Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky's most prestigious arts honors, the Post-Corbett Awards, were presented Monday night.
Four special awards were given: two Lifetime Achievement Awards and two Special Achievement Awards.

Also honored were individuals and organizations in eight regular arts categories (no award was given in the visual arts category this year).

"I am delighted so many of you could join us tonight here in Northern Kentucky," said host Mike Philipps, editor of The Cincinnati Post and The Kentucky Post, to the record crowd of more than 420 in the audience.

"First, I would like to welcome you all to Northern Kentucky University's new METS Center (located near the airport at 3861 Olympic Blvd., off Mineola Pike). Isn't this a wonderful facility? Some of you have asked me whet the heck does METS mean? Well, I'm told that it stands for Metropolitan Education and Training Services Center of Corporate Learning. It is here because of NKU President Dr. Jim Votruba and Corporex founder Bill Butler -- .

"You may wonder why we are celebrating the arts in a facility designed for business? Well Just look around at all the cool toys the METS center offer. Doesn't it get your creative juices flowing?It has been my experience that artists tend to be early adopters of technology and see potential beyond spreadsheets and powerpoint presentations.

"I hope tonight's event reminds us that we are more than material beings. In the 20,000 or so years of modern human history, man has always created culture first.

Culture can include visual arts, language, story-telling, music or events such as the Post-Corbett Awards. Dynamically, culture precedes commerce. It is a popular belief that the arts are 'the next retail,' and today, art is not just for our community, but also for the business or our community.

"Thus, it seems especially appropriate for us to come together on this night and in this place to celebrate the contributions that individuals and organizations have made to the art and culture of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky."

Named in honor of arts supporters Patricia Corbett (who was unable to attend the ceremonies) and her late husband J. Ralph Corbett, in conjunction with The Cincinnati Post and The Kentucky Post, the awards have been given since 1975, now biennially. Nominations are made by the public, then finalists and winners are chosen by a panel of judges drawn from the community.

In a message from Mrs. Corbett, read by Philipps, she said, "Whether as a finalist or award winner, the recognition for every person and organization is momentous. All of you gathered here are fully aware of the importance of the arts to our city, and to every individual , no matter the age or race or income level. You, too, believe in the arts. You, too, support and defend and encourage the arts."At the discretion of the judges, Special Awards and Lifetime Achievement Awards are given. Recipients were:

• Lifetime Achievement Award: Harry T. Wilks for his vision and efforts in creating Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park in Hamilton. It is the largest and fastest growing arts organization in Butler and Warren counties. The nonprofit organization opened to the public in 1997. Pyramid Hill recently installed its 50th sculpture among the hiking paths, fishing lakes and paved roads of Pyramid Hill. Thanks to Wilks' efforts, Ohio Gov. Bob Taft officially named Hamilton the "City of Sculpture." Pyramid Hill has raised awareness of and appreciation for sculpture as art and as a part of American culture.

• Lifetime Achievement Award: Jack Louiso, who has worked in the arts here for 50 years, is celebrating his 10th year as artistic director for the Children's Theatre. Formerly artistic director at Cincinnati's School for Creative and Performing Arts, since 1993 he has increased the Children's Theatre audience from 22,000 to more than 75,000. He has led cultural exchanges with France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Japan, but most importantly he brings theater to children. Louiso introduced the Young Adult Series (YAS!) to serve high school students specifically.

• Special Award: Procter & Gamble Co. for its commitment to arts in Greater Cincinnati and specifically for its donation to the Cincinnati Art Museum of 78 paintings from the P&G Cincinnati Historic Collection. The collection includes works of John Henry Twachtman, Frank Duveneck, Robert Blum, Robert Henri and many others who made significant contributions to the development of the arts in Cincinnati. The museum was making final preparations for the opening of the new Cincinnati Wing at the time of the P&G donation.

• Special Award: The Opening Celebration of the Lois & Richard Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Arts: More than 10,000 people attended the grand opening preview party of architect Zaha Hadid's building earlier this year. Featured concerts included the Amernet String Quartet, Arc Chamber Ensemble and Contemporary Dance Theater. The opening celebration brought international recognition to the city. In short, the opening changed how contemporary art will be viewed in Cincinnati and drew praise from critics.

Other winners in The Post's specialized categories also came from throughout the tri-state (for details on the works of the individuals and organizations, please see Page 3B).

Literary Artist

• Pauletta Hansel for her work as a writer, teacher, community activist and supporter of the arts.

Performing Artist

• Nicholas Muni for his leadership of the Cincinnati Opera.

Volunteer Organization

The Cincinnati Civic Orchestra, celebrating its 75th anniversary.

Business

• Time Warner Cable for playing a vital role in Cincinnati's cultural life.

• Note: The Procter & Gamble Company received a special award (see above).

Individual

• Jan Brown Checco, project director for the Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park for her "Clay, Color and Fire" project.

• Note: Harry T. Wilks of the Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park in Hamilton and Jack Louiso of the Children's Theatre both received Lifetime Achievement Awards (see above).

Arts Organization (tie)

• The Carnegie Visual & Performing Arts Center for creating a leading arts organization to celebrate the arts in Covington.

• Kentucky Symphony Orchestra for making classical music accessible and interesting to today's audiences, while maintaining high performance standards and integrity.

Extraordinary Events

• "Corpus Christi," the Know Theatre Tribe's 2003 season finale.

• Note: The Opening Celebration of the Lois & Richard Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Arts received a Special Award (see above).

Arts Education & Outreach

• Happen, Inc. for being a leader in creating new and innovative art programs for children and adults.