Minister announces Art Procurement Program and assigns The Rooms to manage new adjudication process and submission guidelines Tom Hedderson, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, today announced the reinstatement of the Art Procurement Program and assigned The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery to manage this important program on behalf of government. "In Budget 2005, we announced $75,000 for the Art Procurement Program, and today we are following through on that commitment," said Minister Hedderson. "We clearly recognize the importance of this program to the arts community and the integral role it plays in the growth and development of our visual artists. By assigning this program to The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery, we are confident that skilled, qualified individuals who care very much about it will ensure its success." Dr. Priscilla Renouf, chair of the Board of Directors for The Rooms Corporation added: "Government and the board recognize that the Art Procurement Program benefits both the general public and the artists of the province. Therefore, The Rooms has agreed to absorb the administration costs, approximately $15,000, for the program during the first year so that the full $75,000 can be utilized for the acquisition of artwork. With The Rooms contribution, the total budget allocation for this year will be approximately $90,000." The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery also provided details regarding a new adjudication process along with updated submission guidelines for the Art Procurement Program. Following consultations with government and the local visual arts community, The Gallery has decided to put together a committee which will be responsible for choosing the adjudication jury for the Art Procurement Program. The committee comprises the director for The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery, who will also serve as chair, a representative from CAR-FAC/Visual Artists Newfoundland and Labrador (VANL) and one local visual artist. Once comprised, the committee will call for nominations for the selection of the adjudication jury. Nominations for the adjudication jury can be made by artists, individuals in cultural industries, as well as the general public. The jury comprises five individuals with: One representative from the Avalon or Eastern Region One representative from Labrador One representative from the Central region One representative from the West Coast One representative from The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery As in previous years, submissions can be made to an artists� commercial art gallery; however, this year, artists must provide images of the work to be considered in either digital; 35 mm; slide or photographic format. If an artist is not represented by a commercial art gallery, submissions (in the format described above) should be sent directly to The Rooms at the address below. Submissions are invited from all visual art forms including ceramic; drawing; fibre; glass; metal; mixed media; painting; photography; printmaking; sculpture and digital media. The Art Procurement Program, established in 1982, recognizes and promotes the works of the province�s visual artists by placing original Newfoundland and Labrador art works in public buildings. It offers visual artists throughout the province the opportunity to bring their work to the broad public, enhancing awareness and understanding of the importance of arts and culture in our province. The program also provides opportunities for artists, both established, amateur and emerging, to strengthen their credibility and resume. A copy of the Art Procurement Program policy and submission guidelines can be obtained by visiting www.therooms.ca/artgallery/appnl_2005.asp. Deadline for submissions is January 21,
2006. Media contact: Melony O�Neill, Tourism, Culture and
Recreation, (709) 729-0557, 728-7762 2005 11 10 11:05 a.m. |
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