Join us and Mayor Mike McGinn this Thursday at 4 p.m.to celebrate Seattle’s creative community and the award recipients of the 9th annual Mayor’s Arts Awards at Seattle Center’s North Fountain Lawn.

The 2011 award recipients are: Donald Byrd, Tony-nominated choreographer; Jack Straw Productions, audio arts center; Dr. Quinton Morris, accomplished concert violinist and teacher; On the Boards, one of America’s best theaters for contemporary performance; Pratt Fine Arts Center, a place named in honor of a local Civil Rights leader where everyone can make art; and Tet in Seattle, the producer of Tet in Seattle, a cultural festival that opens doors to our Vietnamese community. Nancy Guppy, host of Seattle Channel’s Art Zone with Nancy Guppy, will emcee the outdoor ceremony.

If you plan to attend the ceremony, make sure you get a sneak peak at the Bumbershoot Visual Arts Exhibits. They will be open for a free public preview from 3 to 9 p.m. and it’s a great way to kick off or close your First Thursday. Immediately following the awards ceremony, local celebrity chef Tom Douglas will serve up some of his favorite summertime recipes for free near the visual exhibits. Douglas will offer gourmet bites from a food truck, which is touring the nation as part of Macy’ Chefs A-Go-Go tour.

The Mayor’s Arts Awards ceremony is presented in partnership with Bumbershoot®: Seattle’s Music & Arts Festival with support from event sponsor Chihuly Garden and Glass and media sponsor City Arts magazine.