Government of Yukon
Government
FOR RELEASE #07-171
August 21, 2007
Artists From Northern Russia Visit Yukon
WHITEHORSE - Minister of Tourism and Culture Elaine Taylor is pleased to welcome to Yukon five artists from the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District in Northern Russia.
"The Yukon government works to foster the development of the arts at the local, national and international levels through a wide range of knowledge, experience and expertise that benefits all involved," Taylor said. "It gives me great pleasure to welcome these gifted artists to Yukon."
The artists are visiting Yukon as part of a cultural exchange organized through the Canada-Russia Northern Development Partnership Program (NORDEP). NORDEP is a program administered by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada and the Canadian International Development Agency.
While here, the artists will learn and share ideas about how to promote, market and exhibit arts and crafts to assist them with the development of the District Arts and Crafts Centre in Salekhard. The centre will be the primary location for the distribution and display of aboriginal arts and crafts in the region.
"I hope the experiences gained during their visit enable the artists to return home with a wealth of information to assist them in their endeavours,”" Taylor said.
The artists, along with a NORDEP representative and a translator, arrived in Whitehorse on August 11 and will return home on August 24. Their itinerary includes a visit to the Sundog Retreat carving program, tours of Yukon artists' studios and a visit to the Yukon Artists @ Work gallery.
They are meeting with curators and art administrators and will attend workshops on marketing and promoting art. This includes a trip to Dawson City to experience the Riverside Arts Festival and Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre, as well as a visit to the Teslin Tlingit Heritage Centre in Teslin.
"We are excited about the study tour to Yukon," artist Sergey Luginin, Director of the District Arts and Crafts Centre in Salekhard, said.
"Northern territories the world over have much in common," he said. "I am sure that the knowledge and experience of our Yukon colleagues will be relevant within the Russian context. We hope that this visit will foster long term cooperation between Yamal and Yukon.
The public is invited to an event at the Arts Underground gallery on Main Street in Whitehorse on August 22 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The artists will deliver a slideshow and cultural talk on art work of the Yamal-Nenets region, as well as display traditional costumes.
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| Contact: | |
| Roxanne Vallevand Cabinet Communications (867) 633-7949 roxanne.vallevand@gov.yk.ca |
Karen Keeley Communications Officer, Tourism and Culture (867) 667-8304 karen.keeley@gov.yk.ca |