2015-okanagan-arts-awardsNominees from across the arts spectrum with be honoured at the 8th Annual Okanagan Arts Awards to be held at the Mary Irwin Theatre, located in the Rotary Centre for the Arts  on March 28.

The Arts Council of the Central Okanagan has established this award program in order to recognize individuals and groups residing in the Okanagan/Thompson who have made significant contributions to the arts in our communities. This year the Arts Awards will be presented in the following categories: music, dance, media arts, graphic arts, literary arts, theatre, visual art, arts educator, supporter of the arts, arts association, culinary arts, youth and lifetime achievement.

The public are invited to meet the nominees at an open reception starting at 6:00pm in the up-stairs lobby. The reception is catered by ARTSCO’s culinary Chef, Nick Gowing. 

The awards ceremonies begin at 7 p.m.

This year’s nominees are:

Central Okanagan Foundation Arts Association Award
Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art
Enderby Artists Initiative
Okanagan Archive Trust Society. Brian Wilson

Arts Educator
Alexandra Babbel (Kelowna)
Delphine Derickson (Westbank)
Nancy Holmes (Kelowna)
Randy Leslie (Kelowna)

Culinary
Nick Growing (Kelowna)
Michael Lyon (Kelowna)

Dance
Get Bent School of Belly Dance and Performing Arts (Penticton)
Jordan McAlpine (Kelowna)
Shani Wendell (Lake Country)

Design
Avante Kiosks (Okanagan Falls)
Kaitlan Murphy (Revelstoke)

Graphic Arts
David MacCoubrey (Penticton)
Kyle Poirier (Kelowna)
Mishell Raedeke (Kelowna)

Literary Arts
Patricia Ainslie (West Kelowna)
Jennifer Schell (Kelowna)
Dona Sturmanis (Kelowna)

Media Arts
Chris Stenberg (Penticton)
K.A.S.P. Entertainment (Penticton)

Music
Dennis Colpits (Kelowna)
Ben Klick (West Kelowna)
Ernst Schneider (Penticton)

Supporter of the Arts
Lynda Norman (Kelowna)
Tatianna O’Donnell (Enderby)
Shelly Vida (Kelowna)

Theatre
Asparagus Community Theatre (Armstrong)
David Kopp (Kelowna)
Many Hats Theatre Co. (Penticton)

Visual Arts
Glen Clarke (Penticton)
Jolene Mackie (Kelowna)
Chris Malmkvist (Lake Country)

Youth
Kelsie Balehowsky (Kelowna)
Nikolas Filipiric (Penticton)
Cynthia Leigh-Ann (Kelowna)

Following the reception the Arts Awards Celebration will be held in the RCA – Mary Irwin Theatre. This portion of the evening will feature a showcase of exciting performances along with the Arts Awards presentations.

Tickets are available online through selectyourtickets.com or at the Rotary Centre’s box office at 421 Cawston Avenue. Phone: 250-717-5304