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GREENSBORO — Preston Lane makes art. Pam Allen helps art get made.

The United Arts Council of Greater Greensboro honored both for their contributions to the local arts scene at its annual Vanguard Society celebration Monday night at the Proximity Hotel.

Lane, artistic director for the downtown professional theater Triad Stage, received the 2008 Betty Cone Medal of Arts. It’s named for the longtime local arts supporter.

Allen received the 2008 Vanguard Society Award for her advocacy, philanthropy and fundraising.

“I love making theater in Greensboro,” Lane said before the ceremony. He praised Triad Stage’s audiences as “very adventurous, willing to go on journeys with difficult stories and to respond, to tell me what they think.”

A Boone native, Lane and fellow Yale University graduate Richard Whittington opened Triad Stage in January 2002.

Lane has directed 30 plays and acted in two one-man shows there. The Wall Street Journal praised his 2007 production of “Tobacco Road.”

He and singer/songwriter Laurelyn Dossett wrote three acclaimed shows: “Brother Wolf,” “Beautiful Star: An Appalachian Nativity” and “Bloody Blackbeard.”

“These are real contributions to Southern dramatic literature,” said Linda Sloan, Triad Stage founding board chairwoman who nominated Lane for the award.

For more than 27 years, Allen has served on arts organization boards, including the Music Academy of North Carolina, Eastern Music Festival, Greensboro Symphony and the Carolina Theatre.

During her tenure on the Guilford County Board of Education, Allen advocated for art instruction in the schools.

The Music Academy named its volunteer award after Allen, and its recital hall after Allen and her husband, Richard.

“Her love of the arts is a driving force in her everyday life,” wrote its executive director, Jane Whichard, and former board member Gail Murphy in nominating Allen.

Allen also supports the arts with her wallet.

“In this hectic world, I don’t know where we would be if we didn’t have art to make us feel good,” Allen said.

Contact Dawn DeCwikiel-Kane at 373-5204 or dawn.kane@news-record.com