The Maine Center for Creativity Honored Academy Award Nominated Actress, Glenn Close

The Maine Center for Creativity Thursday night, September 13, held its first ever award pesentation recognizing excellence in art, innovation and enterprise in fueling Maine’s creative economy. The inaugural event was held at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland and was more than an awards presentation. An African drum group and Lady Zen, a self-described jazz-funk poet, based in Portland performed.

The first Maine Creative Industries Award was given to actress Glenn Close and her husband David Shaw, the founder of IDEXX Laboratories which blends creativity in art and business.  Shaw and Close, who own a home in Scarborough, were there to accept the award. They showcased their creativity in a video they produced which included interviews about creativity with people like Alan Alda, George Lucas, Robert Redford, as well as Maine based artist, scientist and entrepreneurs.

Also announced during the event was the formation of the Maine Network of Innovation and Creativity, which will promote creative and innovation enterprises throughout Maine. The hope of the network is to bring
national and international engagement and investment to Maine’s creative economy.