Editor, Smithfield Times

Congratulations to two leaders in the arts in Isle of Wight County for recognition Sunday evening Nov 8, during the prestigious 2015 Alli Awards dinner of The Cultural Alliance of Greater Hampton Roads.

The Alli Award for “Emerging Volunteer” went to Artist Sam Welty’s work with Girl Scout Troop 1105 in Windsor. His volunteer work created six murals that for public spaces, colored by the scouts, which add unique identity for the town. This sparked the addition of metal sculptures in front of town businesses, the first “Art in the Park” fund-raising to restore a historic building for a community center to include art rooms and gallery space, and the creation of the “Old Town Windsor District.”

Also recognized as a Nominee for an Alli Award was Mary Catherine Cole, founder and managing director of Sundays at Four in Smithfield, a program of the Isle of Wight Arts League. Since 2007 this annual series of classical music and performing arts concerts has featured internationally acclaimed professionals who reside in the Greater Hampton Roads region. A unique and related mission of the series is to support and showcase area students who demonstrate outstanding talent in classical performing arts. The annual “Terrific Teen Talent” concerts showcase award-winning teenage musicians, and the winner is contracted to perform a Solo Youth Recital in the following season. Mary Cole and “Sundays at Four” were also recognized recently with the Grace Keen Distinguished Community Service Award by the Chamber of Commerce of Isle of Wight-Smithfield-Windsor.

Since 1987, Alli Awards have recognized outstanding individuals, businesses, arts professionals and educators in the region’s arts and cultural community.

Jim Henderson
Carrollton