An exhibition of The Great Book of Gaelic, An Leabhar M�r, will be officially opened today (Thursday, June 12) in Corner Brook at its first stop on its North American tour. The exhibition will be held at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College Art Gallery in partnership with the Gaelic Arts Agency of Scotland, the Ireland Business Partnerships, the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Ireland Newfoundland Partnership.

This touring exhibition of 100 contemporary pieces of art represents the work of more than 200 poets, visual artists and calligraphers from Ireland and Scotland and will be on exhibition at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College Art Gallery from June to September 2008.

"I am pleased that the first and only stop of this exhibition in Canada is in Newfoundland and Labrador," said the Honourable Trevor Taylor, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development and Chair of the Ireland Business Partnerships. "It is appropriate that this exhibition take place at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College Art Gallery which is located between the rich Scottish heritage of the Codroy Valley and the Irish descendants of Fogo Island. I am also pleased that the Provincial Government has been able to participate in the planning and support of this event, through its $35,000 investment."

The Great Book of Gaelic celebrates Gaelic poetry of Ireland and Scotland from its earliest written sources to the 21st century as interpreted by artists and calligraphers. Not all poems referenced in The Great Book were recorded in writing. Many were songs passed down through oral tradition. The poems offer a glimpse into Gaelic culture from approximately 600 AD to the present.

The exhibition will be launched at 7:30 p.m., and will be attended by children from C.C. Loughlin Elementary who will launch their own exhibition, inspired by The Great Book of Gaelic, which will be installed outside the gallery.

The exhibition has also inspired students to create Past/present/future tense: The Great Book of Gaelic High School Art Project, which will be exhibited June 1-28 at the Corner Brook Arts and Culture Centre Gallery. Finally, there will also be a children�s art exhibition with work by students of the Western Newfoundland School District and Gaelscoil Eoghan U� Thuairisc in Carlow, Ireland.

The week-long celebration of Gaelic culture includes an interdisciplinary colloquium with guest scholars; a Gala Evening of Music and Poetry; poetry readings; public workshops with visiting Irish artists; a traditional Ceilidh or gathering for Scottish and Irish folk music, singing, folk dancing and story telling.

Provincial funding for this initiative has been provided through INTRD�s Regional/Sectoral Diversification Fund ($25,000) and the Ireland Business Partnerships (IBP) ($10,000).

The Regional/Sectoral Diversification Fund is a $5 million fund of the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development and a component of the province�s Comprehensive Regional Diversification Strategy. The fund provides non-repayable contributions to economic development agencies for initiatives that address regional and sectoral development and diversification.

Ireland Business Partnerships (IBP) assists companies and organizations identify and develop economic, cultural, and educational opportunities with Ireland. The IBP also promotes strategic business alliances through marketing agreements, joint ventures and technology transfer opportunities, and develops linkages between the public and private sectors in Newfoundland and Labrador and Ireland.

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Media contact:

Scott Barfoot
Director of Communications
Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development
709-729-4570, 690-6290
ScottBarfoot@gov.nl.ca