March 16, 2007
OTTAWAThe arts are front and center at Rideau Hall! During the week of March 19, 2007, Their Excellencies the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean and Mr. Jean-Daniel Lafond will be hosting a variety of activities to show their support for the arts in Canada.
Official opening of the new art exhibit entitled Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal at Rideau Hall March 21, 2007, at 5 p.m. Their Excellencies are committed to making Rideau Hall a place for reflection and dialogue. With the generous collaboration of the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, seven works from the Museum's collection have been chosen to reflect the diversity and the revival of painting in Quebec. This exhibition highlights the visions of five Quebec artists who are each revisiting painting traditions in their own way, and will remain in the Ambassador's Room at Rideau Hall until September 30, 2007.
Art Matters at Rideau Hall March 23, 2007, at 10 a.m.The Governor General and Mr. Jean-Daniel Lafond have added a series of forums for reflection and dialogue to each of the official ceremonies, including this year's Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts. Entitled Art Matters, its main objective is to kindle a dialogue on the creative process in our culture and to discuss the public's response to it. This particular discussion will centre on the place of the artist and of contemporary art in a connected society that offers instant accessibility to others, information, knowledge and culturecan the artist still play the role of trailblazer in a connected world? Participants will include 2007 laureates, artists and academics.
Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts March 23, 2007, at 5:30 p.m.The Governor General will preside over the eighth annual Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts ceremony at Rideau Hall. The Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts recognize distinguished career achievement by Canadian artists in these artistic fields, as well as outstanding contributions to the visual and media arts through voluntarism, philanthropy, board governance, community outreach or professional activities. These prestigious awards are funded and administered by the Canada Council for the Arts. The Saidye Bronfman Award, which recognizes excellence in the fine crafts, is part of the Governor General's Awards for the first time this year.
Citizen Voices The Governor General Video-BloGGsIn her first ever video-blog, next week, the Governor General will talk about how art has the power to rally energies, to offer solutions, to sustain aspirations and, in a very real way, to act.
Citizen Voices presents forums, blogs and chats that provide Internet users with the opportunity to interact with Their Excellencies and other citizens across the country on issues that concern them and ideas and initiatives that are important to them.
The www.citizenvoices.gg.ca micro-site is accessible via www.gg.ca .
Individual media advisories will be issued in the coming days. Media interested in covering any of the events should contact the Rideau Hall Press Office.
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Media informationMarilyne GuèvremontRideau Hall Press Office613-998-7280
Isabelle SerrurierRideau Hall Press Office613-998-0287
