Governors Awards for Excellence in the Arts draws large crowd.

The Governor’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts was held on February 25, 2010 at Galloway Methodist Church in Jackson. The awards are presented annually to outstanding writers, artists, performers, craftsmen and educators who have made significant and lasting contributions through their work as well as to corporations or organizations on the basis of their dedication to arts advancement. Previous winners include B.B. King, James “Super Chikan” Johnson, Malcolm White, Mary Katharine Loyacono McCravey, the late Little Milton (Campbell), Dr. David Blackburn, the Mississippi Alliance for Arts Education, USA International Ballet Competition, William Eggleston, Bo Diddley and Charles Burnett.

The award presented to each recipient in 2010 was created by Mississippi artist, Bill Dunlap, who also acted as Master of Ceremonies.

The Arts in the Community Award was presented to Lenagenge Waldrup from Cleveland, Mississippi for her work providing arts opportunities for low-income children in the rural counties of the Mississippi Delta. The Excellence in Broadcasting Award went to the Grassroots Radio Show on Mississippi Public Broadcasting and was accepted by long time host, Bill Ellison. The Mississippi Heritage Award was given to Bessie Johnson from West Point, Mississippi for 40 years of basketweaving. The Award for Artisitic Excellence was presented to water color artist Wyatt Waters. And, the Lifetime Achievement Award went to David "Honeyboy" Edwards of Shaw, Mississippi for a lifetime of dedication as a blues musician.