A new era for the Academy of Western Artists has begun with the announcement that Bobby Newton of Gene Autry, Oklahoma, is turning over the reins of the 27-year-old AWA and the associated Will Rogers Cowboy Awards, also known as AWA Awards, to Bob Saul of Fort Worth, Texas.

In 2011 the AWAAwards.org website stated, "The Academy of Western Artists 'Will Rogers Cowboy Awards' came about in 1996, when western publisher, Bobby Newton, decided there needed to be some kind of recognition for the performers and artisans who were taking the contemporary cowboy and western movement to new and exciting heights."

Bob Saul, an event producer and publisher, will also be restarting the publication of Rope Burns, which for more than 30 years has been "Serving the Cowboy Entertainment and Trade Industry."

Saul said, "The Academy of Western Artists will not only continue one of the major annual awards shows for musicians, poets, writers, artists, chuckwagon enthusiasts, and cowboy trappings artisans, but will also support members of the Academy by providing access to a new array of benefits, discounts, resources, and networking opportunities."

Deanna Dickinson McCall of Lookeba, Oklahoma, an award-winning author and performer, will serve as Academy Manager. "AWA members are part of a community of cowboy and Western musicians, songwriters, poets, storytellers, authors, trappings and chuckwagon artisans, visual artists, and photographers, along with events, producers, promoters, publishers, broadcasters, DJs, filmmakers, studios, galleries, and venue owners from all aspects of the industry and enthusiasts from all over the world. Membership shows commitment to the growth and development of Western cultural heritage and expressions. The three levels of membership are: professional, which is juried and requires five years' experience; associate, which requires no proof of work; and fan, or enthusiast, which is non-professional. Enthusiast is one of the new categories of membership – a fan of all things cowboy who wants to support the industry," explained McCall.

Boards of Advisors and Consultants are being gathered and currently include such luminaries as Waddie Mitchell, Red Steagall, Jaimie Stoltzfus, Shawn Goemmer, Tim Cox, Randy Huston, Brenn Hill, Trent Willmon, Andy Hedges, Dale Burson, Kent Rollins, and Ross Knox, among others. See our About page for the full lists.