Awards in seven categories recognize outstanding contributions to the excellence, growth, support and availability of the arts in New Hampshire, according to a press release from the N.H. State Council on the Arts. The official nomination form is online at www.nh.gov/nharts. Gov. John Lynch will announce the recipients of the awards in October.

The Lotte Jacobi Living Treasure Award recognizes a professional New Hampshire artist, in any discipline, who has made a significant contribution to his or her art form and to the arts community of New Hampshire, reflecting a lifetime of achievement.

The Folk Heritage Award recognizes a New Hampshire traditional folk artist who has made a significant contribution to his or her art form and to his or her cultural community, reflecting a lifetime of achievement. Traditional art forms are those passed informally from generation to generation that reflect the culture of a particular community defined by ethnic heritage or occupational, religious, geographic or familial groups.

The Individual Arts Patron Award recognizes a New Hampshire resident who has made a significant contribution to support the arts in New Hampshire. Contributions may include donations of money, time, goods or services that, over time, have significantly increased support for the arts.

The Distinguished Arts Leadership Award recognizes an individual who has played a sustained role in the advancement, direction or management of a New Hampshire nonprofit arts organization, such as an executive director, artistic director or board president.

The Arts Education Award recognizes an organization, individual, school district or community that has made an outstanding contribution to arts education sustained over the past five years. Contributions might include increased funding to arts education, comprehensive arts-infused curriculum implementation or innovation in the classroom.

The Community Spirit Award recognizes the city, town or village government or community-wide non-arts organization, such as a Chamber of Commerce or Main Street organization, that significantly fostered the arts within the last five years through funding and/or program initiatives. Examples include major municipal support to a cultural facility or public art program, establishment of a local arts commission/council, unique public/private partnerships to promote cultural tourism or significant increases in local public support for the arts.

The Cultural Access Leadership Award recognizes a New Hampshire nonprofit arts organization for practicing exemplary cultural access that includes and exceeds physical access. The award celebrates sustained leadership in the arts that includes people with disabilities, their families and their friends.

From time to time the State Arts Council also recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the arts in New Hampshire but do not fit into any of the above categories. These unique awards are determined by the State Arts Council and celebrated at Governor’s Arts Award events.