March 25, 2008
OTTAWA–Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, will preside over the ninth annual Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts ceremony at Rideau Hall on Friday, March 28, 2008, at 6:00 p.m. Media interested in covering this event are asked to arrive at the Princess Anne entrance no later than 5:45 p.m.
The Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts recognize distinguished career achievements 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.
Photographs of this year's laureates and their works can be downloaded from the Canada Council Web site at: http://www.conseildesarts.ca/prix/ggavam.
Art Matters
In concert with the presentation of the Awards, Their Excellencies, the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, and Jean-Daniel Lafond, will host an Art Matters forum on March 28, 2008, at Rideau Hall. Created by His Excellency, Art Matters is a unique opportunity to bring together laureates, artists, academics and museum and gallery directors to discuss the challenges facing culture in our society. Over 20 Art Matters forums have been held at Rideau Hall, across Canada and abroad during official visits.
Their Excellencies and 30 guests will discuss the presence of creators and the distribution of their work in Canada and abroad. Participants will be asked to consider the following question: Have Canadian visual and media arts fallen off the radar?
Their Excellencies and the laureates will also record video blogs to help start the discussion. The videos will be posted on the Citizen Voices Web site (www.citizenvoices.gg.ca) and visitors to the site will be invited to share their reaction.
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Media information
Isabelle Serrurier
Rideau Hall Press Office
613-998-7280
www.gg.ca
www.citizenvoices.gg.ca
Donna Balkan
Canada Council for the Arts
613-566-4305
www.canadacouncil.ca
