April 30, 2012
Minister Congratulates Winners of Arts Council Awards
This past weekend, the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council honoured the accomplishments of Newfoundland and Labrador’s artists at the 27th Arts Awards held at the Joseph R. Smallwood Arts and Culture Centre in Gander.
The Honourable Derrick Dalley, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, attended the awards gala and extended congratulations to all award winners.
“The Arts Awards gala is an opportunity to celebrate the incredible work of artists throughout Newfoundland and Labrador who contribute immensely to our cultural identity and economy,” said Minister Dalley. “The Provincial Government’s investment in arts and culture continues to be a priority. Our allocation to the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council was $960,000 in 2006. Today's investment is more than double that at $2.11 million. We have great respect for the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council and how they are working directly with artists in this province to foster and promote the creation of art and I look forward to continuing to work with the arts council in the coming year.”
Six awards were presented at the event: musician/writer Christina Smith for the Arts in Education Award; visual artist Jordan Bennett for the CBC Emerging Artist Award; Labrador grass weaver Garmel Rich, and posthumously, arts journalist Suzanne Woolridge, for the Hall of Honour Award; Heather McKinnon for the Patron of the Arts Award; musician Douglas Dunsmore for Arts Achievement Award; and, filmmaker/actor Ruth Lawrence for Artist of the Year Award. More information is available at www.nlac.ca/news/20120428.htm 
“The Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council was delighted to have Minister Derrick Dalley attend the awards gala, bring greetings from the government, and present the Artist of the Year Award,” said Reginald Winsor, Executive Director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council. “The council looks forward to a stronger collaborative partnership with government in the coming year to ensure that excellence in arts creation, and public enjoyment of the arts, becomes a shared vision for all of us in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
The Provincial Government has a strong relationship with the cultural communities in Newfoundland and Labrador and works closely with them, such as participating on long-standing arts and heritage committees.
Since the cultural strategy Creative Newfoundland and Labrador: The Blueprint for Development and Investment in Culture was introduced in 2006, the Provincial Government has invested over $56 million in new funding in the cultural and heritage sectors.
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Media contacts:
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Diana Quinton Director of Communications Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation 709-729-0928, 631-8155 dianaquinton@gov.nl.ca |
Joshua Jamieson Communications Officer Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council 709-726-2212 jjamieson@nlac.ca |
2012 04 30 1:15 p.m.