Ottawa, February 24, 2005 Announcement of laureates The winners of the 2005 Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts will be announced on Tuesday, March 8 at 9 a.m. EST on the Canada Council Web site at www.canadacouncil.ca/prizes/ggvma. Biographical information and downloadable images of the artists and their work will be available on the site. To arrange interviews with the laureates, please contact Diane Chaperon-Lor at (416) 653-0849. Awards ceremony Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada, will present the 2005 awards on Wednesday, March 16, at 6 p.m. in the Ballroom of Rideau Hall (the residence of the Governor General in Ottawa), One Sussex Drive. Karen Kain, Chair of the Canada Council for the Arts, will also speak at the ceremony. A reception and dinner in honour of the laureates will be held that evening (by invitation only). In addition to a $15,000 prize, the laureates will be presented with original artworks created by ceramic artist Maurice Savoie, winner of the 2004 Saidye Bronfman Award in the Fine Crafts. Media wishing to cover the ceremony should contact Lucie Brosseau at the Rideau Hall Press Office at (613) 998-7280. Exhibition at the National Gallery of Canada The National Gallery of Canada will present an exhibition in celebration of the laureates and their works from March 18 to April 11, 2005. Media representatives are invited to attend the official opening on Thursday, March 17, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Great Hall of the National Gallery, 380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa. Journalists wishing to preview the exhibition and interview the laureates may do so on Wednesday, March 16, at 10 a.m. Please contact Anouk Hoedeman at (613) 990-6835 or ahoedeman@gallery.ca to RSVP for this media preview. General information The Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts, funded and administered by the Canada Council for the Arts, were created in June 1999 and presented for the first time in March 2000.The awards recognize distinguished career achievement in the visual and media arts by Canadian artists, as well as outstanding contributions to the visual and media arts through voluntarism, philanthropy, board governance, community outreach or professional activities. -30- Tous les documents du Conseil des Arts du Canada sont offerts en français et en anglais. Media contact:Donna BalkanSenior Communications Manager1-800-263-5588 or (613) 566-4414, ext. 4134 Email this contactCarole BretonPublic Relations Officer1-800-263-5588 or (613) 566-4414, ext. 4523 Email this contact To arrange interviews with the laureates:Diane Chaperon-LorNational publicist (416) 653-0849chaperonlor@sympatico.ca
