The Art Museum of WVU and Art History Professor and former Dean of the College of Creative Arts Bernie Schultz were honored for their support of the arts in West Virginia at a recent gala event at The Culture Center at the State Capitol.

This year, the annual Governor’s Arts Awards ceremony recognized an additional 100 individuals and organizations for excellence in the arts, as part of the National Endowment for the Arts’ year-long 50th anniversary celebration.

The event is sponsored by the West Virginia Division of Culture and History and the West Virginia Commission on the Arts.

Governor Earl Ray Tomblin, Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith of the Division of Culture and History, Director of Arts Ren�e Margocee and Commission on the Arts Chair Susan Landis presented etched glass medallions to 50 individuals and 50 organizations for Excellence in Support of the Arts.

Dr. Schultz and the Art Museum of WVU were among those who received medallions. The Art Museum medallion was accepted by Harvey and Jennifer Peyton of Charleston, West Virginia, who are long-time friends of the museum and who have given significant gifts of artwork to the museum from their personal collection of 20th century American art. Peyton is an alumnus of the WVU College of Law and has been practicing law for 35 years at the Peyton Law Firm, which he founded with offices in Nitro, Putnam County, West Virginia.

The Art Museum of WVU was also recently honored with a “Best of Morgantown” Award by Morgantown Magazine. Since opening in late August 2015, the museum has had approximately 5,000 visitors, including individual and group visits by the general public, as well as students in WVU classes and numerous schools groups, from pre-K through high school.

Bernie Schultz was directly involved in the planning of the new Art Museum when he was Dean of the College of Creative Arts. After stepping down as dean, he served as its director of educational programs and outreach. He still maintains a close relationship with the museum, where he works with the docent program and educational programs, including Friends of the Art Museum.

“Having the vision for the Art Museum was the easy part,” Schultz said. “But its creation was due to a wide range of truly remarkable people, including inspiring patrons, University administrators, and the professional team assembled by Director Joyce Ice. As we already have introduced thousands of visitors to the meaningful experience of art, from kindergarten age through senior citizens, the Art Museum of WVU is becoming more and more established as a positive educational force in our state.”

In 2006, Schultz received the Governor’s Arts Award for Leadership and Service. In 2009, he was appointed to the West Virginia Commission on the Arts by Governor Joe Manchin, III. The Commission serves as a citizen advisory board to the West Virginia Division of Culture and History and members work with artists, arts organizations, schools, and community groups to foster a fertile environment for the artistic, cultural, educational and economic development of the state.

He has lectured on art history throughout the state and the surrounding region and has been a popular speaker at national conferences and meetings of artists, designers, educators, medical professionals, and historians, as well as at art museums and educational institutions.

-WVU-

cl/03/21/16

CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4841 ext. 3108, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu

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