The tenth annual presentation of the Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts, funded and administered by the Canada Council for the Arts, will begin with the announcement of the winners on Tuesday, March 24th. The following events are planned throughout that week in celebration of the 2009 winners.
News conference: announcement of winners - Tuesday, March 24, 2009
The Canada Council for the Arts will announce the winners of the 2009 awards Tuesday, March 24 at 10 a.m. edt at a news conference held at the National Gallery of Canada, 380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa.
The winners will be introduced and will be available for interviews afterwards. Doug Sigurdson, acting head of the Canada Council's Visual Arts section, and Youssef El-Ja?, head of the Media Arts section, will also be on hand to talk about the winning artists and their work.
Following the news conference, members of the media will be able to preview the exhibition organized by the National Gallery in celebration of the winners and their works. To RSVP, please contact April Yorke at 613-566-4414 or 1-800-263-5588, ext. 4133 or april.yorke@canadacouncil.ca.
The names of the winners, together with biographical information and downloadable images of the artists and their works, will also be posted on the Canada Council web site at 10 a.m. edt on March 24.
Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts
Valued at $25,000 each, 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. The winners are recognized for their body of work in visual and/or media arts in fine arts (painting, drawing, photography, print-making and sculpture, including installation and other three-dimensional work), architecture, independent film and video, audio or new media. These prestigious awards were created in June 1999 and presented for the first time in March 2000. The Saidye Bronfman Award, which recognizes excellence in the fine crafts, is part of the Governor General's Awards. It is funded from the proceeds of a $1.5 million endowment given to the Canada Council by
The Samuel and Saidye Bronfman Family Foundation in 2006.
Art Matters - Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Their Excellencies the Right Honourable Micha?lle Jean, Governor General of Canada, and Jean-Daniel Lafond, will host a public Art Matters forum at Rideau Hall on Tuesday, March 24, 2009, at 7 p.m. This discussion will bring together laureates of the 2009 GGAVMAs, as well as members of the arts community, and will focus on "igniting an electrifying and unifying atmosphere around the visual and media arts." Members of the public are invited as of 6 p.m. to tour the residence's art collection. Those who wish to participate should RSVP by email at conference@gg.ca.
About Art Matters
For every ceremony honouring the talents of Canadian artists, Rideau Hall-on His Excellency Jean-Daniel Lafond's initiative-organizes a forum called Art Matters. This event brings laureates, artists, academics and administrators together to discuss and examine the challenges facing culture in our society. More than 30 forums have already been held in Canada and abroad during official visits. The public is invited to take part in the discussion through the forums at www.citizenvoices.gg.ca.
Awards ceremony - Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Her Excellency the Right Honourable Micha?lle Jean, Governor General of Canada, will present the 2009 awards on Wednesday, March 25 at 6 p.m. in the Ballroom of Rideau Hall, 1 Sussex Drive. In addition to the $25,000 prize, the winners will be presented with artworks created by printmaker Kenojuak Ashevak, winner of a 2008 Governor General's Award in Visual and Media Arts.
Media wishing to attend the ceremony should contact Isabelle Serrurier at the Rideau Hall Press Office at 613-998-7280 or iserrurier@gg.ca.
Exhibition at the National Gallery of Canada - Thursday, March 26, 2009
The official opening of the exhibition will be held on Thursday, March 26 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Great Hall of the National Gallery, 380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa.
Screening at the National Gallery of Canada Auditorium - Saturday, March 28, 2009
There will be a unique opportunity to view an award-winning film by one of the winners of the 2009 awards. The artist's name and film title will be announced on March 24, when the Canada Council reveals the names of this year's laureates. Admission to the Gallery's Auditorium is free.
For more information:
Grace Thrasher
Arts Promotion Coordinator
1-800-263-5588 or (613) 566-4414, ext. 5145
Email this contact
Carole Breton
Public Relations Officer
1-800-263-5588 or (613) 566-4414, ext. 4523
Email this contact
To arrange interviews with the winners:
Diane Chaperon-Lor, National publicist
Office: 416-653-0849
Cell: 416-506-9047
chaperonlor@sympatico.ca
