The initiative was launched in 2002—during a period when there was a lull in national awards and many notables, especially musicians were dying unsung and, in some cases, about to be buried in unmarked graves. It was the work of Eddie Grant and his relatives giving Billy Moore a dignified send off that prompted a then two-year old GCA to act. In our first Awards Ceremony, there were 36 awardees. It was a public affair and was a part of Guyana Folk Festival 2002, held on the grounds of the Children’s Museum in Brooklyn. Since then, these awards have been annual and the starting point for Folk Festival week. For more than a decade GCA and the Chin Family have awarded the Godfrey Chin prizes for Heritage Journalism. Starting in 2021, GCA and two anonymous donors have funded two prizes to memorialize Derry Etkins—The Derry Etkins Memorial Prize for Composition and Preservation, and the Derry Etkins Memorial Prize for Excellence in Music Education. Over the past 20 years, GCA has, with the participation of the public recognized more than 200 Guyanese and other citizens whose works have advanced GCA mission to recognize and celebrate Guyanese heritage and creativity.