NOTE TO EDITORS: 53rd annual Arts and Letters Awards

Paul Shelley, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation and Minister responsible for Labrador Affairs, will join comedians Mary Walsh and Andy Jones to present the 53rd annual Arts and Letters Awards at 8:00 p.m. at the D.F. Cook Recital Hall, Memorial University, on Saturday, May 28. Admission to the event is free, but advance tickets are required for admission. Tickets may be obtained by calling the Arts and Letters office by no later than 4:00 p.m. tomorrow (May 26) at (709) 729-5253. The evening will feature winning entries through readings, a slide show of visual art and performances of winners in the musical composition section. Media are invited to attend.

The Arts and Letters Awards was established in 1952. During the 52 years since the first competition was held, many of Newfoundland�s winners have included artists who have since become a major part of the artistic culture of the province. Some of the readily recognized artists who have been past winners include David Blackwood, Manfred Buchheit, Scott Goudie, Justin Hall, Ben Hansen, Ilse Hughes, Sheila O�Leary, Paul Parsons, Rae Perlin, Christopher Pratt, and Janice Udell in the visual arts; Cassie Brown, Frank Holden, Harold Horwood, Percy Janes, Ed Kavanagh, Kevin Major, Carmelita McGrath, Paul O�Neill, Helen Porter, and Michael Winter in the literary arts; and John Herriott, Michael Parker and Brian Sexton in the musical category.

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

2005 05 25                                        3:45 p.m.