Established in 1980, the award recognizes individuals and organizations who make outstanding contributions to the cultural life of Utah, and is considered Utah's highest honor in the arts. Glass artist Gay Wyn Quance, a former geologist/chemist who divides her time between Utah and Toronto, was commissioned to create a sculpture that was given to award recipients.

And the winners are:

* Utah state Rep. Sheryl Allen earned the Public Leadership in the Arts Award for her work as director of the Davis School District Foundation and co-chairing Davis Reads, a program that encourages children to read one book collectively and discuss it. Allen has also supported educational exhibitions in education buildings and classrooms of every school in her district.

* Mayor Dave Sakrison of Moab received the Local Elected Official Award for recognizing the importance of arts and culture and creating a healthy community in his nearly 20 years as mayor, city councilman and planning commission member. Sakrison is committed to ensuring that everyone in his city has the opportunity to be involved with the arts. With his support, Moab has developed and grown the Moab Music Festival, Moab Arts Festival, Western Stars Cowboy Poetry Gathering and other events.

* Beverley Taylor Sorenson was this year's recipient of the Support of Children Through Arts Education Award for her founding "art work for kids!" in 1995. She has donated $20 million to fund the teaching of artists in Utah elementary schools and creating arts education programs at Utah universities. Sorenson's work supports her belief that arts education is a way to enhance and accelerate learning and development.

* Kaziah Hancock earned the Humanitarian Award for Compassion Through the Arts for her Project Compassion, which provides oil portraits she paints of servicemen and women killed in the line of duty since 9/11. Hancock, known as the "goat woman" because she raises goats on her ranch in Manti, was so moved by the sacrifices made by these Americans that she determined to pay tribute to all of them through her work.