AUGUSTA – Two Maine educators have been selected to receive the Maine Alliance for Arts Education’s annual awards. Jennifer Ryan, past education director of L/A Arts, and Gretchen Berg, a dancer and educator from Portland, will be honored by in an Arts Education Advocacy Day award ceremony in the Hall of Flags of the State Capitol Building at noon on Wednesday, March 7.

Gov. John Baldacci will speak and present the awards. Other speakers will include Argy Nestor, Maine Department of Education; Auburn Mayor John Jenkins; and Abby McCann, a student at Winslow High School.

Student music and dance groups will perform, and arts organizations, schools and artists will present exhibits of the programs they provide for schools.

Ryan will receive the Outstanding Advocate for Arts Education Award for administrators, given each year to a principal, superintendent or curriculum director who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and support of the arts, established exemplary or innovative arts education programs in a school or district, and promoted the importance of arts in the education of every child.

Ryan has an outstanding record as an administrator who has supported arts education. Recommender Nancy Salmon wrote, “She has helped enrich the lives of countless children by helping bring first-rate artists into their classrooms to share the power of the arts.”

Berg, dancer educator and professional, will be presented with the Bill Bonyun Artist/Educator Award for 2007, given in honor of Bonyun, whose career as a folklorist, storyteller, singer, writer and educator spanned over half a century.

The award is given to an artist/educator or community member who has made contributions to the arts in schools, shown outstanding commitment and dedicated service in arts education, exemplified talent and professionalism as an artist or arts advocate and been an inspiration to students, teachers and the community.

The alliance invites arts education supporters to attend. For more information, contact the alliance at [email protected], 667-7707 or visit the Web at www.maineartseducation.org.