PORT TOWNSEND — Gale Wallis and Janette Force are this year’s recipients of the Port Townsend Arts Commission’s two top awards.
Wallis is the Angel of the Arts. Force is Patron of the Arts.
Five others also were cited by commission for exceptional volunteer contributions to the arts.
The public is invited to the presentation of the awards at the Cotton Building, 607 Water St., from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday (Nov. 15).
Port Townsend Mayor David King will read award proclamations, and a reception will follow.
“It’s an informal community moment to celebrate the spirit of volunteerism that characterizes Port Townsend,” said arts commission chair Stan Rubin.
The Angel of the Arts award, begun in 1999, honors a Port Townsend citizen volunteer who has made sustained and noteworthy contributions to the arts in the community.
Wallis is creator of Bareboards Arts & Entertainment Listerve, a public service that for more than 15 years has provided information about arts performances, exhibits and events.
Patron of the Arts, first awarded by the arts commission in 2007, honors a business, owner of a business or community leader for outstanding support of the arts.
Force has served as executive director of the Port Townsend Film Festival since 2009.
She is also director of the Port Townsend Film Institute, which does year-round work with such projects as Global Lens and brings films and filmmakers to local students.
“Both women are amazing models of creative community-building,” Rubin said.
“They are very different and equally vital.
“Gale works alone and off-screen, so to speak, but in a uniquely vital way to the health of the arts here, while Janette represents us to the larger film world with great verve, style and imagination. She’s a visionary.”
The five others cited for their volunteer contributions to the arts are:
■ Germaine Arthur: Founder and longtime organizational leader of the Community Chorus.
■ Marcia Perlstein: For her interviews with artists and arts supporters on KPTZ community radio.
■ Amanda Steurer: For her acting, directing and service on the board of Key City Community Theatre.
■ Port Townsend dentist Steven Scharf for his continued support of local arts.
■ Lockwood Dennis, a Port Townsend painter and printmaker who died in 2012.
Previous recipients of Patron of the Arts include Rocky Friedman of the Rose Theatre, Mark Cole of The Upstage, Mark Hering and Marie Campanoli of Quimper Sound, Ling-hui of Ling-hui Dance and community leaders Kris Nelson and George Randels.
