The Arkansas Arts Council is recognizing nine Arkansas artists from across the state in 2018 for their individual artistic ability and creative excellence in literary, performing and visual arts — and three are from the University of Arkansas.

Among this prestigious group are two faculty members and one alumna from the U of A's J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences.

Department of Music guitar instructor Jake Hertzog won in the "Performing Arts: Music Composition in the Classical Western Tradition" category, and Department of Theatre playwriting M.F.A. alumna Rachel Lynett and assistant professor John Walch both won in the "Literary Arts: Playwriting" category.

The Arkansas Arts Council, a division of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, awards its Individual Artist Fellowships to, "encourage Arkansas artists of all disciplines and give them the resources to grow their careers and talents. This, in turn, contributes to our successful creative economy," said Stacy Hurst, director of the Department of Arkansas Heritage. 

Each fellowship recipient will receive $4,000 to enable them to set aside time for creating their art and improving their skills.

Three artistic disciplines are selected each year as categories for the awards. This year's categories and winners include:

• Literary Arts: Playwriting – Candrice Jones, Little Rock; Rachel Lynett, Fayetteville; and John Walch, Fayetteville 
• Performing Arts: Music Composition in the Classical Western Tradition – Aaron J. Fisher, Jonesboro; David Franks, Greenland; and Jake Hertzog, Fayetteville 
• Visual Arts: Works on Paper – Melissa Cowper-Smith, Morrilton; Lisa Krannichfeld, Little Rock; and Sabine Schmidt, Fayetteville 

Each year, recipients are selected by a jury of professional artists, writers and performers. 

This year, the awardees will be recognized for their achievements during an awards ceremony from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, at the Historic Arkansas Museum at 200 E. Third St. in Little Rock. 

Learn more about the three U of A honorees in the Fulbright Review.