Regional Award in fine arts and study of art named after Olexandr Osmerkin Kirovohrad Regional Council (Resolution № 409, April 19, 2005) onthe application of Kirovohrad Regional Organization of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine. The Awardis given for:
    Significant achievements in fine arts and creation of impressive works of art in different genres of fine arts (painting, graphicarts, sculpture, monumental art, theatrical-decorating art) that strengthen national tradition, preserve the foundations of classical art, introduce new forms in fine arts, adapted to the present, are created on a high professionall eveland have received wide public recognitionin Kirovograd region and beyond; Considerable art or historical investigation of the development of fine art in Kirovograd region, promotion, and consolidation of thea chievements of ourregion; Considerable contribution to the development of art education, a creation of original art-educational programs and their introduction in educational establishments of th eregion. The award is established in three nominations: "national tradition", "modern tendencies", "study and history of arts".
    Annually on December 8, Olexandr Osmerkin's birthday, in the memorial museum of the artist winners are awarded the title of "Laureate of Regional Award in fine arts and study of art named after Olexandr Osmerkin", they also receive diplomas of standard form, pecuniary reward, honorary prize of Regional Council and Regional State Administration - statuette of "Steppe Eagle".
    Nominates for receiving Regional Award in fine art and study of art named after Olexandr Osmerkin in 2017 according to the decision of the jury from November 2, 2017 were assigned:

in the nomination “national tradition”:
    HORBENKO Anatolii Oleksandrovych (born 1944), town Chornomorsk, Odesa region – a fellow-artist, People’s Artist of Ukraine (2011), head of Odesa Regional Organization of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine, graduated from Odesa Art College named after M.B.Hrekov (1970) and Odesa State Pedagogical Institute named after K.D.Ushynskyi (now South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K.D.Ushynskyi), the Department of Art and Graphic (1982), a participant of regional, national, international and foreign exhibitions – for the series of works of different years. Candidacy was suggested for the award by Kirovohrad Regional Art Museum.
    OKHAPKIN Oleksandr Ihorovych (born 1962), town Oleksandriia, Kirovohrad region – Merited Artist of Ukraine (2016), graduated from Dnipropetrovsk State Art College named after Ye.V.Vuchetych (now Dnipropetrovsk Theatre and Art College) (1984) and Kyiv State Art Institute (now the National Academy of Fine Art and Architecture, Kyiv) (1990), a participant of regional, national, international and foreign art exhibitions – for the artistic heritage of different years.Candidacy was suggested for the award by Kirovohrad Regional Universal Scientific Library named after D.I.Chyzhevskyi.
    PYLYPYSHYN Hryhorii Hryhorovyvh (born 1949), village Solohutove, Haivoron district, Kirovohrad region – Merited Master of Folk Art of Ukraine (2009), a member of the National Union of Masters of Folk Art of Ukraine, a participant of regional, national, international and foreign art exhibitions – for the artistic heritage of different years. Candidacy was suggested for the award by the Department of Culture, Tourism and Cultural Heritage of Haivoron District State Administration.
    DUBOSAR Inna Andriivna (born 1995), village Dmytrivka, Znamianka district, Kirovohrad region – an artist, graduated from Cherkasy Art and Technical College, the Department of Art Painting (2015), a participant of regional, national, international and foreign art exhibitions – for the artistic heritage of different years. Candidacy was suggested for the award by the Department of Culture and Tourism of Znamianka District State Administration.

in the nomination “modern tendencies”:
   KOVAl Vasyl Bohdanovych (born 1986), town Kropyvnytskyi - a member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine (2013), graduated from Kirovohrad State Pedagogical University named after Volodymyr Vynnychenko, Art Department (2006) and the National Academy of Fine Art and Architecture, Fine Art and Restoration Department, Kyiv (2014), a participant of regional and national art exhibitions – for the artistic heritage of the recent years. Candidacy was suggested for the award by Kirovohrad Regional Organization of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine.
    ACHKASOVA Mariia Vladyslavivna (born 1987), town Yuzhnoukrainsk, Mykolaiv region - a member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine (2014),graduated from Kirovohrad State Pedagogical University named after Volodymyr Vynnychenko, Art Department (2010), a participant of regional, national and international art exhibitions – for the artistic heritage of the recent years.Candidacy was suggested for the award by Kirovohrad Regional Organization of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine.
    PUZYR Pavlo Serhiiovych (born 1976), town Kropyvnytskyi – an artist, graduated from Odesa State University named after I.I.Mechnykov, Geology and Geography Department (1998), a participant of regional and national art exhibitions – for the artistic heritage of different years.Candidacy was suggested for the award by Kirovohrad Regional Universal Scientific Library named after D.I.Chyzhevskyi.

in the nomination “study and history of arts”:
    LYTVYNETS Yuliia Oleksandrivna (born 1976), city Kyiv – a chief funds keeper and acting director general of the National Art Museum of Ukraine, secretary executiveof Ukrainian Committee “ICOM”, graduated from Reshetilivsk Art Professional Lyceum (1996) and the National Academy of Fine Art and Architecture, the Department of Theory and History of Art, Kyiv (2011) – for the creation of the catalogue “Special fund. 1937-1939. From the collection of the National Art Museum of Ukraine” (2016). Candidacy was suggested for the award by Kirovohrad Regional Art Museum.

    Exposition of paintings of People’s Artist of Ukraine A.O.Horbenko, members of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine V.B.Koval and M.V.Achkasova, artists P.S.Puzyr and I.A.Dubosar, which brightly reflect a creative style of each artist, and also color photographs of creative works of Merited Master of Folk Art of Ukraine H.H.Pylypyshyn are exhibited in the halls of O.O.Osmerkin Art-Memorial Museum. An art study work of Yu.O.Lytvymets is presented by a printed source.
     The exhibition of works by O.I.Okhapkin is exhibited in Kirovohrad Regional Art Museum, Kropyvnytskyi, 60, Velyka Perspektyvna Str.