Bellingham Mayor Kelli Linville has announced recipients of the 35th Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards.

Seven individuals are being honored this year as having significantly contributed to community arts. Award winners were selected based on nominations submitted by community members.

The honorees include: Tore Ofteness, photographer; Margaret Bikman, entertainment news coordinator for The Bellingham Herald; Laurel Leigh, author and editor; Jack Frymire, opera singer and educator; Shannon Laws, poet; Becky Elmendorf, former president of the Whatcom Symphony Orchestra; and Alan Rhodes, community columnist, regularly featured in Cascadia Weekly.

A reception and awards ceremony honoring the winners is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30, in the Mount Baker Theatre’s Walton Theatre, located at 104 N. Commercial St. in downtown Bellingham.

More information on the Mayor’s Arts Awards, including past recipients and nomination forms, can be found here.