Media Contact:

Jessica Petrie

651-282-3113

jpetrie@ordway.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ordway Seeking Nominations for 2014 Sally Awards

23rd annual Sally Ordway Irvine Awards to celebrate and recognize extraordinary achievements in the arts

ST. PAUL, Minn. (Dec. 29, 2014) The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts announced today that nominations for the 2014 Sally Ordway Irvine Awards are now open and will be accepted through January 31, 2015. The prestigious Sally Awards, now in their 23rd year, provide an opportunity to recognize and honor extraordinary achievements in the arts throughout Minn.

Minnesota has one of the richest, most vibrant arts communities in the entire country; not just in the metro area but throughout all of Greater Minnesota as well, said Patricia A. Mitchell, Ordways president and CEO. The Sally Awards is our way of recognizing the efforts and achievements of those who are committed to enriching their communities and instilling a passion for the arts in others.

Each year, one individual or organization is honored in each of the following five categories: Vision, Initiative, Commitment, Education and Arts Access. Last years winners were MacPhail Online (Vision), Kristine Sorensen (Initiative), James Samuel Cornbread Harris Sr. (Commitment), Lyz Jaakola (Education) and Franconia Sculpture Park (Arts Access).

Nominations for the 2014 awards are being accepted through January 31, 2015. Individuals and organizations from any artistic or cultural field are eligible, as long as their work took place within the state of Minn. Nominees may be artists, professional administrators, volunteers, philanthropists or organizations.

After all entries have been received, a selection committee will review the nominations and select the five award winners, who will be honored at the Sally Awards ceremony at the Ordway on June 22, 2015.

Nomination forms and additional information are available online at www.ordway.org/sallyawards.

The Sally Awards are funded, in part, by the Minnesota State Arts Board through the arts and cultural heritage fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with funds from the Legacy Amendment.

ABOUT THE ORDWAY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

The Ordway is widely recognized as one of the nations leading nonprofit performing arts centers and Saint Pauls most elegant and inviting performance space. The Ordway is home to the 1,900-seat Music Theater and soon-to-be completed Concert Hall, which is set to open in March 2015. The opening celebration for the Concert Hall will include a ribbon-cutting and open house, followed by 22 days of eclectic artists and performances specifically chosen to showcase the state-of-the-art acoustics and intimacy of the new space. The Ordway attracts diverse audiences with an array of productions showcasing the finest in American musical theater, world music, dance and vocal performance. Education and community engagement are integral to the Ordways mission, with major initiatives including the annual Flint Hills International Childrens Festival and Ordway Education programs that serve more than 50,000 students annually. The Ordway also sponsors the Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists, a charter high school with a professionally guided academic and artistic environment that trains aspiring pre-professional performing artists. Together with the Minnesota Opera, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and The Schubert Club, the Ordway is a member of the Arts Partnership and serves as the principal venue for their performances. For more information, visit www.ordway.org.