The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies has named Ginger Warner, chair of the Ohio Arts Council, as the 2024 recipient of its Distinguished Public Service Award.
This award recognizes outstanding volunteer leaders of state arts agencies who have made a significant impact on public support for the arts in their state and nationwide through their exceptional service, creative thinking and leadership.
Warner, a retired attorney, has practiced law in New York, Maryland, California and the District of Columbia. Since moving to Ohio in 1983, she has dedicated herself to the arts, helping others pursue their creative potential and enabling greater access to arts and cultural experiences.
Warner has served as OAC chair since 2016, previously serving as vice chair from 2011-2016. She began her OAC board service in 1997 and has been appointed by five consecutive Ohio governors from across the political spectrum.
“Ginger Warner’s unwavering dedication to the arts has left a lasting impact on Ohio, the nation, and our field,” said NASAA President and CEO Pam Breaux.
“As a tireless advocate and thoughtful leader, Ginger brings balance and strategic focus to her work, inspiring others to bring their best to the cause. Her passion for the arts shines through in everything she does,” Breaux continued. “I can think of no one more deserving of this award based on her decades of service to the arts and the people and communities of Ohio.”
A commitment to arts and education
Warner’s board and volunteer service extends across Ohio, including the National First Ladies Library and Museum in Canton and the Cleveland Orchestra. In the Greater Cincinnati area, she has served organizations such as the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Taft Museum of Art, Ensemble Theatre, May Festival, University of Cincinnati, Hamilton County Park District, Cincinnati Opera, Greenacres Foundation, Madisonville Education and Assistance League, and Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
Committed to education, Warner founded The Harmony Project at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and Books for Lunch at Seven Hills School. She also established the Warner Fellowship in Law and Women’s Studies at the University of Cincinnati and the May Festival Fellowship in Choral Conducting at CCM. She is a member of the University of Cincinnati’s Circle of Honor Benefactors.
OAC Executive Director Donna S. Collins called the award a testament to Warner’s “decades of leadership, seeing her honored at the national level.” She called her a steadfast advocate for the arts, demonstrating how public funding enriches our communities in many ways – from creating jobs and boosting the economy to improving educational outcomes for children and enhancing the quality of life for older adults.
“Her leadership has driven unprecedented grantmaking at the Ohio Arts Council, fostering a more vibrant and resilient arts and cultural sector across the state,” Collins said of Warner. “Ohioans, and truly all Americans, are better off because of her vision and commitment.”
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