Regional Award in fine arts and study of art named after Olexandr Osmerkin was initiated by Kirovohrad Regional Council (Resolution № 409, April 19, 2005) on the application of Kirovohrad Regional Organization of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine. The Award is given for: significant achievements in fine arts and creation of impressive works of art in different genres of fine arts (painting, graphic arts, 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 professional level and have received wide public recognition in Kirovograd region and beyond; considerable art or historical investigation of the development of fine arts in Kirovograd region, promotion, and consolidation of the achievements of our region; considerable contribution to the development of art education, a creation of original art-educational programs and their introduction in educational establishments of the region.
    The award is established in three nominations: "national tradition", "modern tendencies", "study and history of arts". Annually on December 8, on 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, award pin, 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 2018 according to the decision of the jury from November 7, 2018 were assigned:

in the nomination “national tradition”:

    DAVYDOV Valerii Mykolaiovych (born 1954), Kropyvnytskyi – a member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine, senior lecturer at Fine Art and Design Department of the Art Faculty of Central Ukrainian State Pedagogical University named after Volodymyr Vynnychenko, graduated from Odessa State Art College named after M.B.Hrekov (1984) and from St.-Petersburg State Academic Institute of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture named after I.Yu.Riepin (1993), a participant of regional and national art exhibitions – for the series of portraits, created within the National project “Ukrainians around the world” (2008) and monumental painting of Cathedral Church of the Annunciation of Holy Mother, Kropyvnytskyi, Soborna Square (2017-2018). A candidate for the award was proposed by Kirovohrad regional organization of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine.

    HRABENKO Kateryna Serhiivna (born 1990) Svitlovodsk, Kirovohrad region – an artist, graduated from the National Pedagogical University named after M.P.Drahomanov majoring in “artist and teacher of fine art” (2014), a participant of town and the national art exhibitions – for the series of works of the recent years. A candidate for the award was proposed by Svitlovodsk Town non-governmental organization “Nashe Misto”.

in the nomination “modern tendencies”:

    PROKOPENKO Mykola Mykolaiovych (born 1945), Odesa – People’s Artist of Ukraine, a member of the National Union of Theatre Workers of Ukraine, graduated from Odesa State Art College name after M.B.Hrekov (1971) and Kyiv State Art Institute, now the National Academy of Fine Art and Architecture (1977), a participant of national and international exhibitions – for creative work of different years. A candidate for the award was proposed by Kirovohrad regional organization of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine.

    RUDYI Oleh Mykhailovych (born 1970) Mala Vyska, Kirovohrad region – an artist, studied at Kirovohrad school of heads of amateur talent groups training majoring in “head of amateur talent groups and artist-decorator” (1987-1988) and Moscow extramural People’s University of Art at the Department of Fine Art (1991) – for creative work of the recent years. A candidate for the award was proposed by Kirovohrad regional organization of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine.

    KRUTKO Viktoria Mykolaivna (born 1975) Svitlovodsk, Kirovohrad region – an artist, studied at Kharkiv Institute of Engineering and Construction, now Kharkiv National University of Construction and Architecture (1993-1996), graduated from Kharkib State Art College (1997), a participant of city and regional exhibitions – for the series of works of the recent years. A candidate for the award was proposed by Svitlovodsk Town non-governmental organization “Nashe Misto”.

in the nomination “study and history of arts”:

    Creative team of Kirovohrad Regional Universal Scientific Library named after D.I.Chyzhevskii: USHAKOVA Svitlana Anatoliivna (head of Art Department), IVANTSOVA Liudmyla Viktorivna, YANCHUKOVA Eleonora Mykhailivna - for the idea and realization of the creative project – series of albums ‘Nadiia Padurska “Love for life”(2015), “Gryhorii Gnatiuk. Nebelevski Pastorals” (2017), “Volodymyr Kyrianov. Reality of unreal” (2018). A candidate for the award was proposed by Kirovohrad Regional Universal Scientific Library named after D.I.Chyzhevskii.

    SOLOVIOVA Nataliia Hennadiivna (born 1987), Kropyvnytskyi – an artist, graduated from Kirovohrad Institute of Regional Management and Economics, Art-Engineering Faculty (2008) and Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture, Faculty of Architecture (2012) – for creation of sets of postcards “Doors of old Elisavethrad” (2017), “Towers and tapers of old Elisavethrad” (2018) from the series “Architecture of old Elisavethrad”. A candidate for the award was proposed by Kirovohrad Regional Art Museum.

    Exposition of paintings and graphic works of People’s Artist of Ukraine M.M.Prokopenko, artists O.M.Rudyi, K.S.Hrabenko, V.M.Krutko, and color photo reproductions of creative works of a member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine V.M.Davydov that brightly reflect creative features of each artist are shown at the museum halls. Works on art history of the creative team of S.A.Ushakova, L.V.Ivantsova, and Ye.M.Yanchukova, and also N.H.Soloviova are presented by a printed materials.