CT Commission On Culture & Tourism Seeking Nominations

For Governors Awards For Excellence, Distinguished Advocates Awards

HARTFORD — The Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism (CCT) seeks nominations for its 2008 Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Culture & Tourism and Distinguished Advocates Awards. Winners will be honored by the Commission on April 9 at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.

Governor’s Awards

For Excellence

The Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Culture & Tourism honor Connecticut’s most accomplished individuals for their lifetime achievements and outstanding contributions in the fields of performing, visual or literary arts; film, video or digital media; history, heritage or historic preservation or tourism.

“These awards recognize Connecticut’s world-renowned leaders in the arts, tourism, film and history whose initiative, outside-the-box thinking and achievements have made lasting and outstanding contributions within the state and beyond,” said Governor M. Jodi Rell. “These awardees reflect the way in which art, film, history and tourism intertwine to enhance the economic vitality of our state and enrich the quality of life both within and outside of Connecticut’s borders.”

“There are many dedicated individuals and organizations in Connecticut committed to improving and promoting the state’s arts and cultural scene, historic preservation, film production and tourism attractions,” said Karen Senich, acting executive director of the Commission on Culture & Tourism. “These people are also esteemed leaders in their fields, not only in Connecticut, but in the nation and the world. The Commission is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with these individuals and to formally thank them for their hard work.”

Winners of the Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Culture & Tourism are selected based on one or more of the following criteria: magnitude of achievement, level of recognition brought by the achievement and sustained contribution to the field and to the state.

Distinguished

Advocates Awards

Distinguished Advocates Awards recognize the exemplary contributions of volunteers in the arts, film, historic preservation or tourism in Connecticut. The awards honor individuals who have made a significant impact on culture and tourism in communities across the state.

Guidelines and nomination forms for the Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Culture & Tourism and Distinguished Advocates awards may be found at CultureAndTourism.org.

Nominations must be postmarked or hand-delivered to CCT’s offices by 5 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2008. Award entries should be marked to the attention of Rhonda F. Olisky, awards coordinator, Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism, One Constitution Plaza – 2nd floor, Hartford CT 06103. She may be contacted at 860-256-2752 or via e-mail at rhonda.olisky@ct.gov.

2007 recipients of the Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Culture & Tourism included the poet William Morris Meredith; Robert A.M. Stern, architect and dean of the Yale School of Architecture; the film director Barry Levinson director; and Robert D. Ballard, underwater archaeologist and founder and president of the Institute for Exploration at Mystic Aquarium.

Recipients of the 2007 Distinguished Advocates awards included Barbara Alleyne of Hartford for her efforts to preserve Connecticut’s African-American history; Shane Engstrom of East Hartford for his work with Out Film CT and the Connecticut Gay & Lesbian Film Festival; Teresa Gianzinetti of Burlington for her work as a docent at the New Britain Museum of American Art; William Haas of Norwalk for his volunteer service at the Darien Welcome Center; Carolyn D. Lieber of Lyme for her dedicated service to the Florence Griswold Museum; and Warren Rossell of Westport for his volunteer service at the Darien Welcome Center.

The Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism brings together tourism, film, history and the arts. Its mission is to preserve and promote Connecticut’s cultural and tourism assets in order to enhance the quality of life and economic vitality of the state.

CCCT’s office is at One Financial Plaza, 755 Main Street in Hartford. For more information, visit CultureAndTourism.org.