The Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County is celebrating its 50^th birthday this year. But to mark the occasion, the organization is giving gifts to a couple of patrons who have helped build the city’s arts community.

At a luncheon today, Louise Carvey and Val Wilkie received the first Heart of Gold Awards. The awards recognize individuals who have contributed to the city’s arts community. Carvey is a longtime board member of the Fort Worth Opera. Wilkie is the retired executive director of the Sid W. Richardson Foundation.

The pair were unanimous choices of the selection committee says Arts Council President Jody Ulich.

“Val literally has mentored almost every arts organization we have; Louise is here for anyone who needs her,” she said Wednesday before the event at the Fort Worth Club. “So both of them have such a breadth throughout Fort Worth and have really touched many, many organizations.”

Arts patrons also celebrated news from earlier this week that the City approved a budget for next year that nearly doubles funding for Fort Worth arts organizations.