Art Gallery of Nova Scotia Prepares to Launch Tall Ship Portraits from the Age of Sail
HALIFAX, September 7, 2004 -- Internet users will soon be able to set their sights on around 500 portraits of sailing ships built in Atlantic Canada between the late 18th and early 20th century, as a result of a recent digitization project. Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Member of Parliament (Halifax West) Geoff Regan, on behalf of Minister of Canadian Heritage Liza Frulla, today announced $216,900 in funding for the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and its partners for the online project Ships and the Age of Sail."In our country bordered by three oceans, maritime history makes up an important part of our past," said Minister Regan. "I am pleased that the Government of Canada is supporting this project, which will allow a new generation of Canadians to discover an important chapter in Canadian history, thanks in great measure to the know-how and ingenuity of people in the Atlantic region."
"The Government of Canada is committed to increasing access for all Canadians to the arts, culture, and heritage," said Minister Frulla. "By joining our efforts to create this wonderful virtual exhibit, we will allow Internet users around the world to discover not only elements of our history, but the cultural and artistic vitality of our country."
The site will be designed for students in grades 4 to 10 and their teachers. It will include various curriculum-based activities, teaching materials, games, and even 3-D images of some ships. Various topics will be covered, including weather, navigation, economy, communication, and travel. The exhibit, expected to be on line by May 2005, will be bilingual and will also include some content in the Aboriginal languages of Mi'kmaq and Maliseet.
The Ships and the Age of Sail project is a collaborative project of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and 24 partners, including the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, the Yarmouth County Museum and Historical Research Library and the Provincial Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Financial assistance is provided by the Department of Canadian Heritage through its Partnerships Fund, part of the Department's Canadian Culture Online initiative. The primary objective of the fund is to connect all Canadians, particularly youth, with the riches of Canada's heritage by making Canadian cultural collections held by provincial, municipal and local cultural organizations available via the Internet in both official languages.
Funding for this initiative was provided for in the March 2004 federal budget.
Information:
Donald Boulanger
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of
Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788
Brian Underhill
Director of Communications
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
(613) 992-3472
Myriam Brochu
Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-9314
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