A nearly packed house in the Kennedy Center’s concert hall greeted the winners of this year’s Mayor’s Arts Awards last night. In its 24th year, the award was created to celebrate the “indelible contributions to our cultural community by promoting artistic excellence and elevating the stature of our Nation’s Capitol.” The finalist list largely features long-time D.C. institutions and arts educators in theater, dance, music, and the visual arts, awarding accomplishments such as innovation and…