Seven influential art trailblazers will be recognized by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham for the 2025 Governor’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts. The annual Governor’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts will honor artists and a major contributor to the arts on Thursday, Oct. 16, 5:00 p.m. at the St. Francis Auditorium at New Mexico Museum of Art followed by a public reception in the courtyard with light refreshments. This year's recipients are Peter “Amahl” Amaral of Albuquerque, Kevin Box of Cerrillos, Alden Timothy Cox of Bloomfield, Keshet Dance Company & Center for the Arts from Albuquerque, Cannupa Hanska Luger (Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara, Lakota) of Glorieta, Nacha Mendez (Chihene Nde Nation) of Santa Fe, and Connie Voisine of Las Cruces. The annual Governor’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts is a prestigious annual award that recognizes both individuals and organizations and acknowledges the considerable role, both economic and cultural, that artists, craftspeople, and arts supporters play in New Mexico.