By: Christine E. Serio
Director of Marketing and Public Relations Wilmington Renaissance Corporation

christineserio@downtownwilmington.com

As Fall approaches, the complete arts season is about to be in full swing once again. That means one of the premiere arts events of the year is about to take place, so mark your calendars now.

The Christina Cultural Arts Center (CCAC) will hold the 2009 Christi Awards on Thursday, October 22 at the Baby Grand at 6:30 p.m.

The biennial event is a fundraiser for CCAC,as well as a chance to honor great contributors to the arts community.

“We will honor individuals who show a dedication and passion for the arts and are typically unsung heroes for the arts community,” said Raye Avery-Jones, executive director of CCAC. “The awards given in four categories will include Outstanding Achievement by an Artist, Outstanding Philanthropic Activity, Outstanding Arts Advocacy, Community Service/Volunteerism in the Arts, and Outstanding Contribution in Arts Education. We look forward to honoring those who do so much for the arts community.”

The theme for this year’s Christi Awards is Hope, Inspiration, Passion, Knowledge—Building Community Through the Arts. The words represent the elements needed to have a successful, thriving community alive with the arts, and the performances at the Christi Awards will reflect the sentiments of the descriptive words.

The event typically showcases the CCAC students and the talents of the faculty at the center as well.
“Not only are the Christi Awards a chance for us to publicly thank arts champions in our community who show so much passion for the arts, but it’s a chance to show the audience the caliber of the CCAC students and faculty,” Natalie Haskins, Christi Awards Steering Committee co-chair, said. “After the awards are given out and the performances end at the Baby Grand, the audience will have a chance to see the center itself for the reception following the event.”

The Christi Awards have been held in Wilmington since 1991 and a multitude of those who cherish the arts, create the arts, support and educate others about the arts have been honored. Included in the number of honorees is Edward Loper Sr., Dr. Wesley Memeger, James Gilliam Sr. and Jr., Gonzalez Martinez for founding the El Centro Cultural Community Center, and many more.

CCAC is a premier community school of the arts with a mission to make affordable arts education and multicultural programs accessible to children, teens and adults in a family environment.
CCAC’s leading edge programs promote self-development, healthy lifestyles, social change, educational success and economic empowerment. The center teaches music, drama, vocals, dance, and visual arts. In addition, the CCAC has early childhood learning and social services to serve the needs of the families that frequent the center.

“CCAC is more than just a place where children and adults take classes,” said Jones. “It is family, it is home and it is the place where the spirits and talents of the students can grow under the skill of our teachers.”

For more information about the 2009 Christi Awards and CCAC, visit www.ccac-de.org
or call 302-652-0101.