April 22, 2008
OTTAWA-Their Excellencies the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, and Mr. Jean-Daniel Lafond, will host an Art Matters forum in Banff, Alberta. Organized in collaboration with The Banff Centre, this first national forum will bring together approximately 30 participants from across the country to take part in discussions and workshops on the theme of "Made in Canada: Arts as an essential resource". This interdisciplinary forum will be presented at The Banff Centre from April 24 to 26, 2008. (107 Tunnel Mountain Driveway)
This Art Matters discussion will summarize the 23 forums held to date in Canada and abroad, and will include artists and program managers from cultural organizations and universities, to discuss art and its role in Canada's identity. The forum will also provide an opportunity to highlight the Centre itself, which is celebrating 75 years of excellence in art, culture and education.
Art Matters – A space for reflection and dialogue
Their Excellencies wished to create a space for reflection and dialogue that would be held in conjunction with ceremonies honouring and celebrating Canadian artistic talent. To reach this goal, Mr. Lafond launched a series of forums, entitled Art Matters, which provide unique opportunities to observe and discuss the challenges related to culture in our society. Twenty-three Art Matters forums have been held so far, at Rideau Hall and in communities across Canada and abroad, during regional and international visits. Read about current and previous Art Matters forums, as well as Mr. Lafond's blog, on www.citizenvoices.gg.ca.
Please refer to the forum's detailed program below.
Thursday, April 24
7 p.m.
Welcoming remarks
Their Excellencies, the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, and Mr. Jean-Daniel Lafond, along with Ms. Sarah Iley, Vice-President of Programming at The Banff Centre, and Mr. John Murrell, artist emeritus-in-residence at The Banff Centre, will say a few words to welcome all the participants to the Art Matters forum.
(TransCanada Pipelines Pavilion, The Banff Centre)
OPEN TO MEDIA – Members of the media will able to cover the opening remarks.
Friday, April 25
9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Discussion session–Art and the common good
Each participant will be invited to respond to the following question: Does art contribute to the common good?
Moderator: Colin Jackson, President and CEO, EPCOR Centre for the Performing Arts, Calgary
(TransCanada Pipelines Pavilion, The Banff Centre)
OPEN TO MEDIA
2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Discussion session–Canada's identity
During this session, participants will be asked to share their ideas and opinions on the following questions: Can art shape a shared identity? How does one's sense of identity shape the creation of art? How do public and private institutions and organizations, at the local and international levels, contribute to the enrichment of our various identities? What is the relationship between the Canadian artist and these entities?
To open the discussion, participants will bring a reproduction of a work of art, from any discipline, which they consider typically "Canadian".
(TransCanada Pipelines Pavilion, The Banff Centre)
OPEN TO MEDIA
Saturday, April 26
9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Discussion session–Artistic community
Participants will reflect on the network of artistic communities in Canada: the vitality of local artistic communities may be the greatest asset in Canada's artistic life. But are these communities succeeding in bridging proximity and mobility to build a pan-Canadian space for interdisciplinary and intergenerational exchange and dialogue?
(TransCanada Pipelines Pavilion, The Banff Centre)
OPEN TO MEDIA
10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Spiritual ceremony in a tipi
Their Excellencies will attend a spiritual ceremony in a tipi, where Elders from the Blackfoot Nation will lead participants in ritual prayers and chants.
(Outside, near the TransCanada Pipelines Pavilion, The Banff Centre)
OPEN TO MEDIA
2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Discussion summary
A moderator, assisted by the reporter from the first discussion, will guide the last module of the dialogue. The discussion summary will invite participants to draw conclusions from the forum. They will then decide on the format of presenting their resolutions (report, statement, manifesto, etc).
Moderator: Hank Bull, Executive Director, Vancouver International Centre for Contemporary Asian Art (TransCanada Pipelines Pavilion, The Banff Centre)
OPEN TO MEDIA
7 p.m.
Anniversary dinner in celebration of The Banff Centre's 75th anniversary
Their Excellencies will deliver a speech and pay tribute to The Banff Centre since its foundation in 1933.
(Music and Sound Pavilion, The Banff Centre)
OPEN TO MEDIA – Members of the media will be able to cover the opening remarks.
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Media information
Marie-Ève Létourneau
Rideau Hall Press Office
613-998-0287
613-302-0912 (cellular)
www.gg.ca
www.citizenvoices.gg.ca
Heather Belot
The Banff Centre
403-762-7593
Heather_belot@banffcentre.ca
