The Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and
Official Languages, accompanied by Rodney Weston, Member of Parliament
(Saint John), and His Worship Ivan Court, Mayor of Saint John, today
announced that the municipality of Saint John, New Brunswick, has been
designated a Cultural Capital of Canada for 2010.
"Culture has a way of bringing us together. It also allows us to
express who we are and what makes us truly unique," said Minister Moore.
"Congratulations to the people of Saint John on taking pride in their
local culture and heritage and on putting the best of their city forward
for all Canadians to see."
"This recognition will provide a great boost to the people of Saint
John, who will celebrate the city's 225th anniversary in 2010," said Mr.
Weston. "The designation will surely encourage new partnering
opportunities and generate economic benefits for Saint John and its
surrounding area."
"The City of Saint John is proud of the work, led largely by
community volunteers, to promote and celebrate our local arts, culture,
and heritage," said Mr. Court. "We are pleased to be designated a
Cultural Capital of Canada for 2010 in Canada's Original City."
The Cultural Capital of Canada designation is awarded for merit, as
determined by the quality of a proposed project and earlier achievements
by the candidate community that demonstrate an ongoing commitment to
the arts and culture. An independent advisory committee evaluates the
candidate communities and makes its recommendations to the Minister.
Funding is provided to support special projects that celebrate the arts
and culture. Amounts vary according to the size of the municipality.
Municipalities with a population between 50 000 and 125 000, such as
Saint John, may receive up to $750,000.
With this funding, the city will launch Saint John 225: The Original
City / La ville originale, a year-long program of events that celebrates
the creativity, culture, and heritage of the Saint John region. Saint
John 225 begins on January 1, 2010.
Saguenay, Quebec, was also designated a 2010 Cultural Capital of
Canada (http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/ccc/index-eng.cfm)
earlier this week. Another cultural capital will be unveiled shortly.
This news release is available on the Internet at www.canadianheritage.gc.ca under Media Room.
BACKGROUNDER
2010 CULTURAL CAPITALS
Saint John, New Brunswick
Category 2: population between 50 000 and 125 000
Maximum contribution: $750,000
Highlights of Saint John, New Brunswick's, proposed projects:
- Passage in Time: Art in the Public Space - commissioning of four
signature pieces to commemorate Saint John's 225th anniversary on sites
of historical significance.
- Where's Art - Celebrating the Unexpected - performances and
artistic displays in non-traditional spaces to promote upcoming
activities and events of local arts and cultural groups; creation of a
mascot to be used on promotional and marketing material.
- Celebration 225: The People, Places and Events that Shaped Saint
John - a series of festivities to begin May 18, 2010.
- First Nations Cultural Celebration - in partnership with Mi'kmaq
and Wolastoqiyik communities, this event will honour First Nations
contributions to New Brunswick. It will include demonstrations of
traditional ways of life, traditional storytelling, and displays and
performances by contemporary First Nations artists.
- Reunion 2010 - gala performance by professional artists originally
from the region who have achieved national and international acclaim;
they will perform alongside emerging local artists and performers.
- Arts on the Edge - master classes for emerging artists and
performers, and apprenticeships for directors, producers, and "back of
house" administrators with a local master in the production of an
exhibit or performance.
- Learning on the Edge - multimedia educational program that consists
of digitized filming of each master class and apprenticeship to form
the foundation of a digital library and Web-based resource centre that
will be made available to community groups, schools, individual artists,
performers, and educators.
- The Original City/La ville originale Website - creation of a new
website to promote Saint John's arts, culture, and heritage through the
use of new technologies and digital media to inform and interact with
Saint John residents.
- World Speakers' Series - speakers' series to feature three
nationally or internationally renowned experts.
- The Original City/La ville originale e-zine - a new online
publication to report on regional events and developments, as well as
international trends and significant events.
- Arts Groups, Businesses and the City: The ABCs of Cultural
Development - a series of workshops or other events to ensure ongoing
interaction among arts groups and non-profit organizations, the private
sector and city staff.
For more information on the Cultural Capitals of Canada's selection
criteria and previous years' winners, consult the Department of Canadian
Heritage website at www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/pgm/ccc/index-eng.cfm.
For more information, please contact
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
Deirdra McCracken - Director of Communications
819-997-7788
pch.gc.ca
or
Canadian Heritage
Media Relations
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
pch.gc.ca