The deadline is approaching for this year’s nominations for Okanagan Arts Awards.
Now in its seventh year, the annual celebration recognizes artists in all fields for their outstanding achievement.
“The arts awards serve to underline the importance of the arts in our communities, and to recognize individuals and groups for their significant contributions and for their exceptional support of arts and culture in B.C.’s Central Interior,” reads a press release from the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan (ARTSCO), which hosts the awards.
Nominations are open to anyone who resides from Kamloops to the Nicola Valley, Princeton to Osoyoos, and through to Revelstoke.
This year, there are two new categories: culinary arts and a youth award for age 25 and younger involved in music, dance, theatre, or visual arts including media and design.
Other categories include the Central Okanagan Foundation Community Arts Association Award towards an arts organization; arts educator (a teacher in any context, public school, community); dance (performance, choreographers, companies); design (industrial, fashion, jewelry, furniture); graphic arts (advertising, web design, commercial graphics); literary arts (fiction, non-fiction, news, weblogs, poetry); media arts (film, video, animation); music (singing, songwriting, instrumentation, composing, performance); supporter of the arts (through financial, volunteer or other significant contribution); theatre (producer, director, actor, company); visual arts (all forms and types of visual arts).
There is also the Lifetime Achievement Award, which will be presented on the basis of overall contributions to the arts and is not a nominated award.
“The Central Interior has some of the most talented individuals that deserve recognition for their continued contributions to the arts,” said ARTSCO. “Take the time to nominate your star of the arts, raising their profile and honouring the calibre of art in your community.”
Deadline for nominations is Jan. 31, with the awards presentation on March 22 in Kelowna.
Online applications forms and more information is available at www.artsco.ca.
