Media Advisory: Minister to Attend
Provincial Theatre Arts Festival in Corner Brook

The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Education, will be in Corner Brook this evening (Thursday, May 9) for the opening of Provincial Theatre Arts Festival, which takes place at the Arts and Culture Centre, beginning at 6:15 p.m.

“I am always impressed by the quality of school-based theatre productions and the talent of our students working both onstage and behind the scenes,” said Minister Jackman. “As a government, we know that involvement in the arts helps students to develop their creative talents, and to build character, confidence and self-esteem. The experiences and camaraderie that students will share during the Provincial Theater Arts Festival will no doubt last a lifetime.”

The Provincial Government invests $50,000 annually to help stage the event, which will see students and teachers take part in workshops, adjudications, technical rehearsals and performances. This year’s festival will be adjudicated by Ken Jacobsen, Associate Professor of English and Head of the Arts Division of Grenfell Campus, Memorial University. The festival will also include a visual arts exhibition to showcase the artwork of junior and senior high students.

This year’s festival will conclude with the presentation of participation and recognition awards on Saturday night, beginning at 10:30 p.m.

In 2005, the Provincial Government introduced Cultural Connections, a program designed to support and enhance arts programming in schools. Since that time, over $17.4 million has been invested in musical equipment, art supplies, books, music festivals, heritage fairs and other programs and activities to benefit students and participating artists.

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Media contact:
Heather May
Director of Communications
Department of Education
709-729-0048, 697-5061
heathermay@gov.nl.ca 

2013 05 09             10:00 a.m.