COLUMBIA, SC - The South Carolina Arts Commission is currently accepting nominations for the 2008 Elizabeth O’Neill Verner Governor’s Awards for the Arts. Nomination forms are available at

www.SouthCarolinaArts.com/verner. The postmarked deadline is Jan. 15, 2008.www.southcarolinaarts.com/verner/2007.www.SouthCarolinaArts.com/verner or call (803) 734-8696.

The annual awards, the highest honor that the state gives in the arts, are presented to South Carolina businesses, organizations and individuals for their achievements or contributions to the advancement of the arts. Nominations can be made in the following categories:

• Arts in Education: Open to individuals and/or institutions whose primary function is arts education
• Organization: Open to organizations who contribute to the advancement and/or support of the arts
• Government: Open to individuals and/or institutions generally described as a unit of state, local, county, municipal government or as elected/appointed officials
• Business/Foundation: Open to individuals or companies/foundations whose participation, support, and/or contributions have benefited the maintenance and growth of the arts
• Individual: Open to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional achievement and statewide impact through their leadership, support and advancement of the arts
• Individual Artist: Open to artists of exceptional talent and creativity-in any discipline-whose contribution to the arts has helped guide and influence directions, trends and aesthetic practices across the state or to national or international levels

A committee appointed by the S.C. Arts Commission Board reviews all nominations and makes recommendations to the board for final approval. Up to six awards are presented during a special ceremony in Columbia each spring.

The 2007 Verner Awards were presented to Annette Francis from Columbia for the arts in education category; The Arts Partnership of Greater Spartanburg from Spartanburg in the arts organization category; The Clemson University for the Lillian and Robert Utsey Chamber Music Series from Clemson in the government category; Kimberly Spears from Anderson in the Individual category, Marlena Smalls from Beaufort in the Individual Artist category; and to The Palmetto Bank from Laurens in the business category. For biographical information on the 2007 winners, visit

For eligibility requirements and application guidelines for the 2008 Verner Awards, visit