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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: </span></b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>October 8, 2013<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Contact: Kelly White, Executive Director: kwhite@40north.org<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>40 North | 88 West – Champaign County Arts Council<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>106 S. Neil St., Champaign, IL 61820, ph. 217.351.9841 www.40north.org<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-variant:small-caps'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:6.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-variant:small-caps'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>40 North Hosts 9<sup>th</sup> Annual ACE Awards<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='color:black'>Annual awards ceremony celebrates outstanding contributions to </span></i><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='color:black'>Champaign County’s arts, culture & education<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:45.0pt;text-indent:-45.0pt'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>What</span></b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>: The 2013 ACE Awards, presented by 40 North, Champaign County’s Arts Council, is sponsored by <b>The Canopy Club</b>, the <b>News-Gazette</b>, <b>Shatterglass Studios</b>, and the <b>Krannert Art Museum</b>. The event will feature complimentary hors d'œuvre from <b>Micheals’ Catering </b>as well as live performances from <b>Donnie Heitler</b> (with vocals from <b>Katie Flynn</b>)<b> </b>and<b> Ryan Groff </b>of Elsinore. The Master of Ceremonies for the evening will be <b>Drew Wilder</b>, co-anchor for the WCIA 3 Morning Show. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:45.0pt;text-indent:-45.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>When</span></b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>: Thursday, October 17, 2013. Doors open at 5:30 PM. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Where</span></b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>: The Canopy Club, 708 S. Goodwin, Urbana <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:45.0pt;text-indent:-45.0pt'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Tickets</span></b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>: <b>$10 each</b>, available online at <a href="http://www.40north.org">www.40north.org</a> or by calling 351-9841. <b>$15 at the door the night of the event.</b> <br><br><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Champaign, IL – 40 North | 88 West proudly announces the 9<sup>th</sup> Annual ACE (Arts, Culture, and Education) Awards. <span style='color:black;background:white'>All seven ACE Award winners embody the spirit of the local arts community with their passion, energy, and dedication to the creative culture of Champaign County.</span><span style='color:black'> Please join us on October 17<sup>th</sup>, 5:30pm at the Canopy Club for an inspiring evening of performances, mingling, and a one-of-a-kind celebration of our arts community!</span></span><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The winners of the 2013 ACE Awards are:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Advocate ACE Award – <b>Kathleen Harleman, </b>director of the Krannert Art Museum,<b> </b>for bringing new vigor and excitement not only to campus but to the community as a whole with an atmosphere of inclusivity and an unprecedented diversity of exhibitions.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Artist ACE Award – <b>Steve Hudson</b>, for his powerful and impactful paintings that go beyond the expected and present the audience with issues of humanity that are left open for interpretation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Volunteer ACE Award – <b>Leonard Doyle</b> for demonstrating his unwavering commitment and steadfast devotion to the Virginia Theatre by contributing literally thousands of hours over the course of his 65 years of service.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Business ACE Award – <b>The I.D.E.A. Store</b> for benefiting artists, art teachers, art students, and the entire Champaign-Urbana community with its innovation in, and promotion of, reuse art materials and creative ideas for their re-use.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Teacher ACE Award – <b>Chris Berti</b>, Associate Professor of Art & Design at Parkland College, for his infectious energy, depth of knowledge, and outstanding ability to impact, encourage, and transform his students while at the same time demonstrating passionate commitment to the arts of this community and his own studio practice. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Student ACE Award – <b>Emily Denis</b>, UIUC Masters Candidate in Art Education, for demonstrating an outstanding commitment to community involvement and social justice oriented art curriculum by taking on many additional endeavors above and beyond her course work.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Lifetime ACE Award – <b>Donnie Heitler, </b>for his limitless talent and life-long dedication to his practice as well his profound impact on countless musicians as well as the community as a whole. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The winners were chosen from public nominations by an independent panel of community-based judges representing a broad cross-section of Champaign County. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Judges: <b>Patrick Earl Hammie</b>, <span style='color:black'>artist and Assistant Professor of Art at UIUC; <b>LaDonna Wilson</b>, <span style='background:white'>teacher and drama director at Central High School; <b>Sanford Hess</b>, Executive Consultant at CGI and former operator of the Art Theater; and <b>Carly</b></span></span></span> <b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;background:white'>McCrory, </span></b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;background:white'>Communications Director at the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Special thanks to our sponsors; The News-Gazette, The Canopy Club, Shatterglass Studios, and the Krannert Art Museum.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>40 North | 88 West<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>40 North - Champaign County Arts Council - is dedicated to cultivating creativity in Champaign County. Through advocacy, information and collaboration, 40 North works to stimulate a vibrant, thriving environment for the arts, culture and education essential to the quality of life in Champaign County. For more info, visit www.40north.org. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:TodaySB-Regular'>Kelly White</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:TodaySB-Regular'>Executive Director</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:TodaySB-Regular'>40 North | 88 West - Champaign County Arts Council</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:TodaySB-Regular'>106 South Neil Street</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:TodaySB-Regular'>Champaign, IL 61820</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:TodaySB-Regular'>phone 217.351.9841</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:TodaySB-Regular'>fax 217.398.3037</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="mailto:kwhite@40north.org"><span style='font-family:TodaySB-Regular;color:blue'>kwhite@40north.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.40north.org/"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:blue;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=188 height=188 id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01CEC440.6838B160" alt="email_signature_art_is_work"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>