TORONTO, ONTARIO, September 24, 2009—The Art Dealers Association of Canada will provide 10 post-secondary graduates with the opportunity to enhance and develop their employment skills thanks to support from the Government of Canada. Ms. Lois Brown, Member of Parliament for Newmarket–Aurora, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.
“In today’s economic environment, it is more important than ever that all Canadians have the skills they need to succeed in the job market,” said Ms. Brown. “Our government is proud to support projects that offer recent post-secondary graduates the opportunity to develop skills and gain the experience that will help them reach their full potential in their chosen fields.”
The Art Dealers Association of Canada will receive $147,294 for its Visual Art Internship Program through the Career Focus program of the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy. This funding will help the Association offer a 32-week work experience placement to 10 recent post-secondary graduates in one of Canada’s top commercial art galleries in Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, Alberta or British Columbia, allowing them to apply the skills sets they acquired during their education.
“We are extremely proud of the success of this program,” said Ms. Miriam Shiell, President of the Art Dealers Association of Canada. “The investment that the Government has made in both our youth and the arts has paid off handsomely in helping to train and place talented and educated young professionals in the art industry.”
The federal government is working with the provinces and territories and other stakeholders to make sure that Canadians get the training, skills and opportunities they need to participate in the workforce and contribute to the quality of life in their communities.
The Career Focus program is part of the Government of Canada’s strategy to create the best educated, most skilled and most flexible workforce in the world.
The Government underscored its commitment to this strategy in Canada’s Economic Action Plan. A key component of the Plan is to create more and better opportunities for Canadian workers through skills development. To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
The Career Focus program is delivered by Service Canada, which provides one-stop personalized services for Government of Canada programs, services and benefits. For more information about this program, call 1 800 O‑Canada, visit www.servicecanada.gc.ca or drop by your local Service Canada Centre.
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This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.
For further information (media only):
Michelle Bakos
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559
The Art Dealers Association of Canada is a national not-for-profit organization founded in 1966. With over 90 members, the Association is the largest representation of major private commercial galleries in Canada, and its members represent the country’s leading artists. The organization’s mandate includes stimulating the art market in Canada and encouraging awareness of the visual arts both nationally and abroad. Between June 15, 2009, and February 12, 2010, the Association, through its Visual Art Internship Program, will support 10 recent post‑secondary graduates by providing them with the opportunity to gain entry into the visual arts market through work experience placements. These internships will provide them with experience in all aspects of managing a commercial gallery, including Web site creation, exhibition procedures, writing artists statements and sales.
Career Focus is one of three programs under the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy that help young Canadians get the information, skills and work experience they need to make a successful transition to the workplace. By linking highly skilled, post-secondary youth with potential employers who can provide them with career-related work experiences, Career Focus helpsyoung Canadians acquire advanced employment skills and facilitates their transition into the rapidly changing labour market. The other two programs under the Strategy are Skills Link and Summer Work Experience. More information is available on the following Web site: www.servicecanada.gc.ca/yep/newprog/yesprograms.
