The St Johns Cultural Council will hold the tenth annual Recognizing Outstanding Women in the Arts (ROWITA) Awards Celebration! The free event will honor the six women chosen to receive the 2019 Dr. Gail Pflaster ROWITA Award for their contributions to the artistic environment in St. Johns County. The 2019 honorees are Dr. Dorothy Barrett, Margaret Jimeson, Linda McAnarney, Regina Gayle Phillips, Dr. Susanne Schuenke and Jo Sinclair.

The Dr Gail Pflaster ROWITA award recognizes the impact and influence women have made to the literary, visual and performing arts in St Johns County. The idea for the award was conceived by the late Dr. Pflaster, a local writer and committed arts supporter. “There was no one in the community celebrating our local women arts leaders, so Dr. Pflaster and I created ROWITA,” said Joy D’Elia, St. Johns Cultural Council ROWITA Program Coordinator. “The ROWITA award identifies women who have inspired and vitalized our arts community in St. Johns County through their art and actions. I am constantly amazed and inspired by the women we have honored each year.”.

Nominations for the ROWITA awards come from the general public. Guidelines and applications can be found at http://www.stjohnsculture.com/grants-awards/rowita-awards. Applications for the Jr. ROWITA Fellowship must be submitted by the student seeking the Fellowship. Applications are on the Cultural Council’s website at http://www.stjohnsculture.com/grants-awards/jr-rowita. For more information, call the St. Johns Cultural Council at (904) 808-7330