Governor’s Awards for the Arts and Humanities

Tomer Zvulun

Atlanta

Tomer Zvulun (Atlanta) is the Carl W. Knobloch, Jr. General and Artistic Director of The Atlanta Opera. Since assuming the role in 2013, Zyulun has transformed The Atlanta Opera from a regional company into one of the nation’s top opera institutions. His innovations have brought opera to new audiences by staging productions in non-traditional venues and by introducing contemporary works alongside classic productions such as Madame Butterfly. Zyulun is also committed to arts education and mentorship. Initiatives such as the Young Artist Studio and the award-winning 96-Hour Opera Festival, support and develop the next generation of artists. Zyulun has developed outreach to new audiences, with educational performances reaching thousands of school children annually. During the COVID-19 shutdown, Zvulun kept the opera alive with outdoor tent performances and arranged live-streaming performances for people at home. Afterward, he launched the Atlanta Opera Film Studio which streams The Atlanta Opera’s productions to audiences globally. Under Zyulun’s guidance, The Atlanta Opera’s budget tripled, partnerships deepened, and touring productions expanded. With plans for the Molly Blank Center for Opera, Zvulun has secured a lasting home for The Atlanta Opera.

Q&A with the Honoree

What is some advice you have for someone who is aspiring to make an impact in their community?

“The real key has been building relationships with local schools, hospitals, churches, synagogues, other arts organizations and civic groups so that we are understood as part of the city’s everyday fabric, not an ornament on its edge. When people feel you are truly committed to their city for the long haul, they respond with a depth of trust and engagement that makes lasting impact possible.”

Dennis Skelley

Augusta

Dennis Skelley (Augusta) is President and CEO of Georgia Rehabilitation Institute (GRI) in Augusta.  Skelley has dedicated several decades to advancing healthcare and the arts in Georgia. Before becoming the head of GRI, Skelley helped build Walton Rehabilitation Hospital, serving people with disabilities, while also embedding art as a tool for healing and inclusion. Sculptures such as Navigating History and Healing Patience on the Walton campus provide patients and families with spaces for reflection and recovery. His commitment expanded into public art advocacy, where he was involved in the crafting of Augusta’s first Public Art Master Plan. Skelley has served on the Greater Augusta Arts Council for 15 years and the Public Art Advisory Panel for 14 years, as he continues his leadership role in the Georgia Rehabilitation Institute. The GRI contributes to accessible public art works throughout Augusta and Richmond County. Under his leadership, 17 sculptures and 4 murals—each accessible—have been commissioned, alongside the establishment of The 523 Gallery, dedicated to artists with disabilities. Recognized for his service, Skelley exemplifies how art can enrich community life, promote accessibility, and inspire hope across generations.

Q&A with the Honoree

Describe a pivotal moment when you realized that your work was making a difference?

“Early sculpture installations not only brought patients and families to a place to reflect and heal, but also sparked community interest in more Public Art. Additional community sculpture and mural installations came about through various partners who recognized these benefits and wanted to help expand the program.”

Sasikala Penumarthi

Duluth

Sasikala Penumarthi (Duluth) is Executive Director of the Academy of Kuchipudi Dance in Atlanta and currently serves as a Kuchipudi dance instructor at Emory University. She has devoted more than three decades to sharing the South Indian classical tradition of Kuchipudi with Georgia and beyond. A gifted performer, choreographer, and educator, she has trained numerous students, staged significant full-scale productions, and introduced area students and residents to the art form through performances, workshops, and university teaching. Her innovative works, such as a Kuchipudi adaptation of The Nutcracker, showcase her ability to honor tradition while engaging new audiences. Through her leadership, the Academy has enriched Georgia’s cultural life while contributing to the state’s economy and philanthropic efforts. At Emory University, she has inspired students through interdisciplinary teaching that bridges dance, religion, and performance studies. She has conducted master classes and workshops across Georgia and the Southeastern United States. Respected for her commitment to community, Penumarthi has become a cultural ambassador whose impact endures through her students, productions, and dedication to preserving this treasured art form.

