May 22, 2014
Ottawa – The Canada Council for the Arts today announced it will invest $1.5 million to support the creation of a national digital platform for independent works of Canadian film and video. The platform will support the distribution and dissemination of independent media artworks, making thousands of works available to programmers, curators, directors, artists and the general public. Canada Council is providing one time funding over three years for the initiative, which will be developed and administered by a coalition of Canada’s independent media arts distributors.
“This distribution and dissemination platform creates an important and necessary digital space from both a supply and demand perspective,” said Robert Sirman, Director and CEO of the Canada Council. “It will offer independent Canadian media artists a new portal through which to showcase their work, and for presenters, unprecedented access to high quality content. The end result? More outstanding Canadian media artwork reaching audiences at home and internationally.”
"The Independent Media Arts Alliance acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and this important investment to the digital distribution project,” said Kevin Allen, IMAA president. “The funding will have a tremendous impact on the media arts community and infrastructure nationally, by creating new exhibition and distribution opportunities for artists, as well as finding new audiences nationally and internationally for Canadian independent media artwork.”
The Canada Council for the Arts is Canada’s national arts funder. Its grants and payments to artists and arts organizations benefit Canadians by ensuring a vibrant arts sector in Canada. Its awards celebrate creativity by recognizing exceptional Canadians in the arts, humanities and sciences. The Canada Council Art Bank is a national collection of over 17,000 Canadian contemporary artworks – all accessible to the public through rental, loan and outreach programs. The Canadian Commission for UNESCO operates within the Canada Council.
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Heather McAfee: 1–800–263–5588 or 613–566–4414, ext. 4166
Mireille Allaire: 1–800–263–5588 or 613–566–4414, ext 4523
