WHITEHORSE – The Arts Fund is contributing $78,000 towards seven projects to further develop the arts in Yukon, Minister of Tourism and Culture Elaine Taylor announced.
“The arts remind us of our power to innovate and teach us how to think beyond limitations and inventively overcome boundaries,” Taylor said. “The Yukon government is proud to support community groups and collectives pursuing creative, artistic endeavours that enrich our lives and our communities.”
The Arts Fund is an applicant-driven funding program that supports artists and communities in creative endeavours such as festivals, events, training and art creation in all forms.
One of the projects to receive funding is the Vuntut Gwitchin Youth Gathering. The gathering will provide youth with a venue to come together to celebrate their culture, and allow for discussion of issues they face in today’s society as First Nations youth living in isolated communities.
“The Vuntut Gwitchin Education Department applied to the Arts Fund in order to provide the younger youth of the community with an opportunity to receive a renewed interest in their traditional cultures and practices such as fiddle music, dancing, hunting, fishing and traditional crafts,” said Kim Rumley, coordinator of the Vuntut Gwitchin Youth Gathering.
“These monies now enable us to actually host the Youth Gwitchin Gathering in Old Crow, Yukon July 10th to 12th, 2008, for all the youth within the Gwitchin Nation.”
The next deadline for Arts Fund applications is June 15, 2008. Applicants are encouraged to consult with the program officer before applying. Telephone 667-3535 or email artsfund@gov.yk.ca.
- 30 -
List of Arts Fund March 2008 recipients below.
| Contact: | |
| Matthew Grant Cabinet Communications (867) 633-7961 matthew.grant@gov.yk.ca |
Alicia Debreceni Communications Officer (867) 667-5318 alicia.debreceni@gov.yk.ca |
March 15, 2008, intake
|
|
Applicant |
Project description |
$ Amount allocated |
|
1 |
Fiddle Kids Organization |
Towards Fiddle Rush 2008 – two original musical shows in Whitehorse and Dawson City which will involve youth ages 4–16 |
$12,500 |
|
2 |
Les Essentielles |
For Monte le Son! (Make Some Noise!) project for young women from Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut to train for six days in various art forms and produce short documentaries on topics of concern for young women in the North |
$8,000 |
|
3 |
Ramshackle Theatre Collective |
To co-produce the play Fully Committed with the Guild Society, featuring performer Brian Fidler playing over 40 roles |
$16,400 |
|
4 |
Sundog Carvers Collective |
Towards the Totem Pole Project – to teach collective members skills for carving in the round through work on a traditional Northwest Coast art form |
$12,500 |
|
5 |
The Teslin Recreation Society |
Towards Teslin Breakdancing Camp – three breakdancing intensives taught throughout the year by the Whitehorse-based Leaping Feats dance troupe |
$6,600 |
|
6 |
Vuntut Gwitchin Education Department |
Towards traditional and contemporary arts activities, workshops and performances at the 2008 Vuntut Gwitchin Youth Gathering |
$20,000 |
|
7 |
Whitehorse Elementary School Council |
Towards the production of the French Play for youth and children “Pleurer pour rire” by théâtre de la pastèque at the Yukon Arts Centre |
$2,000 |
|
|
|
TOTAL |
$78,000 |
<%img_newsarticle%>