READING, PA.- Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell today presented the 2004 Governor's Awards for the Arts during a ceremony at the Sovereign Performing Arts Center, in Reading. The ceremony was free and open to the public, and included remarks by Award recipients and special guests. The Governor's Awards for the Arts honor outstanding artists, arts organizations and patrons of the arts in Pennsylvania for their excellence and achievement in the arts.

"The efforts on behalf of the arts, visible within the work of each of tonight's recipients, are a stunning illustration of the extraordinary achievements continually being made by our Commonwealth residents," Governor Rendell said. "And the honorees have each, in their own right, contributed to making the arts an available, engaging and vibrant resource for their communities and for all of Pennsylvania."

The 2004 recipients are internationally renowned classical pianist, Lang Lang, of Philadelphia, who will receive the Award for Artist of the Year; Regina "Ginger" Gouger Miller and Marlin Miller Jr., of Reading, who are this year's Patron Award recipients; Philadelphia's Carole Haas Gravagno, who will receive the Arts Leadership & Service in the Arts for Youth Award; and Donna and Al Brown and the Point Breeze Performing Arts Center of Philadelphia, who will receive the Creative Community Award.

This year marks the 24th year for the Governor's Awards, and the first year for the presentation of the Outstanding Leadership & Service in the Arts for Youth Award, and the Creative Community Award, both developed and implemented by the Rendell Administration.