NATCHEZ — The Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration is a recipient of a Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts.

The award, to be handed out at a special ceremony in February, is in the “arts in the community” category.

The Mississippi Arts Commission announced the winners Tuesday.

Awards are made to individuals and organizations for outstanding work in a wide variety of art forms including visual, performing arts and community development through the arts, an MAC press release said.

NLCC co-chairman Carolyn Vance Smith said the group filled out an application last spring, knowing the competition would be steep.

“We are thrilled to pieces,” Smith said Tuesday. “(MAC Director) Malcolm White called and he was very complimentary of the application.”

The NLCC — sponsored locally by Copiah-Lincoln Community College — celebrated its 21st year in February with the theme “Humor in the Deep South.”

The next Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration — “Field of Dreams: Sports in the South” — begins Feb. 24.