Sherrill Milnes

Savannah

Sherrill Milnes (Savannah) is an acclaimed operatic baritone and Grammy Award-winning artist who is co-founder of the Savannah VOICE Festival (SVF). Milnes’ personal achievement includes receiving three Grammys, as well as the National Medal of the Arts, and he has starred in numerous performances at the Metropolitan Opera. While he has enjoyed significant success in his career, Milnes has also worked tirelessly to give back to his community through support of the vocal arts. The Savannah VOICE Festival is a widely celebrated event that brings together world-class artists – as well as emerging talent—to perform annually in Savannah, enriching the cultural landscape and fostering community engagement with the arts. Through Milnes’ leadership, the Festival promotes the beauty of voice and celebrates vocal artistry in all varieties – from opera to musical theatre to popular song. In addition to organizing the Savannah VOICE Festival, Milnes supports arts education in the community, offering workshops for students and young professionals. Through his leadership, SVF’s educational outreach programs extend to schools and community groups, reaching new audiences. Milnes’ talent and his devotion to the arts contribute to Savannah’s importance as a hub for the vocal arts.

Q&A with the Honoree

What is some advice you have for someone who is aspiring to make an impact in their community?

“The best way to impact any community is to share your talents, whatever they may be, with people, places, and projects. Finding ways to be relevant and leave the spaces you inhabit better off means that you have made a difference. Get involved and spend time nurturing your community. It creates a sense of place not just for you, but for others.”

Andy Gaines

Marietta

Andy Gaines (Marietta) is the Executive Director of the Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre in Marietta. Since joining The Strand in 2014 and assuming leadership in 2018, he has transformed the historic theatre in Marietta Square into an important cultural center known locally and state-wide. The Strand today fosters local partnerships and welcomes thousands of visitors annually. In 2024, the theatre generated an estimated $5.4 million in economic impact, with support for over 80 jobs. The Strand also contributed more than $230,000 in government revenue. Gaines’ leadership blends a vision for the theatre’s growth with an understanding of the importance of community connections. He is known throughout Marietta Square, where he routinely checks in with neighbors, artists, and small businesses. His influence also extends statewide, in his work with mentoring young leaders, serving on numerous boards, and championing causes in tourism.  He is a member of Georgia Presenters, a statewide network of arts organizations, and he has brought Fox Theatre’s interactive “Fox in a Box” theatrical history program to students in Cobb County. Gaines exemplifies through his leadership the lasting impact of the arts on civic life in Marietta and the surrounding area.

Luciana Spracher

Savannah

Luciana Spracher (Savannah) is Director of Municipal Archives in Savannah. Since becoming the City of Savannah government’s first full-time archivist in 2005, she has, since assuming the role of Director in 2012, transformed the city’s archives into a resource for education and civic pride. She has successfully advocated for more than $3 million in funding for preservation, digitization, and restoration projects while expanding public access to records and history. Of note is the historical preservation of Savannah’s City Hall, the first interior restoration in its history. Her other initiatives include the Savannah Community Memory Project, which has documented over 150 oral histories in more than 22 Savannah neighborhoods. Spracher has also established free City Hall tours and the long-running Hungry for History lecture series, a public lecture series featuring presentations by an array of relevant speakers. She is an editorial board member of the journal of the Society of Georgia Archivists, has contributed to the New Georgia Encyclopedia and has authored book-length works on historical topics. Through scholarship, collaboration, and leadership, Spracher has ensured that Savannah’s archives are a model of accessible community-centered history.

Q&A with the Honoree

In what ways do communities benefit when they invest in the arts and humanities?

“Savannah, for example, is a rich and diverse community. Arts and humanities recognize, uplift, and celebrate this diversity while helping us to move forward with purpose in positive ways.”

