The creative excellence of Newfoundland and Labrador�s
emerging and professional artists was celebrated at the 2008 Arts and
Letters Awards ceremony, held Saturday, May 31, at The Rooms in St.
John�s.
The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Tourism,
Culture and Recreation, and author Kevin Major, chair of the Arts and
Letters Committee, presented the awards, which come with prize money
totalling $46,000.
"The Provincial Government recognizes that our visual,
music and literary artists are integral to the development and
sustainability of our cultural industries," Minister Jackman said. "For
that reason, in Budget 2008, we continue to invest significantly in
programs and services which support the arts sectors."
A total of 34 prizes were awarded in the Junior
Division for entrants ages 12 to 18, and 36 prizes were awarded in the
Senior Division. Prizes in both divisions were awarded in literary arts,
musical composition and visual arts. Senior awards were presented by
Minister Jackman, while Mr. Major presented the junior awards.
"Once again the Arts and Letters Committee is thrilled
with the strong and enthusiastic response the program has received
across the province from beginners to seasoned professionals, from age
12 to 82, and from a total of nearly a thousand entrants," Mr. Major
said.
The Percy Janes First Novel Award was presented to
Craig Francis Power for his manuscript entitled, Blood Relatives.
The award comes with a $1,500 prize.
The presentation of awards was interspersed with
readings, visual presentations, and performances by some of this year�s
winners.
Meanwhile, Minister Jackman recognized the
contribution of Mr. Major, who has announced he is stepping down as
chair of the Arts and Letters Committee after eight years serving in
that role.
"Mr. Major�s vision and leadership has been
instrumental in the success of the Arts and Letters Awards for the past
decade and we sincerely thank him for his personal commitment to
furthering the development of the arts in Newfoundland and Labrador,"
Minister Jackman said.
In 2006, the Provincial Government released its
cultural strategy, Creative Newfoundland and Labrador, which
committed $17.6 million over three years to cultural initiatives in the
province. In the first year of implementation, annual funding to the
Arts and Letters Awards program was increased by $50,000 � including a
$23,000 increase in prize money.
Budget 2008 also made an additional $300,000 available
to artists through the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council (NLAC),
following through on a 2006 commitment to double the NLAC�s budget to
$1.8 million.
The Provincial Arts and Letters Awards program was
established in 1952 and has recognized some of Newfoundland and
Labrador�s most talented and well-known artists. Over the past 56 years,
thousands of professional and amateur artists from every part of the
province have expressed themselves creatively through participation in
the program. This year, almost 1,000 entries were submitted from
communities throughout the province.
There will be an exhibition of selected entries on the
second floor of The Rooms until June 15, 2008. For further information,
please visit: www.gov.nl.ca/artsandletters.
- 30 -
Media contact:
Heather May
Director of Communications
Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation
709-729-0928, 697-5061
heathermay@gov.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Arts and Letters Awards Recipients
Senior Visual Art 2008
(194 entries; $1,000 prize)
Adjudicators: Marlene Creates, Michael Connolly, Barb
Daniell
