For the fourth straight year the Arts Advocacy Collaborative of West Central Ohio is looking to once again award members of the area for their contributions to the arts community. Each year three winners are selected under the categories of Creator, Advocate and Philanthropist.

The Creator Award is presented to an artist whose work has made a significant impact on his or her discipline and also shows creativity and imagination that exemplifies the highest level of achievement in a particular discipline while advancing the art form.

Requirements for nominees include: creative and inventive use of the medium, innovation in style and/or concept, outstanding technical proficiency or craftsmanship and is consistently high in quality, advances the art and compares favorably to other work in the field, regionally and/or nationally

The Advocate Award is presented to an individual, family or corporation with a proven record of exceptional generosity who, through direct financial support, has demonstrated outstanding civic and charitable responsibility, and whose generosity encourages others to take philanthropic leadership roles in our community.

The Philanthropist Award is presented to an individual, family or corporation who has: made significant contributions through leadership and creativity to advance arts education in Ohio’s schools and/or community organizations, shown visionary leadership of an arts organization, works to strengthen arts participation with community members while increasing public awareness about the role of the arts in community life, has shown extraordinary support to the arts through personal contribution , and actively advocates public support for the arts.

Deadline for nominations is Friday, Oct. 16. To nominate someone go to www.aacwco.org and click on submission form and simply fill out the information. Winners are recognized each year at the Rotary Club of Lima Luncheon.

The 2014 winners included: Creator, Tekla Murphy; Advocate, Michael Frueh; and Philanthropist, Beverly Hawk.

The Arts Collaborative was organized by representatives of The Lima Symphony Orchestra, Northwest Ohio Film Foundation, Allen County Board of DD, Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center, Council for the Arts, ArtSpace, and Lima City Schools Arts, to increase advocacy for the arts and arts-related industries in Allen, Auglaize, Hardin and Putnam Counties.

The need to highlight the economic impact, employment, creativity and innovation in local arts efforts is in response to the rapidly evolving local economic demands for a dynamic and creative workforce. The Arts Collaborative was established in 2012.