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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"'>August 8th, 2014<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<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>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-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-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-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Nominations Open for 10th Annual ACE Awards<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Honoring the efforts of those who enrich the culture of Champaign County!<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><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Champaign, IL - Nominations are now being accepted at <b>www.40north.org</b> for the 2014 ACE Awards. The deadline for submitting an ACE Award nomination is midnight on Monday, September 8th. <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 ACE (<i>arts</i>, <i>culture,</i> and <i>education</i>) Awards are presented annually by 40 North | 88 West as part of National Arts and Humanities Month, and honor the work of artists, teachers, businesses, individuals, organizations, volunteers, community and government leaders. Each award highlights a different part of the cultural life of our community and celebrates those that, through hard work, dedication, and creative energy, cultivate the arts of Champaign County. The seven ACE Award categories are: Advocate, Artist, Volunteer, Business, Teacher, Student, and Lifetime Achievement. Nominations will be reviewed 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"'>Anyone can submit a nomination for an ACE Award. You may nominate multiple candidates and self-nominations are accepted. Must be 14 years or older and a resident of Champaign County to be eligible to win an ACE Award. Previous nominees may be resubmitted.<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"'>Last year’s winners were: Kathleen Harleman (Advocate ACE), Steve Hudson (Artist ACE), Leonard Doyle (Volunteer ACE), The I.D.E.A. Store by CUSF (Business ACE), Chris Berti (Teacher ACE), Emily Denis (Student ACE), and Donnie Heitler (Lifetime ACE). <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"'>Join us to honor all the nominees and celebrate the winners at the ACE Awards ceremony at The Canopy Club in Urbana on Tuesday, October 14th, starting at 5:30pm.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><u><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal><u><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The ACE Awards categories</span></u><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>:<u><o:p></o:p></u></span></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"'>Advocate ACE: </span></b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>This award will honor the individual, organization, or group that has advocated on behalf of the arts effectively and consistently, forged creative partnerships, or stimulated collaborations that result in broader awareness, accessibility and participation in the arts, culture and entertainment of Champaign County.<b><o:p></o:p></b></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"'>Artist ACE: </span></b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>This award recognizes an individual artist for their creations and contributions to the excellence of the arts of Champaign County.<b><o:p></o:p></b></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"'>Volunteer ACE: </span></b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>This award will be presented to an individual or group that, through their volunteer efforts and service, has made a significant impact on the art and culture of this community.<b><o:p></o:p></b></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"'>Business ACE: </span></b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The award will celebrate the business that has demonstrated outstanding support of the arts. The winner will have cultivated opportunities and relationships that support local artists and/or organizations in Champaign County.<b><o:p></o:p></b></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"'>Teacher ACE: </span></b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>This award recognizes an individual, organization, school, educator, or group that has demonstrated a unique and creative approach to merging the arts and education. The winner will have, through outstanding commitment and dedicated service to arts education, been an inspiration to students, teachers, and the community.<b><o:p></o:p></b></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"'>Student ACE: </span></b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>This award will be presented to an individual student with outstanding artistic achievements who strives to promote understanding and appreciation of the local arts community.<b> <o:p></o:p></b></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"'>Lifetime ACE: </span></b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>This award will honor the accumulated successes of an individual for continued, outstanding support of the arts in our community.<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><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Tickets to October 14 awards ceremony</span></b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Tickets to the 10th Annual ACE Awards are $12 each and are available at 40north.org/tickets or by calling 40 North at 217.351.9841. Tickets can also be purchased at <a href="http://canopyclub.com">http://canopyclub.com</a> <b>Tickets will be available at the door for $15</b>.<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><i><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></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>###<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><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'>Amanda Baker</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:TodaySB-Regular'>Programs and Events Coordinator</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 217.363.3795</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:TodaySB-Regular'><a href="mailto:abaker@40north.org"><span style='color:blue'>abaker@40north.org</span></a></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:TodaySB-Regular'>www.40north.org<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>