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<p class=""><span class=""><b>Announcing the Nominees for the 9th Annual Okanagan Arts Awards</b></span></p><p class=""><span class=""><b>For immediate release: April 25th, 2016 - Kelowna BC</b></span></p>
<p class=""><i><span class=""><b></b></span>attachments: 1. press release pdf, </i><i>2. Okanagan Arts Award Nominee Badge, 3. Okanagan Arts Award sculptures in progress - a collaborative project with Cool Arts Artists and previous Okanagan Arts Awards winners.</i></p><p class=""><i>-----</i></p>
<p class=""><span class="">The Arts Council of the Central Okanagan is pleased to announce the nominees for the 9th Annual Okanagan Arts Awards. </span></p>
<p class=""><span class="">The Okanagan Arts Awards were created by ARTSCO in 2007 to celebrate artistic and creative excellence and achievement of artists, in all disciplines. By publicly acknowledging the work of individuals and organizations, the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan places excellence in artistic practice, front and centre as an integral part of our vibrant community.</span></p>
<p class=""><span class="">“The nominations were phenomenal this year”, say Katie Brennan, Executive Director of the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan. “We went from 41 nominations in the Central Okanagan last year to 113!”</span></p>
<p class=""><span class="">Only 3 nominees in each category will be going through as finalists to the Okanagan Arts Awards Gala Evening, held Saturday, May 28th, 2016 at the Habitat in downtown Kelowna. </span></p>
<p class=""><span class="">Finalists will be announced sometime next week. </span></p><p class=""><span class=""><br></span></p><p class=""><span class=""><b>MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE NOMINEES CAN BE FOUND at </b></span></p><p class=""><span class=""></span></p><p class=""><span class=""><a href="http://www.artsco.ca/wordpress/announcing-the-nominees-of-the-9th-annual-okanagan-arts-awards/">http://www.artsco.ca/wordpress/announcing-the-nominees-of-the-9th-annual-okanagan-arts-awards/</a></span></p><p class=""><span class=""><br></span></p><p class=""><span class="">
</span></p><p class=""><span class=""><b><font size="4">2016 Okanagan Arts Awards Nominees: </font></b></span></p><p class=""><span class=""><b><br></b></span></p><p class=""><b><span class=""> </span><span class="">Artistic Excellence - Visual Art: </span></b></p><p class="">Constance Bachman<br><span class=""></span></p><p class=""><span class="">Kelsie Balehowsky</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Rose Braun</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Jody Bruce</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Connor Charlesworth</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Danielle Englesby</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Jane Everett</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Erica Hawkes</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Natasha Harvey</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Asher J Klassen</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Laurie Koss</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Suzanne Le Stage</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Wanda Lock</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Linda Lovisa</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Jolene Mackie</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Moyna Macdonnell</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Don Makela</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Brandy Masch</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Aaron Metz</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Carrie Mitchell</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Heather Lynne Parlane</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Sarah Parsons</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Bramble Lee Pryde</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Shayla Ritchie</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Grant Robinson</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Laura Widmer</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Bobby Vandenhoorn</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Connie Vetter-Johnson</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Meghan Wise</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Nicole Young</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Kyle Zsomber</span></p><p class=""><span class=""></span><br></p><p class=""><span class=""><b>Artistic Excellence - Dance: </b></span></p><p class=""><span class="">Kinshira Performance Troupe</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Lucy Hazelwood (LU KI Dance Productions)</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Loretta Lachner</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Janessa McGrath</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Samantha Sambrielaz</span></p><p class=""><span class=""></span><br></p><p class=""><span class=""></span><br></p><p class=""><span class=""><b>Artistic Excellence - Music:</b></span></p><p class=""><span class="">Alexandra Babbel, Opera Kelowna</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Stephen Buck (Honour in the Arts)</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Kelly Derrickson</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Andrew Judah</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Adam Meachem</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Hilary Ross (Syren and the Waves)</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Darren Williams </span></p><p class=""><span class="">Wild Son</span></p><p class=""><span class=""></span><br></p><p class=""><span class=""><b>Artistic Excellence - Literature:</b></span></p><p class="">Ronald Derrickson<br><span class=""></span></p><p class=""><span class="">Lesley Anne Evans</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Cherie Hanson</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Ashley Little</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Michael V. Smith</span></p><p class=""><span class=""></span><br></p><p class=""><span class=""><b>Artistic Excellence - Theatre:</b></span></p><p class=""><span class="">Cori Derickson</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Kinshira