NLIS 4
December 8, 2000
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)

Minister announces Annual Arts and Letters Competition

Sandra Kelly, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation (Acting), today announced that applications are now available for the 49^th annual Provincial Arts and Letters Competition.

"This competition encourages and stimulates the creative talents of amateur or professional artists who are residents of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador," said Minister Kelly. "Since its inception in 1952, we have received tens of thousands of submissions. An increased number of entries over the past years indicates that the interest in the program is growing."

Each applicant is required to submit his/her creative piece to either the Senior or Junior (E.J.Pratt) Divisions of the Competition. The Senior (nineteen years and older) Division categories are: Poetry; Short Fiction (maximum 5,000 words); Non Fictional Prose (maximum 5,000 words); Dramatic Script; Musical Composition; Photography; Painting; Drawing and Printmaking; and Three Dimensional Art. The Junior (twelve to eighteen years) Division consists of three categories: Prose; Poetry; and Visual Art.

The prizes in the Senior Division are $600; $300; and $150 for first, second and third. The prizes in the Junior (E.J. Pratt) Division are $300; $200; $100 for first, second and third. Ms. Kelly is very pleased to announce that for the first time there will be a cash prize for Honorable Mention (usually two in each category) of $50 in the Senior Division and $25 in the Junior Division.

The Percy Janes First Novel Award is for a full length, unpublished novel manuscript with a minimum of 30,000 words and has a cash prize of $1,000.

All entries to the competition must be received with the appropriate application form at the Arts and Letters Office located at the Arts and Culture Centre in St. John's by 5:00 p.m., Friday, February 16, 2001 or postmarked by that date. Late entries will not be accepted. Additional information may be obtained at the Arts and Letters Office (709) 729-5253, or email rbest@mail.gov.nf.ca.

Media contact: Elizabeth Matthews, Communications, (709) 729-0928

2000 12 08                        4:30 p.m.