The Suzi Bass Awards

Atlanta

The Suzi Bass Awards, (Atlanta) established in 2003 in Atlanta to honor actress and arts advocate Suzi Bass, have become a mainstay in Georgia’s cultural life. Incorporated in 2005 and marking their 20th anniversary in 2025, the awards spotlight excellence across more than 30 categories, from acting and directing to design, choreography, and new plays. The “Suzis” are modeled after the Tony Awards, and they bring visibility and validation to artists and theatre companies across metro Atlanta and beyond. Each year, trained volunteer judges view productions, and numerous artists are honored as nominees or winners. A nomination or win often boosts ticket sales, strengthens donor or grant support, and attracts new audiences, while the “Suzi Recommended” designation elevates productions during their runs, increasing community interest and involvement. Beyond recognizing artists and productions, the organization fosters professional growth through panels, workshops, and networking events, while reexamining practices to ensure strong opportunities for engagement and recognition. Each fall, the awards ceremony unites Georgia’s theatre community in celebration. With two decades of impact, the Suzi Bass Awards strengthen and advance the state’s performing arts.

Q&A with the Honoree

In what ways do communities benefit when they invest in the arts and humanities?

"Communities thrive when they invest in the arts because they preserve cultural history, elevate diverse stories, and create places where people feel represented. When communities support the arts, they attract people to the city, cultivate connection, creativity, economic vitality, and a shared sense of who they are.” - Donna O. Willis, Interim Board Chair for Suzi Awards

Union County Historical Society

Blairsville

Union County Historical Society (Blairsville) originated with a group of citizens who worked in the 1970s to save the historic 1899 courthouse from demolition. The courthouse now stands as a museum, with exhibits on the first floor and with the restored courtroom on the second floor serving as a space for concerts and lectures. Today, the Society continues to engage in historic preservation in addition to curating exhibits that showcase North Georgia’s culture, past and present. The Society’s staff, board, and numerous dedicated volunteers organize a variety of projects each year, from historical restorations of designated sites to cultural programming. Projects such as displays on local Native American culture highlight the Society’s commitment to a broad understanding of local and regional history. From blacksmithing, butter churning, and weaving, events such as the annual Mountain Heritage Festival bring traditions from the past to life through music, crafts, and living history demonstrations. The Society, through fundraising and partnerships continues to broaden its offerings and outreach in Union County and beyond.

Okefenokee Heritage Center

Waycross

Okefenokee Heritage Center (Waycross) in Waycross has been, for over fifty years, a cultural center for eight rural Southeast Georgia counties, preserving history of the area while promoting creativity and enriching community life. Under Executive Director Carla Garrett Cornett, OHC has expanded beyond its role as a historical repository. Exhibits today can be found on regional Black history, music icons like Graham Parsons, and the area’s rich railroad heritage. In addition to permanent educational displays, the Center offers rotating arts shows. Other programming includes youth and adult art competitions, educational camps, and hands-on workshops ranging from photography to soap-making. Some of the Center’s most popular events are the Okefenokee Heritage Center 5k Color Run in the spring, the Veterans Day Celebration in November, and Christmas in the‘Cross, an annual artisan market. OHC also strengthens the local economy by supporting artists, partnering with schools, and drawing visitors through cultural tourism. More than a museum, it is a gathering space which promotes community engagement and inspires emerging creators in the region.

Q&A with the Honoree

In what ways do communities benefit when they invest in the arts and humanities?

“Being exposed to the arts and humanities in rural communities provides vital opportunities to learn and experience various forms of creativity and offers students the platform to showcase their artistic abilities. It also benefits the community by developing citizens with a better understanding of their world.” - Carla G. Cornett, Executive Director

Atlanta Drum Academy

Riverdale

Atlanta Drum Academy (Riverdale) is a non-profit performing arts organization originating in Clayton County and extending service to youth in the Metro Atlanta area. James Riles III is founder and director of the Atlanta Drum Academy, which provides percussion training for over 100 children, most from economically challenged backgrounds, including children with special needs. In addition to music training, the program emphasizes personal development and emotional wellness, with a focus on helping young people grow into confident leaders. Riles’ compositions have been featured in the films Drumline and Drumline: A New Beat. His leadership has earned national attention, including the Academy’s success as a top-three finalist on America’s Got Talent. Riles and the Academy have also received numerous accolades from city and county leaders through the years and were featured in Black Audacity Magazine. By removing barriers to access in terms of musical training and by creating opportunities for personal development of his students, Riles has empowered children in the region to find purpose and personal growth through drumming.