Mayor's Arts Awards   Finalists for the 24th Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards demonstrate the wide range of talent the arts community offers in the District of Columbia. The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities will present the Mayor's Arts Awards Monday, March 23, 2009 at 6 pm in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Join Mayor Adrian M. Fenty for the most prestigious honors conferred by the District on individual artists, organizations and patrons of the arts.   Award categories include: Excellence in an Artistic Discipline Outstanding Emerging Artist Excellence in Service to the Arts  Outstanding Contributions to Arts Education Innovation in the Arts Excellence in Teaching Performing Arts Excellence in Teaching Visual Arts Excellence in Teaching Language Arts For more information, please contact Lisa Richards Toney at (202) 724-5613. The Mayor's Arts Awards are free and open to the public. Email questions to artsawards@dc.gov or call (202) 724-5613. For more details Mayor's Arts Awards are presented in the following categories: Area Description Excellence in an Artistic Discipline An individual artist or an organization that has demonstrated a substantial history of extraordinary achievement in an artistic discipline.  Outstanding Emerging Artist A promising individual artist or group of artists that have demonstrated artistic excellence and achieved distinction in an artistic discipline. Excellence in Service to the Arts An individual or a private, public or government organization that has demonstrated a substantial history of exemplary leadership, financial support, or other services vital to the development of the arts in the District of Columbia. Outstanding Contribution to Arts Education An individual or organization that has demonstrated outstanding efforts to evoke interest and understanding of the arts. Innovation in the Arts An individual or organization that has demonstrated ingenious use of skills or resources to produce art, art programs or services.     Excellence in Teaching Performing Arts*   The Arts Teaching award allows you to nominate an elementary, middle or high school teacher who exemplifies teaching performing arts.      Excellence in Teaching Visual Arts*     The Arts Teaching award allows you to nominate an elementary, middle or high school teacher who exemplifies teaching visual arts.   Excellence in Teaching Language Arts*   The Arts Teaching award allows you to nominate an elementary, middle or high school teacher who exemplifies teaching language arts.