Preformance Troupe</span></p><p class=""><span class="">David Kopp</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Robert Mason-Brown</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Shangning Zhu</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Randall J. Robinson</span></p><p class=""><span class=""></span><br></p><p class=""><span class=""><b>Artistic Excellence - Time Based Media:</b></span></p><p class=""><span class="">Benjamin Musgrave</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Todd Ramsay</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Nick Schafer - Fresh Finish Media</span></p><p class=""><span class=""></span><br></p><p class=""><span class=""><b>Artistic Excellence - Applied Arts:</b></span></p><p class=""><span class="">Cortnee Chulo</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Missy Mackintosh</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Bri Stein</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Art Felt Collaborative</span></p><p class=""><span class=""></span><br></p><p class=""><span class=""><b>Emerging Artist: </b></span></p><p class=""><span class="">Kelsie Balehowsky</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Connor Charlesworth</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Danielle Englesby</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Asher J Klassen</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Jolene Mackie</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Tascheleia Marangoni</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Janessa McGrath</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Benjamin Musgrave</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Hilary Ross (Syren and the Waves)</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Connie Vetter-Johnson</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Nicole Young</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Shangning Zhu</span></p><p class=""><span class=""></span></p><p class=""><br></p><p class=""><span class=""><b>Art & Business:</b></span></p><p class=""><span class="">Brazen Edwards</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Cedar Creek Estate Winery</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Jenn Kyllo - Pinot & Picasso</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Linda Lovisa - New Moon Art Gallery</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Carrie Mayhew - Ginger Creative</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Bramble Lee Pryde - Wolf + Sadie</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Bri Stein - Bri Stein Artistry</span></p><p class=""><br><span class=""></span></p><p class=""><span class=""><b>Business Supporter</b></span></p><p class=""><span class="">Float Space </span></p><p class=""><span class="">Investors Group</span></p><p class=""><span class="">The Heritage - Retirement Living</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Raymond James Ltd</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Rileys Pub</span></p><p class=""><span class=""></span><br></p><p class=""><span class=""><b>Community Impact</b></span></p><p class=""><span class="">Opera Kelowna</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Cool Arts</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Federation of Canadian Artists - Central Okanagan Chapter</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Jazz Jam</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Kelowna Arts Council</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Sncəwips Heritage Museum</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Lake Country Art Gallery</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Okanagan Symphony Orchestra</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Summer Arts Scene for Youth (SASFY)</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Suk’ʷtəmsqilxʷ West Kelowna Arts Council</span></p><p class=""><span class=""></span><br></p><p class=""><span class=""><b>Innovation:</b></span></p><p class=""><span class="">Opera Kelowna</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Cool Arts</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Shimshon Obadia</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Bramble Lee Pryde</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Hilary Ross (Syren and the Waves)</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Connie Vetter-Johnson</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Darren Williams</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Kyle Zsombor</span></p><p class=""><br></p><p class=""><span class=""><b>Lifetime Achievement: </b></span></p><p class=""><span class="">
</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Sharon McCoubrey</span></p><p class=""><span class=""><br></span></p><p class=""><span class="">- 30 -</span></p><p class=""><span class="">Media Contact - Katie Brennan</span></p><p class=""><span class=""><a href="mailto:director@artsco.ca">director@artsco.ca</a> / 250-861-4123</span></p><div><br></div>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-size:12.8px">Arts Council of the Central Okanagan</div><div style="font-size:12.8px">250-861-4123 // <a href="mailto:heythere@artsco.ca" target="_blank">heythere@artsco.ca </a> // <a href="http://artsco.ca/" target="_blank">artsco.ca </a></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><br></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><b style="font-size:12.8px">Located in the Rotary Centre for the Arts at 421 Cawston Ave, Kelowna</b><br></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><b style="font-size:12.8px"><br></b></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><img src="http://www.artsco.ca/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/OAA-LOGO-SCREEN.png" width="420" height="186"><br></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><br></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"></div><div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><div style="font-size:12.8px"><font size="4" color="#990000"><b>SAVE THE DATE:</b> </font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><font size="4">Join us on Saturday, May 28th for the 9th Annual Okanagan Arts Awards</font></div></div></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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