Island Inspired Minister's Awards

Hobart painter George Davis and Handmark Gallery founder Pat Cleveland have won 2009 Island Inspired Minister's Awards for their outstanding achievements and a life-long commitment to the arts in Tasmania.

The Minister for Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts, Michelle O'Byrne, said award nominees included many of Tasmania's most prominent artists and cultural leaders.

"Mr Davis has received the Distinguished Tasmanian Artist Award honouring his long career as a painter of portraits, Tasmanian landscapes and wildlife," Ms O'Byrne said.

"A mosaic completed by Mr Davis for the ABC's Sandy Bay Road studios in 1961 is credited as the inspiration for their now iconic infinity logo.

"In the mid 1980s his skills were called upon for the refurbishment of the Theatre Royal dome following its destruction by fire."

Ms O'Byrne presented the Island Inspired Cultural Leader Award to Ms Cleveland, a leading voice in Tasmania's fine art and craft industry for the past five decades.

"Ms Cleveland is known widely for her promotion of Tasmanian art in national and international markets and she continued to support the development of local artists.

"These awards are a way of demonstrating that the Tasmanian Government and the broader Tasmanian community places enormous value on the contribution that our outstanding artists and arts workers give to our society, culture and economy.

"We have truly great artists living and working in our State and these awards are a way for us to celebrate a life-long commitment to excellence and creativity," Ms O'Byrne said.

[ IMAGE: George Davis - click to view ]

[ IMAGE: Pat Cleveland receives her award from the Minister - click to view ]

[ IMAGE: The Minister with Madeleine Ogilvie - click to view ]