Courtesy photo by ALLEGRA BOVERMAN The staff of Stella Blu, the stylish downtown Nashua tapas restaurant, will be recognized at the 6th annual Meri Goyette Arts Awards Luncheon in April, when Stella Blu is presented the small business arts award. From left are Jim Lespasio, Wendy LeBlanc, George LeBlanc, Leo Taylor, Greg Stevens, Eileen Ronan and Casey Stevens.

The champagne luncheon was founded in the name of Meri Goyette, perhaps the city’s most visible and tireless supporter, sponsor and promoter of art.

Some tickets for this year’s event, the theme of which is “Poetry Toast,” are still available. See the box below for information on tickets.

The event, which adheres to a leisurely pace to allow patrons, sponsors, honorees and guests the opportunity to chat while enjoying the culinary and beverage offerings, is a collaboration of City Arts Nashua, now in its 15th year, and the Nashua Arts Commission, a panel with about 15 active members who were appointed by Mayor Jim Donchess and confirmed by the Board of Aldermen.

In addition to the presentation of the awards, a silent auction, live auction and a special “fund the need” auction take place each year. These events typically alternate with performances that include song, dance, musical and spoken word presentations.

COURTESY PHOTO An artist in Southern New Hampshire Medical Center's "The Art of Hope" program works on a painting recently. The hospital will be recognized at April's Meri Goyette Arts Awards Luncheon for creating the program.

This year, special focus will be put on spoken word productions, in observance of National Poetry Month.

Live painting, an increasingly popular component at the luncheon, will this year feature Nashua artist Michaila Sheehan, who specializes in oils and acrylics, along with charcoal drawing.

She will draw her inspiration from “a favorite poem,” according to organizers.

As for the entertainment lineup, which is labeled “kid-friendly,” Cate Dixson, New Hampshire’s junior poet laureate, will read her work. A dance troupe from the YMCA of Greater Nashua will perform a pair of hip-hop dances and one with a contemporary theme.

The awards portion of the program will feature Donchess as presenter. The winners include:

Courtesy photo by ALLEGRA BOVERMAN The late Brian McCarthy, a 25-year Nashua alderman and longtime supporter of City Arts Nashua and its work in the community, will receive the Arts Hero award posthumously at the 6th annual Meri Goyette Arts Awards Luncheon in April.

• Arts Hero Award: Brian McCarthy

A Nashua alderman for 25 years, many of them as president of the board, McCarthy, who died unexpectedly in November, was “a longtime supporter and mentor for City Arts Nashua, and a champion of the arts and culture in Nashua’s schools and in the community,” according to City Arts Nashua.

“Brian’s support, in particular, for the planned Nashua Performing Arts Center was well-known.”

• Individual Arts Award: Meghan Durden

The Nashua School District’s arts coordinator for grades K-5, Durden was selected “for her outstanding commitment to, and participation in, the Gallery at the Wall project in downtown Nashua.” She worked closely with her fellow teachers to “collect the vast array of art” created during the project, and is credited with “running selection night, during which the judging took place. She also worked closely with The Telegraph newspaper on student recognitions.”

COURTESY PHOTO Meghan Durden, art coordinator for Nashua School District grades K-5, will be honored at the 6th annual Meri Goyette Arts Awards Luncheon in April for her work with downtown Nashua's Gallery at the Wall project.

• Small Business Arts Award: Stella Blu

The “stylish tapas restaurant” that opened in 2008 “has a long-standing commitment to downtown Nashua, and a tradition of philanthropy and community involvement – in particular, for the arts.

Stella Blu maintains a rotating gallery of local artwork in the restaurant, “and regularly schedules live music and entertainment.” Its ownership and staff are “vocal supporters of downtown initiatives that support the arts, including the Performing Arts Center.

“They have donated generously” their time and talent “for countless projects and organizations.” The restaurant is considered “the unofficial home of City Arts Nashua committee meetings.”

• Large Business Arts Award: Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

COURTESY PHOTO Artists take part in Southern New Hampshire Medical Center's "The Art of Hope" program. The hospital will be featured at the 6th annual Meri Goyette Arts Awards Luncheon in April.

“Led by Michael Rose and Betsy Houde, the hospital runs an outstanding program, ‘The Art of Hope,’ which features local artists who create uplifiting and hopeful works of art to inspire and encourage patients and visitors” to the hospital’s behavioral health unit.

By creating the program, “SNHMC is recognizing art as part of its pursuit of improving the health of the community.”

Rose and Houde “assembled a very talented group of artists, placed their work on prominent display and helped promote the artists and the “Art of Hope” program through events and on the hospital’s website.”

City Arts Nashua and the Nashua Arts Commission are collaborating once again for the annual Meri Goyette Arts Awards Luncheon.

WHEN: 11 a.m. April 14.

WHERE: Sky Meadow Country Club, 6 Mountain Laurels Drive, Nashua.

HOW MUCH: From $65 per person.

TICKETS: www.cityartsnashua.org; follow the links to view prices and purchase tickets

MORE INFORMATION: Contact Tara Kalish, event organizer, at 413-329-5721 or tara@cityartsnashua.org.

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