Regional Award in fine arts and study of art named after Olexander Osmerkin was founded by Kirovohrad Regional Council (Resolution № 409, April 19, 2005) on 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, 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, Olexander 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 Olexander 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 Olexander Osmerkin in 2016 according to the decision of the jury from November 14, 2016 were assigned:

    in nomination "national tradition"
    YAKOVLEVA Larysa Arkadiivna (born 1946), Kropyvnytskyi – painter, teacher at the Department of Fine Art of Kirovohrad Children’s School of Arts, graduated from Odessa State Art College named after M.Hrekov (1968), Lviv Printing University named after Ivan Fedorov, now Ukrainian Printing Academy (1982), participant of regional and national art exhibitions – for creative work of different years, which strengthen traditions of the national fine art. Candidacywas nominated for the award by the council of Kirovohrad Regional Organization of the National Union of artists of Ukraine.
     ACHKASOVA Maria Vladyslavivna (born 1987), Yuzhnoukrainsk, Mykolaiv region – painter, member of the National Union of artists of Ukraine (2014), graduated from Kirovohrad State Pedagogical University named after Volodymyr Vynnychenko, the Department of Art (2010), participant of regional, national and international art exhibitions – for creative work of different years, that introduce principles of Ukrainian national traditions and traditional genres of fine art. Candidacywas nominated for the award by Public union of cultural projects “Era” (Yuzhnoukrainsk, Mykolaiv region). Exhibition of works of M.Achkasova was being exhibited in Exhibition hall of Kirovohrad Regional Organization of the National Union of artists of Ukraine, Art Gallery and Shop, Kropyvnytskyi, Hoholia Str. 91/46.

    In nomination “modern tendencies”
    OSTROUKHOV Volodymyr Ivanovych (born 1947), Kropyvnytskyi – painter, graduated from Krasnodar State Art College (1974), participant of regional, all-Union, all_ukrainian and international art exhibitions - for creative works and experimental innovations in fien art of our region. Candidacywas nominated for the award bythe council of Kirovohrad Regional Organization of the National Union of artists of Ukraine.

    In nomination "study and history of arts"
     BOSA Iryna Oleksandrivna (born 1984), Kyiv – head of the research department of the Museum of Books and Printing of Ukraine (Kyiv), graduated from Kirovohrad State Pedagogical University named after VolodymyrVynnychenko, the Department of Art (2006), graduate course in Institute of Study of Art, Folklore and Ethnology named after M.Rylskyi of National Academy of Science of Ukraine, specialty “study of art” (2014) –for preparation of illustrated publication of dictionary and reference book “Artists of steppe Ukraine”. Candidacywas nominated for the award by resolution of methodological council of the Museum of Books and Printing of Ukraine (Kyiv).
     AVDIEIEV Anatolii Mykolaiovych (born 1953), Kropyvnytskyi – deputy head of Kirovohrad regional organization “Association of Polish journalists” named after Karol Szymanowski, member of the editorial board of the magazine “Museums of Ukraine”, graduated from Kirovohrad Institute of Agricultural Engineering, now the National Technical University of Central Ukraine (1976) – for preparation of the series of articles that cover cultural and art life of Kirovohrad region. Candidacywas nominated for the award by the meeting of Kirovohrad regional organization “Association of Polish journalists” named after Karol Szymanowski and seconded by the editorial board of the magazine “Museums of Ukraine”.
     TSUKANOV Mykola Mykolaiovych (born 1957), Kropyvnytskyi – owner of a private gallery “Elysavethrad”, Merited member of the National Union of artists of Ukraine (2015), graduated from Moscow Forestry Engineering Institute (1984), Kirovohrad Law Institute of Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs (2008) – for preparation of the editions “Remedy for depression”, “Provincial gallery” and a series of albums “Palette of steppe region”.Candidacywas nominated for the award by the resolution of methodological council of Kirovohrad Regional Art Museum.
Creative works of I.Bosa, A.Avdieiev and M.Tsukanov were exhibited in the department of Kirovohrad Regional Art Museum – Picture gallery of Petr Osovskyi “World and Motherland”, Kropyvnytskyi, Velyka Perspektyvna Str. 60.

   Exposition of paintings and graphic works by L.Yakovleva from the personal exhibition “Romantic palette of Larysa Yakovleva”, dedicated to the 70th anniversary, and paintings of V.Ostroukhov, the majority of which are from the series “Old town”, created during the last two years within the framework of joint art project of the gallery “Elisavethrad” (owner M.Tsukanov) and the author are exhibited in the halls of O.O.Osmerkin Art-Memorial Museum. The works brightly reflect creative style of each painter.