Ottawa, April 20, 2010 – Aboriginal emerging writers now have the opportunity to take part in one of two residencies funded by the Canada Council for the Arts. New partnerships established with The Banff Centre and les Éditions Hannenorak will offer eight English residencies in Banff, Alberta and five French residencies in Quebec City, Quebec. The deadline for applications is May 1, 2010.
The residencies are intensive two-week programs led by established Aboriginal writers and are designed to develop and define the writing and storytelling voices of the successful candidates. The programs will include one-on-one editorial assistance, mentorship, individual studio writing time, guest speakers, Internet and archival research and a cultural component. The Banff residency will take place from September 13 – 25, 2010, and the Quebec City residency will take place from October 11 – 23, 2010. Upon return to their respective communities, writers will continue to receive encouragement, support and feedback through a 10-week online residency for the English program; individual coaching will follow the French residency.
“These first-ever partnerships with The Banff Centre and les Éditions Hannenorak are key to providing environments that will stimulate talented Aboriginal writers and boost their creative spirit,” said Arash Mohtashami-Maali, Head of the Canada Council Writing and Publishing section. “Participants will be in a dynamic and engaging atmosphere with some of the most respected Indigenous writers from around the world.”
The Banff Centre program includes prominent and award-winning writers Marilyn Dumont (Edmonton) and Lee Maracle (Ontario), and Witi Ihimaera from New Zealand (author of Whale Rider), along with an opportunity to consult with Elder-in-residence Beverly Hungry Wolf, who will live on site during the two weeks. Les Éditions Hannenorak’s program incorporates participation in the 2010 edition of a new festival set to become the largest literary event in Quebec, Quebec en toutes lettres, which will focus on magical realism and world-renowned Argentinean writer Jorge Luis Borges. Established writers such as Tomson Highway (Ontario/Paris), Joseph Boyden (Louisiana/Toronto) and Sherman Alexie (Seattle) will work alongside participants as mentors as well as Elder Joséphine Bacon.
This program is open to Canadian Aboriginal emerging writers who show a dedication to writing and have a substantial body of written work. They may be published authors, but may not have had more than one book published professionally. The 13 Canada Council scholarships of $7,000 each will be administered by The Banff Centre or les Éditions Hannenorak and cover tuition, transportation, accommodation, food and supply costs for the two-week program.
For more information about this program and to receive an application form, contact Paul Seesequasis, Writing and Publishing Program Officer at the Canada Council, at 1‑800‑263-5588, ext. 5266 or by email.
The Canada Council for the Arts is a federal Crown corporation created by an Act of Parliament in 1957. The role of the Council is to foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts. To fulfill this mandate, the Council offers a broad range of grants and services to professional Canadian artists and arts organizations in dance, integrated arts, media arts, music, theatre, visual arts, and writing and publishing. It also promotes public awareness of the arts through its communications, research and arts promotion activities.
The Council administers the Killam Program of scholarly awards, the Governor General’s Literary Awards and the Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts. The Canadian Commission for UNESCO and the Public Lending Right Commission operate within the Council. The Canada Council Art Bank, which has some 17,400 works of contemporary Canadian art in its collection, rents to the public and private sectors.
Media Contact:
Heather McAfee
Communications Officer
1-800-263-5588 or
613-566-4414, ext. 4166
Email this contact
Banff Centre
Sandra Laronde
403-760-1284
sandra_laronde@banffcentre.ca
La maison d’édition Hannenorak
Jean Sioui
418-407-4578
siouijean@hotmail.com
