This year's Arts Citizen of the Year honors went to an organization rather than an individual as Abraham Baldwin College was recognized for its contributions to the arts in the Tiftarea.

The annual award, given by the Tift County Arts Council for extraordinary support of the arts, was presented during the Love Affair's Party in the Park concert.

"Since the beginning, they have been an invaluable partner in the establishment of numerous arts councils throughout Southeast Georgia," said Arts Council board member John Tibbetts. "Through partnerships, (ABAC) was involved in the historical preservation and restoration of the Tifton Museum of Arts and Heritage and several other buildings of artistic importance in Tifton. Decades ago, they provided the support needed to establish an excellent 'town and gown' program of arts and entertainment. Thousands of area residents have enjoyed performances by nationally recognized symphonies, dance, theatre and choral companies, as well as renowned individual performers."

Tibbetts said that during the '60s, theater flourished, the public flocked to popular musicals and plays, featuring extraordinary local talent, and students from farms and small towns could study art, piano, voice, band and chorus as a career.

"Tonight’s winner was a true visionary when they began their relationship with the ABAC Arts Connection, then known as the Arts Experiment Station, in the mid '70s," said Tibbetts. "The partnership created a program unique in the country, with its mission to make the arts available, affordable, and accessible to all.

"Because of our honoree’s unflagging support of this visionary effort for more than three decades -- even during tough budgetary times-arts councils and centers today are active in several counties, artists in residence enrich schools and communities, multi-cultural festivals have sprouted and flourish, and facilities for the arts have been created across South Georgia."

In partnership with the Arts Connection office, ABAC is currently responsible for regranting grassroots arts funding to 15 Georgia counties. Its other accomplishments in the arts include the creation and support of the George Scott Day of Jazz festivities, Baldwin Players Theatre Troop, the Lew Akin Speech Showcase and the Cordell Distinguished Lecture Series.

"The remarkable partnership between tonight’s winner and the communities it serves is extremely rare," Tibbetts said. "Because of it, the arts are thriving in our rural communities, and have become a vibrant part of the fabric of our lives, as well as an economic development tool."

ABAC President Dr. David Bridges and his wife accepted the award on the school's behalf. Local artist Jerry Walker presented Dr. and Mrs. Bridges a basket she made, to be used as part of ABAC's art collection housed in Evans Hall.

Minutes later, Walker returned to the stage to accept the Love Affair Volunteer of the Year Award.

"On a quiet weekday evening, you are most likely to find our Volunteer of the Year creating yet another beautiful piece of art alongside her husband, also very creative," said last year's recipient, Richard Rose. " The two of them are busy writing a family love story with the arts, definitely helped by the bliss of retirement. A definite difference in pace compared to the years when she worked at the Arts Connection and helped run the family business."

Walker, the founder of Kids in Tifton Enriched and Kids' Advocacy Coalition, was given a piece of artwork created by Charles Pinckney of Athens.