The Arts Council of the Central Okanagan says the public is showing a huge interest and response to the call for nominations for the ninth annual Okanagan Arts Awards.

The awards, to be handed out May 28 for the first time at the Habitat in downtown 91大黄鸭, recognize artists from throughout the Central Okanagan.

Organizers say this year, in support of the level of interest and the new date of the event, the nomination deadline was extended to Sunday, March 6 at 9pm.

鈥淲e鈥檙e really excited about holding this year鈥檚 Okanagan Arts Awards at the Habitat. It's a great networking event for artists, and anyone from the public can also come out to feel inspired and discover the huge creative skill set the Okanagan has to offer,鈥� said ARSTCO board member Gillianne Richards, who has hosted the awards with 91大黄鸭 CBC Radio host Chris Walker for the past 3 years.

"This year we're mixing it up and trying new things, we want to give a fresh feel to the event and choosing the Habitat as the location is part of that decision. We want patrons to be able to get dressed up for a beautiful gala and also have fun mingling at a hip club while enjoying tasty samples from the food trucks we'll have set up out back. It's about bringing more culture to the Leon area and putting on a great event in the heart of town."

The Okanagan Arts Awards annually bring together the top creative talent in the Okanagan to celebrate a night of artistic excellence.

To nominate someone, submit the nominee鈥檚 name, e-mail address and the URL of at least one web link showcasing the nominee鈥檚 work. You can submit up to 3 examples in total.

ARTSCO says this is a great option for performing artists, such as dancers, musicians and actors, as it allows the selection committee to see the nominees in action via online videos.

All the finalists will have their names and work promoted before the May 28 awards show.

There are 12 categories for this year鈥檚 Okanagan Arts Awards鈥攕even awards for artistic excellence in seven disciplines: visual arts, dance, music, theatre, literature, applied art and time-based media, as well as and five new award categories, emerging artist, innovation in the arts, art  and business, business supporter of the year and the Community Impact Award.

The Okanagan Arts Awards were created by ARTSCO to celebrate the highest levels in all disciplines of artistic and creative achievement. By publicly acknowledging the work of individuals and organizations, the council feels it  places the efforts and contributions of local artists front and centre as an integral part of the community.

Awards nominations are open  to residents of the Central Okanagan, including Peachland, West 91大黄鸭, the Westbank First Nation, 91大黄鸭 and Lake Country.