Minister announces appointments to Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council

Tourism, Culture and Recreation Minister Paul Shelley today announced eight new appointments to the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council (NLAC). Appointments reflect geographic representation of the province. Members represent individuals whose expertise is necessary to fulfill the goals and objectives of the council.

"Supporting creative people and bringing stability to the conditions under which they work is a key building block of celebrating our identity and fostering creativity," said Minister Shelley. "That�s why the role of the NLAC is so important. These new members are all strong contributors to the arts throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. I look forward to working with the board of directors to strengthen the council and the important support that it provides to artists in the province."

Newly appointed and re-appointed members include: Margaret Best, St. John�s (visual arts); Paul Bowdring, St. John�s (literary arts); John Doyle, St. John�s (film); Charlotte Jones, Western (visual arts); Carmelita McGrath, St. John�s (literary arts); Mara Noftall, St. John�s (dance); Mary Walsh, St. John�s (theatre); and Kim Wiseman, Central (music). All members are appointed for a three-year term.

Other members of the arts council include Eugene Campbell, Labrador (music); Levi Curtis, Eastern (theatre); Brent Meade (government representative) and Michael Clair (government representative).

Minister Shelley acknowledged departing members of the council. "I would like to thank outgoing members for their contribution to the council," said Minister Shelley. "Maxine Stanley, Sandra Blackmore, Anne Hart and Kathleen Knowling have all made their mark as members of the NLAC and I wish them continued success in their endeavors."

The Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council was established in January 1980. The mandate of the NLAC is to foster the arts of the province, the key vehicle by which government supports the creative process. In 2003-04, NLAC provided grants to 201 artists and art organizations. The NLAC also provided $185,000 in grants to 31 artists and art organizations through two funding partner agreements: Aliant � Cultural Innovation Fund and The McConnell Foundation � ArtSmarts. Government provided an additional $160,300 in Budget 2005 for the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council (NLAC), bringing the total budget to $900,000.

Media contact: Tansy Mundon, Communications, (709) 729-0928, 685-1741.

BACKGROUNDER

Margaret Best is a visual artist based in St. John�s with a studio in Tors Cove. As an educator, her work with high school students has incorporated art into all areas of the curriculum. An experienced jury member for art-related projects, Ms. Best initiated the Southern Shore Art Exhibition. She is a member of the Visual Artists of Newfoundland and Labrador, Art Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, Botanical Artists of Canada, St. Michael�s Print Shop, the Resource Centre for the Arts, and the Newfoundland and Labrador Crafts Council.

Paul Bowdring is a professional writer and author of the critically-acclaimed novels The Night Season (1997) and The Roncesvalles Pass (1989). Mr. Bowdring has had his fiction and poetry published in Canadian literary magazines and anthologies and is a first-prize winner of the provincial Arts and Letters Awards. Mr. Bowdring was appointed to the council for a second term.

John Doyle is a well-known and well-respected member of the film community. One of the early members of the Newfoundland Independent Filmmakers� Coop and mentor to emerging filmmakers, he is also the recipient of several grants and awards. Most recently, he was script writer for the upcoming CBC mini-series Above and Beyond. Mr. Doyle is also an experienced adjudicator with the Canada Council for the Arts and the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council. Mr. Doyle is currently serving as chair of the council.

Charlotte Jones is an artist and art consultant who has exhibited in group and solo exhibitions in Ireland, France, United States and Canada. Her work is collected by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, and Newfoundland Hydro. A member of the Visual Artists of Newfoundland and Labrador, Ms. Jones is involved in art-related research and policy development in Ireland and at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College. Ms. Jones was appointed to the council for a second term.

Carmelita McGrath, a writer and editor, is a winner of the 2000 Writers� Alliance/Bennington Gate Newfoundland Book Award and was short-listed for the 2000 Thomas Raddall Atlantic Fiction Award for Stranger Things Have Happened. Ms. McGrath is an inaugural winner of the Atlantic Poetry Prize and a recipient of eight Newfoundland and Labrador Arts and Letters Awards. She has been published in over 20 Canadian and American magazines and journals and has been featured on several CBC Radio prorams.

Mara Noftall has been involved in professional and amateur theatre productions for many years and is currently a director, choreographer, stage manager and lighting manager with Peter MacDonald Promotions. Ms. Noftall is the artistic co-director of The Dance Centre in St. John�s and president of the Dance Teachers� Association of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mary Walsh has established herself as a prominent national figure in the performing arts scene in the country. An 11-time award winner for her work in the CBC program This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Ms. Walsh is one of the founding members of Codco. As a writer, actor and director, she has been honoured with many accolades and awards, and is a member of the Order of Canada. Her feature film credits include Random Passage, Behind the Red Door, The Divine Ryans, New Waterford Girl, The Extraordinary Visitor, Violet, and Mambo Italiano. She is currently the host of CBC�s literary talk show series Mary Walsh: Open Book and co-writes, produces and stars in the new CBC comedy pilot, Hatching, Matching & Dispatching.

Kim Wiseman is a private music teacher in Gander and a director of musical theatre productions. She has been a vocal adjudicator for various music and drama festivals in the province and has a masters level degree in chamber music.

2005 04 04                             12:35 p.m.