The top supporters of the arts in Hampton Roads will be honored on Sunday at the 2015 Alli Awards in Norfolk.
The Cultural Alliance of Greater Hampton Roads has announced the award nominees – businesses, individuals, and arts and cultural organizations that have supported the arts in the region.
This year, there are three business categories, small, medium and large businesses; three individual categories, arts volunteer, emerging arts volunteer and arts professional; and four special categories, Arts Partner, Creative Leadership, Bettie Minette Cooper Arts Educator and the Vianne Webb Lifetime Achievement.
The business nominees: Borjo Coffeehouse, Charlie’s American Café, Reel It Out Film Festival, Williamsburg Economic Development Authority and the PRA Group.
Individual and special award nominees for 2015 include: Arts Connection Hampton Roads, Mike Bell, Michael Berlucchi, Janina Bove/Suzanne Lownsbury, Janet Boykins, Linda Bunch, Mary Catherine Cole, Nancy Creech, Elizabeth Eccles, William Garlette, Courtney Gardner, David Kunkel, Barbara Lewis, Edward and Linda Lilly, Ardell McCoy, Anne Meek, Sheila Myers, Valerie Neff, Norfolk Festevents, Portsmouth Partnership, Gayle Paul, Vanessa Thaxton-Ward, Sam Welty, WHRO/The SCENE and Deborah Wyld.
The winners will be announced at a gala dinner at 5:15 p.m. Sunday at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Norfolk Airport. Barbara Hamm Lee, from WHRO, will serve as the emcee.
For tickets, which are $60, and information, visit www.culturalli.org/alli.awards, or reach Joan L. Rhodes-Copeland at joan@culturalli.org or 961-4002.
The Virginian-Pilot November 5, 2015