Minister presents awards to 2004 Arts and Letters recipients

Tourism, Culture and Recreation Minister Paul Shelley presented awards to recipients of the 2004 Arts and Letters Awards during a ceremony at the D.F. Cook Recital Hall, Memorial University last evening. This year marks the 52^nd anniversary of the Arts and Letters Awards, making it one of the longest running cultural programs in the province.

"It was an honour to attend this year�s Arts and Letters Awards and to witness first-hand the quality and depth of artistic talent this province has to offer," said Minister Shelley. "Newfoundland and Labrador is one of the most culturally diverse provinces in the country. The Arts and Letters Awards recognizes this diversity and supports the continued growth of artists in our province."

Over 1,000 entries were received for the 2004 Arts and Letters Awards. Seventeen prizes were awarded in the Junior Division for ages 12 to 18 while 26 prizes were awarded in the Senior Division. Prizes in both divisions were awarded for prose, poetry, visual arts and musical composition. Senior awards were presented by Minister Shelley. Marlene Creates, Larry Foley and Michael Crummey presented awards in the junior category. Over $23,000 in prize money was awarded.

Author Kevin Major, chair of the Arts and Letters Committee, said this year�s recipients join the growing list of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who got their first formal recognition for creative work through the program.

"For many artists, the Arts and Letters Awards represents their start to a lifetime of creative work," said Mr. Major. "Many of this province�s well known artists got their first formal recognition for their work through this program, demonstrating its importance to the continued development of creative talent in the province."

The Arts and Letters Awards was established in 1952. During the 52 years since the first competition was held, many of Newfoundland�s winners have included artists who have since become a major part of the artistic culture of the province. Some of the readily recognized artists who have been past winners include David Blackwood, Manfred Buchheit, Scott Goudie, Justin Hall, Ben Hansen, Ilse Hughes, Sheila O�Leary, Paul Parsons, Rae Perlin, Christopher Pratt, and Janice Udell in the visual arts; Cassie Brown, Frank Holden, Harold Horwood, Percy Janes, Ed Kavanagh, Kevin Major, Carmelita McGrath, Paul O�Neill, Helen Porter, and Michael Winter in the literary arts; and John Herriott, Michael Parker and Brian Sexton in the musical category.

For more information on the Arts and Letters Awards, contact Regina Best, Coordinator, at (709) 729-5253.

Media contact: Tansy Mundon, Communications, (709) 729-0928.

Musical Composition
Jessica Walsh, St. John�s
Title: There Sleeps Titania

Olivia Heaney, Mount Pearl
Title: Borrowed Time

Adjudicators: Ivan Emke and Brian Roberts - 24 entries

Prose
Ashley Bursey, St. John�s
Title: The Casque

Eva Crocker, St. John�s
Title: Starting Over

Hope Jamieson, St. John�s
Title: Happy Birthday

Anna Westin, St. John�s
Title: My Brother

Alison Kirby, Corner Brook
Title: The Unlucky Princess

Adjudicators: - Fran Innes, Beth Ryan and Susan Chalker Browne - 135 entries

Visual Art
Kim Cleary, Portugal Cove-St. Phillips
Title: Spring Seascape

Jenny Dwyer, Goulds
Title: Butterfly

Duncan Major, St. John�s
Title: Flow

Jessica Major, St. John�s
Title: Caeleb

Nora McGruer, St. John�s
Title: Tell me Lies

Adjudicator: Elayne Greeley - 119 entries

Poetry
Beth Ann Austin, Conception Bay South
Title: The Past Regained

Bradley Downey, Doyles
Title: Just Thinking

Jayde Eustace, St. John�s
Title: If I Were as Pretty as Ashley

Ashley King, St. John�s
Title: The Musical Me

Duncan Major, St. John�s
Title: The Deluge

Adjudicators: Mark Callanan and Jack Eastwood - 237 entries

Musical Composition
Jim Duff, St. John�s
Title: Christ the Light of the World

Peter Laing, St. Anthony
Title: Blanco Nero for Symphony Orchestra

George Morgan, St. John�s
Title: Knockturn 8

Adjudicators: Ivan Emke and Brian Roberts - 34 entries

Short Fiction
Craig Francis Power, St. John�s
Title: July 12^th

Lisa Moore, St. John�s
Title: Stallions

Adriana Maggs, St. John�s
Title: Skin Cream for Mermaid Leg Scars

Marla Becking, Corner Brook
Title: How to House a Woman

Adjudicators: Susan Rendell and Joanne Soper Cook - 69 entries

Non-Fictional Prose
David Hickey, St. John�s
Title: How a Poem Surrounds the World

Carmelita McGrath, St. John�s
Title: Scarlet Girl: A Memoir

Adjudicator: Ed Smith - 23 entries

Poetry
Mark Callanan, St. John�s
Title: The Student

Alvin Osmond, Outer Cove
Title: Salvage

Patrick Warner, St. John�s
Title: Tortoise at Toronto Zoo

Robin McGrath, Portugal Cove
Title: The Mister is Away

Adjudicators: Randell Maggs and Mary Dalton - 144 entries

Dramatic Script
Paul Butler, St. John�s
Title: Divine Jo Summers

Steve Cochrane, St. John�s
Title: The Sergeant�s Son

Adjudicator: Jillian Keiley - 14 entries

Visual Art
Elly Cohen, Conception Bay South
Title: Blue Fluke (recycled copper)

Mark Curtis, Gambo
Title: Shallow Water Grasses (digital photography)

Matt Downey, St. John�s
Title: Shades of Dickens (photography)

Cathia Finkel, St. John�s
Title: Study of a Woman Cleaning (pencil/colored chaulk)

Diane (Nan) Lee, Eastport
Title: Ram�s Horn 233 (acrylic on wood)

Jamie Lewis, St. John�s
Title: French Horn (photography)

Cara Winsor Hehir, St. John�s
Title: She Provides Comfort (mixed media)

Terrence Hounsell, Mount Pearl
Title: The Watcher (photography)

Catherine McCausland, Tors Cove
Title: Holding Summer (fibre art)

Genevieve Parsons, St. John�s
Title: Bauline (oil)

Adjudicators: Di Dabinett, Manfred Buchheit, Tara Bryan- 185 entries

Percy Janes First Novel Award ($1,000 prize)
Sara Tilley, St. John�s
Title: Snowflake-Young

Adjudicator: David Freeman - 6 entries

David C. Saxon Humanitarian Essay Competition ($750 individual prize)
Carol A. Furlong, St. John�s and Karen Robb, St. John�s
Title: Can the Emancipation of Women Contribute to World Peace and Harmony?

Adjudicator: Greg Malone, 15 entries

2004 06 11                                       11:10 a.m.