SURREY, British Columbia, April 23, 2010 - On behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, Nina Grewal, Member of Parliament (Fleetwood-Port Kells), today announced funding for the Surrey Art Gallery Association.
This investment will allow the Surrey Art Gallery to purchase specialized equipment (including data projectors, computers, and power sources) for exhibiting digital arts. The site is designed with a screen that can project images without distortion. The screen, measuring 9 metres by 46 metres, is the largest outdoor exhibition venue for digital media in Canada. The Surrey Urban Screen is the first of its kind devoted to publicly programmed digital art and the only permanent publicly operated urban screen in the Greater Vancouver area.
"Our Government is stimulating the economy by investing in a number of key sectors, including arts and culture," said Minister Moore. "By supporting this important facility's creation of the Surrey Urban Screen, we are helping to ensure that Canadians have access to exceptional cultural experiences in their communities."
"Creating public spaces that encourage cultural growth in our communities is a priority for our Government," said Mrs. Grewal. "The Surrey Art Gallery's Urban Screen project will provide a gathering place for community members and will strengthen not only our city, but the surrounding area."
"The Surrey Urban Screen venue provides a unique outreach opportunity for the Surrey Art Gallery to showcase digital art forms for large audiences in Surrey's City Centre," said Joan Owen, President of the Surrey Art Gallery Association. "This venue builds on the Surrey Art Gallery's ten-year history supporting the production and presentation of digital art, through residencies and exhibitions."
The Surrey Art Gallery Association is an independent, non-profit society dedicated to supporting the Surrey Art Gallery. Established in 1975, the Surrey Art Gallery presents contemporary art exhibitions and programming to the residents of Surrey and the larger community. The Surrey Art Gallery also provides opportunities for the public to interact with artists and the artistic process.
The Government of Canada has provided funding of $118,685 under the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage. This program seeks to improve physical conditions for artistic creativity and arts presentations or exhibitions. It is also designed to increase access for Canadians to performing arts, visual arts, media arts, museum collections, and heritage displays.
The Government of Canada is investing $540 million in the arts and culture sector to stimulate the economy as part of Canada's Economic Action Plan. It also recently announced funding for federal arts programs totalling $1.51 billion over the next five years.
For more information (media only), please contact:
Matthew Deacon
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
819-997-7788
matthew.deacon@pch.gc.ca
Perry Boldt
A/Regional Manager Communications
Western Region
Canadian Heritage
604-666-5739
Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
media@pch.gc.ca
