December 9, 1998
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)

New members appointed to Provincial Arts Council

Sandra Kelly, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, has the announced the appointment of seven people as new members of the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council. The arts council is a nonprofit organization created by the provincial government whose purpose is to foster the arts of the province by offering financial assistance to artists, by providing other services and resources to artists, and by working with government and the community for the development of the arts.

"These seven new members are all established as accomplished artists in their own right, and I'm certain they will make a lasting and valuable contribution to the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council," the minister said. "These two-year appointments are effective immediately."

The new members (with their specialty areas in brackets) are:

Neil Bishop, Stephenville                         (music)
Sandra Blackmore, St. John's                  (dance)
Anne Hart, St. John's                              (writing)
Bernice Morgan, St. John's                      (writing)
Sherry Smith, Happy Valley-Goose Bay    (theatre)
Peter Soucy, St. John's                           (theatre)
E. Maxine Stanley, Grand Falls-Windsor    (music)

The other members of the arts council are Debbie McGee, Jane Prior and Ed Roche. Elizabeth Batstone and Michael Clair sit on the council as representatives of the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council was established in January 1980 and, with the new appointments, is now up to its full complement of 12 members. The council receives an annual grant from government to finance assistance to the arts as well as office administration and communications. The council seeks support and sponsorship for its assistance programs from public and private donations.

Media contact: Doug Burgess, Director of Communications, (709) 729-0928.

1998 12 09 11:05 a.m.