The 2026 2nd Annual Distinguished Black Classical Excellence Awards will present Clinton and Beverly Byrd and family with the Inaugural Humanitarian and Philanthropy Award for Artistic Service and Community Impact, honoring their decades of philanthropy, cultural stewardship, and public education through the Montague Collection.

Award Citation Presented to: Clinton and Beverly Byrd and Family

For sustained philanthropic leadership, transformative community impact across Tallahassee and other cities, and national education in Black history through high‑level exhibitions and public programming. The Byrd family’s stewardship of the Montague Collection, recognized as the largest African American collection of art in the United States, has expanded access to rare works, supported new commissions, and deepened public understanding of Black artistic contributions.

Awards Chair: “We are proud to honor the Byrd family for their extraordinary commitment to art, education, and community. Their work has changed how institutions and communities see and teach Black history.” 

About the Byrd Family and the Montague Collection

The Byrd family are the owners and stewards of the Montague Collection, a nationally recognized assemblage of African American art and historical materials. Their philanthropy has supported exhibitions, educational initiatives, and community partnerships that bring Black history and contemporary Black art into classrooms, museums, and public spaces. Through acquisitions, commissions, and outreach, the Byrds have helped preserve cultural heritage while creating new opportunities for artists and scholars.