Government of Canada Announces Funding for the ArtStarts in Schools Society
VANCOUVER, September 4, 2003 -- Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Natural Resources Canada and Member of Parliament (Vancouver South Burnaby), on behalf of Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps, today announced funding of $160,000 for the ArtStarts in Schools Society to help finance its new Schools in Community grant program."The Government of Canada is very pleased to support the ArtStarts in Schools Society, which continues to find innovative ways to integrate the arts into the K-12 curriculum in British Columbia," said Minister Dhaliwal. "Schools in Community will allow students to experience the magic of live performances in a community venue and will hopefully build a committed arts audience for the future."
Schools in Community is a new program that provides funding to school-based organizations in their efforts to showcase professional performing arts activities in their community venues. The matching grant will be available to schools, school districts, and school-based parent groups, and will cover such expenses as artist's fees and venue rental. The grant's main objective is to allow youth to experience performances by professional Canadian artists in theatre, dance, music, or other innovative disciplines. The two-year pilot project will also encourage diverse programming such as First Nations programming for young people from kindergarten to grade 12, as well as support active collaboration between schools, community organizations, and venues and local presenters.
The ArtStarts in Schools Society is a unique British Columbia-based organization that provides a range of programs and services for young people, artists, educators, programmers, parents, and community organizations to assist them in presenting arts activities. Since 1996, it has promoted the value of arts and artists in education through many projects including its annual ArtScan showcase, Young People's Network in British Columbia, and arts-based anti-racism workshops.
Financial assistance is provided by the Department of Canadian Heritage through the Development Component of its Arts Presentation Canada Program. This program seeks to give Canadians more access to direct experiences of the diversity and richness of Canada's culture through professional arts festivals, presentations of live professional performances, and other artistic experiences provided by arts presenters.
Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 2003 federal Budget.
Information:
Sonya-Kim St-Julien
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788
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