THE Bermuda Arts Council has selected Mid-Ocean News columnist Ira Philip as a recipient of one of its two Lifetime Achievement Awards to be presented next week.

The award recognises those who have devoted a great part of their lives towards the excellence of an art form. It will be presented to Mr. Philip - for his achievements in literature and journalism - and the late Hubert Smith, who penned the famed Bermuda Is Another World - for his contribution to music.

The ceremony, to be held at the Bermuda National Gallery on Tuesday, will also see the presentation of Founders' Awards to five as yet undisclosed recipients.

"Those selected to win the (Lifetime Achievement) Award have been chosen because they've devoted most of their adult life to teaching and inspiring others in their chosen careers," said Council chairman Buddy Hill. "We look for people who stand out because of their accomplishments and their body of work in their (particular art form). "We started the Founders' Awards last year to recognise those people who serve as a foundation upon which (the various arts) were built in Bermuda. We're keeping the winners secret but will be presenting them with the awards (at the Bermuda National Gallery as well.)

"Four of the five recipients are deceased. We thought the award was necessary because there are some people who may have not had a large enough body of work to be recognised as a Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. They might not have been recignised for their efforts at the time, but they were instrumental in bringing the art involved to the prominence it has today."

The Bermuda Arts Council was created under the auspices of the Department of Community & Cultural Affairs and consists of 13 appointed members. The awards ceremony is now in its 25th year.

The presentation will be held at the Bermuda National Gallery in City Hall. Doors open at 6 p.m. The ceremony is to run from 6.30 p.m. through 7.30 p.m.

4 See page 6 for Ira Philip's Island Notebook