Minister announces Arts and Letters Awards

Julie Bettney, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, today announced that applications are now available for the 51^st annual 2003 Arts and Letters Awards.

"The Arts and Letters Awards provide an outlet for the creative energies of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians," said Minister Bettney. "The program is open to anyone who wants to share his or her talent with the rest of province. Many of our prominent artists had their start, or received important early encouragement, by entering the program. For many young artists and writers entering the Junior Division, receiving an award is the first formal recognition of their talent outside the immediate circle of family, friends and school."

Each applicant is required to submit his or her creative piece to either the senior or junior divisions of the awards. The Senior Division (19 years and older) consists of a Literary Arts Section which includes poetry, short fiction, non-fictional prose and dramatic script, a Musical Composition Section comprised of all genres and a Visual Arts Section which includes all techniques from photography to painting to drawing to sculpture. The prizes in the Senior Division are all $750 each and applicants may submit one entry per section.

The Junior Division (12 to 18 years) sections are the same as the Senior Division with the exception of the Literary Arts Section which includes only poetry and prose. The prizes in the Junior Division are $200 each and applicants may submit one entry per section.

The Percy Janes First Novel Award is for a full-length, unpublished novel manuscript with a minimum of 30,000 words and has a cash prize of $1,000.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 awards must be received with the appropriate application form at the Arts and Letters Awards office located at the Arts and Culture Centre in St. John�s by 5 p.m., Friday, February 14, 2003 or postmarked by that date. Late entries will not be accepted.

Additional information may be obtained by calling Regina Best, coordinator, Arts and Letters Awards at (709) 729-5253, or emailing rbest@gov.nf.ca or through www.gov.nl.ca/artsandletters.

Media contact: Melony O�Neill, Communications, (709) 729-0928.

2002 12 16                                       2:40 p.m.