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2006 ace award winners | 2005 ace award winners
national arts and humanities month

2005 ACE Awards

Thursday, October 20, 2005

On October 20, 2005, 40 North | 88 West was proud to announce the winners of its first annual ACE Awards to celebrate and recognize outstanding contributions to the cultural life of Champaign County.

The winners were announced and the awards given out at a special event held that Thursday evening in downtown Champaign's Soma Ultralounge. Acclaimed actress and educator Mindy Manolakes hosted the proceedings before a standing-room-only crowd.

The following individuals took home an ACE Award in these categories:

Education
Brenda Kimble
Media
Melissa Merli
Arts Partner
Virginia Theatre
Business
Busey Bank/Dave Kuhl
Community Advocate
Yu (Ian) Wang
Creative Community Service
Kathy Murphy/John Stuff
Lifetime Achievement
Jane Hobgood

The stunningly sculptural awards, designed by Andy Warfel, were built by ID3 in Atlanta of polished clear acrylic and digitally-routed aluminum plate, and featured hand-hewn finishing by sculptor Jose Marquez of ID3. Soma's nightclub environment was transformed for the event with custom staging by Warfel and Brian Knox, unique lighting by David Warfel and Jason Lindahl of Ancanthus Lighting, and projections of virtual CAD animations of the award by Jerrod Smith.

ACE Judges
The panel of judges who selected the winners of the seven ACE Awards was also revealed at the event on October 20:

Donna Greene - Main Street Bank & Trust

Kathleen Harleman - Krannert Art Museum

Jennifer Hendricks - WCIA Channel 3 News

Maurice McKinley - local musician

Jeff Mellander - Precision Graphics

Eric Robeson - Robeson's, Inc.

Preston Williams - Urbana School District #116

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
Title sponsors for the 2005 ACE Awards were

and

Sponsors:

The Atkins Group
Champaign Studio One Photography
Champaign Telephone Company
Fox Development
The HUB
Illini Media Company
One Main Development
Precision Graphics
Sinfonia da Camera
Soma Ultralounge
Techline
Volition, Inc.
Andy Warfel Environment Design, Inc.
David K. Warfel (Acanthus Lighting)

with additional support provided by:

Illinois Arts Council
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

A Remarkable Evening
40 North | 88 West - Champaign County’s Arts, Culture and Entertainment Council - was proud to host this inaugural event to recognize outstanding contributions to the cultural community in Champaign County. Of the ACE Awards Jennifer Armstrong - 40 North Executive Director - has said, “The arts help make Champaign County an economically robust, culturally vibrant and educationally stimulating place to live, work, learn and play. This event highlights the fact that art lives in Champaign County, and recognizes those who help sustain them and allow them to grow."

40 North Board President Heather Smith welcomed the crowd to the awards ceremony that evening and explained the importance of having an event to recognize those who contribute to the health and vitality of the arts in Champaign County. She also shared excerpts from a letter received from UIUC Chancellor Richard Herman, who could not be present due to Homecoming activities. Comparing the event to Homecoming, the Chancellor wrote, "You are here not to pursue victory - this night is a victory in itself. You are here to salute winners - our neighbors who bring life, thought and beauty to our attention through their boundless creativity."

Jennifer Armstrong closed the ceremony by sharing with the audience, "When images and news of tragedy, devastation, and destructive human relations seem to consume our days; when we work too much, sleep too little and struggle to find time for what really matters most; I am thankful that we can come together tonight to celebrate our community and to celebrate the arts that live here."

* * *

40 North's board of directors, its staff, committee members and volunteers would like to extend a heartfelt congratulations to all the 2005 ACE Award winners and finalists. With the contributions of individuals and institutions like these, Champaign County's arts, culture and entertainment are truly on the map.

Congratulations!

Slideshow
View a slideshow of the 2005 ACE Award ceremony here: Ace Images.

"The arts are good for our education, economy, tourism, economic development, and quality of life. But perhaps now more than ever, they are good for our souls."

- Jennifer Armstrong, Executive Director, 40 North | 88 West, at the 1st Annual ACE Awards Ceremony, 20 October 2005

ACE Award Criteria
Eligibility: Nominees are not limited to, but may include: artists, students, faculty, non-profit administrative staff, business owners and employees, elected and appointed officials, and community citizens. Self-nominations are also accepted. Must be 18 years or older to be eligible to win an ACE Award.

Education ACE: The Education ACE will be presented to an individual or institution that has made exceptional strides in educating in and through the arts at either the elementary, secondary or post-secondary level. The winner will demonstrate a unique and creative approach to merging the arts and education and have made demonstrative impact on their targeted audience.
Media ACE: This award recognizes outstanding media support of the arts in Champaign County. Nominations for this award may include organizations that offer outstanding editorial support and coverage of the arts as well as donations of air time, print space, and professional services to artists and arts organizations in the county.
Community Advocate ACE: This award will highlight the individual or organization that has advocated on behalf of the arts effectively and consistently and as a result, has advanced the artistic and cultural lives of the people of Champaign County.
Arts Partners ACE: The Arts Partners ACE will be presented to an individual or organization who has forged creative partnerships in the community that strengthen their missions either individually or collectively and result in broader awareness and recognition of the arts in Champaign County.
Creative Community Service ACE: This award will be presented to an artist who, through either their volunteer or advocacy efforts, has made an impact on their community beyond the art that he/she produces.
Business ACE: The Business ACE recognizes businesses and their leaders for outstanding support of the arts. The winner will also cultivate opportunities and relationships that support local artists and/or organizations in Champaign County.
Lifetime Achievement ACE: This award will honor the accumulated successes of an individual for continued, outstanding support of the arts in our community.

40 North | 88 West - the Champaign County Arts, Culture and Entertainment Council - is dedicated to cultivating a vibrant and thriving environment for the arts, culture and entertainment stimulating Champaign County's growth and enriching the quality of life for everyone. Founded in 2002, 40 North will celebrate its fourth year of incorporation in October, 2006. For more information, visit www.40north.org.

Other Resources and Logos:

Illinois Arts Week
http://www.state.il.us/agency/iac/artsweek/Artsweek05.pdf

National Arts and Humanities Month
http://ww3.artsusa.org/get_involved/visibility/visibility_002.asp