The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County (CAFC) proudly announces the winners of its second annual Arts & Culture Empowerment (ACE) Awards, a celebration of individuals, organizations, and businesses who have made significant contributions to the Fairfield County community through arts and culture.
The awardees will be honored at the ACE Awards Breakfast on June 7th, from 7:30 – 9:00 am at The Shore and Country Club in Norwalk. Master of Ceremonies, James Naughton, Tony Award™ winning actor and singer, will kick off the event, followed by keynote speaker Kelli O’Hara, unequivocally one of Broadway’s great leading ladies, and a Tony Award™ winning actor and singer. Tickets for the Breakfast are now on sale at cafcaceawards.eventbrite.com
“We are delighted to once again host the ACE Awards, and are thrilled by the many nominations we received, which not only validates the wide range of amazing talent in our own backyard, but also demonstrates the interest and dedication of the many patrons of the arts in Fairfield County who were moved to nominate their favorite artist, organization or business,” said Angela Whitford, Executive Director.
The 2017 ACE Awards winners:
ACE Award, Corporate: Spinnaker Real Estate Partners maintains a high level of commitment to strengthening of the communities it serves. It is known for a culture of collaboration and the ability to create private/public partnerships with state, community and nonprofit stakeholders to produce projects of lasting value.
ACE Award Artist: Shanna Melton is an award-winning poet, painter and art consultant based in Bridgeport. In addition to sharing her words, paintings, and ideas with audiences around the world, she has curated numerous artistic events, bringing artists and musicians together to share their work and inspire others. In 2011, Shanna was presented with the State of Connecticut’s Woman to Know Award, given to those who create positive change in their communities and earlier this year, she received the 2017 Humanitarian Award from The Al-Aziz Islamic Center for “Being a Positive Example in the Community.”
ACE Award, Nonprofit: Silvermine Art Center has produced cutting-edge shows over the years, bringing in curators and artists from progressive art enclaves throughout the Northeast. The Center prides itself on giving Connecticut artists opportunities for recognition on a larger stage. Its commitment to inclusion has increased awareness of the rich arts scene throughout Fairfield County.
ACE Award, Citizen: Michael Widland, attorney with Shipman & Goodwin, has a passion for the arts and has been involved in many arts and cultural institutions in Fairfield County throughout his career. He currently serves on the board of the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk and the Mill River Park Collaborative, among others. In 2012, Michael played a pivotal role in saving the Stamford Center for the Arts (SCA), using his experience with both corporate restructurings and not-for-profits to successfully guide this major cultural arts organization through bankruptcy, reorganization and —ultimately— revitalization.
The 2017 ACE Awards are supported by Premier Sponsors: United Capital Financial Life Management and Cohen and Wolf; Platinum Sponsors: Hobbs Inc. and Shipman & Goodwin; Gold Sponsor: studio2pt0, llc; and Silver Sponsor: Berchem, Moses & Devlin, P.C. Sponsorship opportunities are available at various levels. For more information, contact angela@culaturalalliancefc.org
The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County, with support from the Connecticut Office of the Arts, assists cultural organizations, artists and creative businesses in Fairfield County through marketing, professional development and advocacy. For more information, visit CulturalAllianceFC.org