News Releases
Government Home Search Sitemap Contact Us  

NLIS 7
May 8, 2006
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)
 

The following statement was issued today by Tom Hedderson, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

I rise today to talk about the great accomplishments of our artists. I had the pleasure of attending the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council Awards show on Saturday night.

I am pleased to report that the 2005 Arts Achievement Award went to Paul Pope, who has been a dynamic force in the film industry in Newfoundland and Labrador for over 20 years. Most recently, he produced Above and Beyond, a mini-series set in Gander during the Second World War.

Beni Malone received the Arts in Education Award. Mr. Malone has almost single-handedly introduced and developed professional clown theatre and circus skills in physical education classes, particularly in Innu communities along the Labrador coast.

This year�s Patron of the Arts Award went to Dave Hopley. As an artist and through his small business, The Living Planet, Mr. Hopley sponsors a large variety of arts organizations and has hosted many visiting artists.

Michael Coyne and Ken Livingstone were jointly inducted into the Hall of Honour for their vision and role in the development of the acclaimed Fine Arts Program at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College.

Musician Duanne Andrews was named Emerging Artist. Mr. Andrews�s self-titled CD � a blend of jazz and folk music - won best instrumental at the 2006 East Coast Music Awards.

And finally, writer Lisa Moore won the Artist of the Year award. Her most recent novel Alligator was short listed for the prestigious 2005 Giller Prize.

During her acceptance speech, Ms. Moore spoke for many artists when she said if it were not for the support of the arts council, she would have had to stop writing.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council is the key vehicle by which we support the creative process. Under Creative Newfoundland and Labrador: The Blueprint for Developing and Investing in Culture, our first provincial cultural plan, we will double the budget of the arts council within three years, bringing its total budget to $1.8 million.

As a government, we recognize that by creating conditions to nurture the growth of our artists, we are fostering the creative vitality of this province. By increasing our support to professional artists, we are not only keeping our talented artists here but we are providing more opportunities for the next Lisa Moore or Paul Pope.

I invite all members to join me in congratulating the recipients of the Newfoundland Labrador Arts Council Awards.

2006 05 08                                    1:50 p.m.


SearchHomeBack to GovernmentContact Us


All material copyright the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. No unauthorized copying or redeployment permitted. The Government assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of any material deployed on an unauthorized server.
Disclaimer/Copyright/Privacy Statement