The Maine Center for Creativity (MCC) has announced the co-recipients of the 2014 Maine Creative Industries Award, a prestigious biennial honor that recognizes exceptional people and organizations who enrich Maine's growing reputation as a state where the arts and enterprise meet and flourish.

Maine native and cancer activist, actor Patrick Dempsey has accepted the honor alongside The Jackson Laboratory, a leading-edge genetics research laboratory, being represented by Edison T. Liu, M.D.

Jean Maginnis, founder and executive director of MCC in a press release says:

These exemplary honorees showcase Maine’s creativity in separate ways. Mr. Dempsey as a product of our rich performing arts community which led to his success and ability to found the Dempsey Center, and The Jackson Laboratory as an example of a world-class research and development industry. Their common accomplishment is their imaginative approach to bringing comfort, care and the pursuit of a cure to cancer patients in Maine and beyond.

The awards will be presented on Nov. 15, 2014, at a gala celebration in Portland.

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