Minister of Canadian Heritage Hosts Meeting on Diversity and Culture
VANCOUVER, January 14, 2003 -- Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps today hosted the second of five preparatory meetings for the upcoming Minister's Forum on Diversity and Culture. This Forum, which will be co-hosted by Minister Copps and Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women) Jean Augustine, will take place at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, in the National Capital Region, on April 22 and 23, 2003.The Minister's Forum on Diversity and Culture will seek to find ways to better reflect Canada's diversity in cultural policies and programs. It will help increase knowledge throughout the Government of Canada of the possibilities that culturally diverse communities represent and of the challenges that they face in gaining access to cultural programs.
"This Forum will strengthen the relationship between cultural groups and Government decision-makers, so that together we can ensure diversity in all fields of cultural activity," said Minister Copps. "It is a demonstration of our commitment to support Canadian diversity and to ensure that all Canadians can contribute to the arts and heritage."
"The Forum will represent an opportunity for our artists from various cultural communities to forge ties, exchange ideas and take an active part in the decision-making process of their Government, " said Secretary of State Augustine.
The Vancouver regional meeting, held at the Roundhouse Community Centre, provided an opportunity to consult with artists and community leaders of British Columbia and Alberta on cultural issues, and to build on discussions that took place at the first pre-forum meeting last November in Winnipeg. The Vancouver meeting also featured an exhibit of artwork by Vancouver-area artist Gu Xiong.
Ethno-cultural and visible minority communities, aboriginals, cultural organizations, artists, directors and producers, and academics are among those involved in preparatory discussions leading up to the Minister's Forum on Diversity and Culture. Government participants include representatives of Canadian Heritage and the Portfolio Agencies. Prominent private and non-profit sector leaders in the arts community are also involved.
Other pre-forum meetings will take place in Montreal (January 24), Halifax (February 21), and Toronto (March 7).
Information :
Sonya-Kim St-Julien
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788
Naline Rampersad
Office of the Secretary of State
(Multiculturalism) (Status of Women)
(819) 997-9900
- BACKGROUNDER -
MINISTER'S FORUM ON DIVERSITY AND CULTURE
The Minister's Forum on Diversity and Culture will be co-hosted by Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps and Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women) Jean Augustine, at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, in Gatineau, Quebec, on April 22 and 23, 2003.
PURPOSE OF THE FORUM
To bring culturally diverse communities and cultural decision-makers together, and to find ways to better reflect Canada's diversity in our cultural policies and programs.OBJECTIVES
To increase knowledge among cultural decision-makers of the needs and capacity of culturally diverse communities
To increase knowledge among culturally diverse communities of the availability of national cultural programs and activities
To build on experiences and expertise of communities and cultural institutions
To facilitate networking among participants and strengthen relationships
To celebrate culturally diverse artistic expression
CONTEXT
Rapidly changing Canadian demographics challenge the traditional formulation of cultural policy and programming. At the same time, there is an increasing demand for diverse cultural expression.
PRE-FORUM MEETINGS
During the months leading up to the Forum, Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps and Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women) Jean Augustine will hold a series of pre-forum meetings across the country, to invite active participation in planning the Forum, in order to ensure that it meets its objectives. Pre-forum meetings have taken place in Winnipeg (November 13, 2002) and in Vancouver (January 14, 2003), and will take place in Montreal (January 24), Halifax (February 21), and Toronto (March 7).
ORGANIZATION OF THE FORUM
A Steering Committee
Planning for the Forum will be guided by a Steering Committee representing a broad range of expertise and knowledge in the field of diversity and culture in Canada. The Committee's role is to provide advice to the Department of Canadian Heritage on the Forum's structure and content, as well as on the continued evolution of diversity and culture.
A Participatory Approach
The Forum will emphasize participation and discussion, drawing on the experiences, perceptions and opinions of the participants, as well as those of cultural decision-makers.
Participants from across the country will be invited. They will be artists and creators; producers and presenters; distributors; educators; representatives of the private and not-for-profit sectors; and decision-makers from Canadian Heritage and the Portfolio Agencies. As well, the general public will have access to the Forum, through a Diversity and Culture Web site.
ACROSS-THE-BOARD CHANGE
The goal of the Forum is to achieve a better reflection of diversity across-the-board in our cultural products and institutions. The arts (visual, media, literary, performing, and interdisciplinary), heritage (museums, archives, libraries, public galleries, and collections), and media (film, video, publishing, broadcasting, sound recording, and new media) will provide natural groupings to facilitate discussion.
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