Tourism, Culture and Recreation
March 7, 2008

Annual March Hare Events Continue in Corner Brook

The 21st annual March Hare festival, a five-day celebration of culture, will continue this weekend with literacy, musical and film events being held in Corner Brook.

Filmmaker Barbara Doran, musicians Pamela Morgan, Anita Best and Daniel Payne, and writers Des Walsh and Helen Porter are just a few of the local artists taking part in the event. Some of this year�s national and international artists include: Ontario writer Karen Solie; Irish poet Katie Donovan, and writer Yuyutsu R.D. Sharma from Nepal. The festival runs until Sunday afternoon.

The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, acknowledged the cultural significance of the event, which was officially launched in St. John�s on Wednesday and included a stop at the Albatross Hotel in Gander last night before heading to Corner Brook today.

"The March Hare is an anticipated tradition in the province � particularly on the west coast � that began with local artists looking for an opportunity to share new literary and musical creations with their peers," Minister Jackman said. "Today it has evolved into an event that celebrates the works of local as well as visiting artists."

Last year, to mark the 20th anniversary of the event, the March Hare travelled to Dublin, Ireland, where artists involved performed at eight venues in the city. The department invested $20,000 through the Cultural Economic Development Program (CEDP) to assist with activities associated with the tour. Filmmaker Barbra Doran made a documentary about the trip entitled, To Dublin With Love. The film, which made its debut at this year�s St. John�s International Women�s Film Festival, and will be screened again this weekend in Corner Brook, received $27,484 from the Newfoundland and Labrador Film Development Corporation and $27,500 through the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development�s Ireland Business Partnership.

March Hare events for this weekend are being held at various venues in Corner Brook, including: the Fine Arts Building at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College; Blomidon Golf and Country Club; the Arts and Culture Centre, and the Tudor Room and King Henry�s Pub at Glynmill Inn.

"Cultural festivals such as this one play a significant role in defining our identities as Newfoundlanders and Labradorians," Minister Jackman said. "In addition they enrich the lives of residents by providing social and economic benefits."

The Provincial Government supported this year�s March Hare events with a $6,600 investment through the CEDP. In 2006, the Provincial Government released Creative Newfoundland and Labrador � The Blueprint for Development and Investment in Culture, which included a commitment of $17.6 million over three years to preserve and promote the culture and heritage sectors.

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Media contact:
Heather May
Director of Communications
Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation
709-729-0928, 697-5061
heathermay@gov.nl.ca

2008 03 07                                                       9:45 a.m.


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