FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 15, 2012, St. John’s – The Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council (NLAC) awarded $12,052 in grants to 20 projects through the Visiting Artist Program (VAP) between September 2011 and January 2012.
This program is funded by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Cultural Connections: A Provincial Arts and Culture Strategy - a joint initiative between the Department of Education and the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation and the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association (NLTA). The management and administration of the program is conducted by the NLAC.
Schools apply for VAP funding to bring artists, groups of artists, or arts organizations into the school to work with students in a wide variety of artistic disciplines. Projects are generally short term, ranging from a couple of hours to a few days. They may include activities such as performances, readings, or hands-on artistic workshops.
Some of the artists who took part in VAP projects this year included break dancer Justin Power who worked with over 300 students at both Gonzaga and Prince of Wales Collegiate high schools, exploring break dance moves to create a performance at each school; performers Beni and Dashi Malone took Wonderbolt Circus on the road, and performed Upside Clown in Victoria, Bay de Verde and Western Bay; musician and songwriter Ray Lake presented Up the Harbour, Down the Shore at a number of schools, exploring Newfoundland and Labrador history and culture with students ; and visual artist Samantha Caines offered painting workshops for students enrolled in Art 2200 in Trout River.
“The VAP allows teachers and students to engage with professional artists from a variety of disciplines, to work on creative and educational projects,” says Reg Winsor, executive director of the NLAC. “The program creates opportunities for teachers to enhance curriculum delivery, achieving the desired educational outcomes in an interesting and exciting way for students.”
Media Enquiries:
Joshua Jamieson
Communications Officer
Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council
Phone: (709) 726-2212
Toll free: 1 (866) 726-2212 (NL only)
jjamieson@nlac.ca
The NLAC is a non-profit Crown agency created in 1980 by The Arts Council Act. Its mission is to foster and promote the creation and enjoyment of the arts for the benefit of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. The Council is governed by a volunteer board of 13 appointed by government, reflecting regional representation of the province. This includes 10 professional artists who provide sectoral representation of the arts community; one community representative (with an interest in the arts); one business representative (with an interest in the arts); and one representative of the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation (non-voting). The NLAC receives an annual contribution of $2.1 million from the Province to support a variety of granting programs, program delivery, office administration, and communications. It also seeks support from the public and private sector. It supports the following artistic disciplines: dance, film, multidiscipline, music, theatre, visual art, and writing.
Visiting Artist Program Grants
September 2011 to January 2012
Total awarded: $12,052
Total projects: 20
St. John’s – Metro
Beaconsfield Junior High
St. John’s
$500
December 1, 2011
Musician and songwriter Ray Lake presented his show Up the Harbour, Down the Shore to 195 grade eight students. This 50-minute interactive performance explored key concepts in Newfoundland and Labrador history and culture, by using songs to engage students in a view of our history that highlighted significant events and trends that have shaped our people.
Larkhall Academy
St. John’s
$700
December 8, 2011
Visual artist David Kaarsemaker worked with 42 grade six students to explore drawing and acrylic painting with a creative activity that taught contour drawing and blind contour painting.
Gonzaga High School
St. John’s
$500
November 28 to December 6, 2011
Break dancer Justin Power worked with 180 students from grades ten to twelve at Gonzaga High School, showing them how to express their creativity through break dancing, which led to a presentation performed by students for their class.
Prince of Wales Collegiate
St. John’s
$500
December 12 to 16, 2011
Break dancer Justin Power worked with 150 students from grades ten to twelve at Prince of Wales Collegiate, showing them how to express their creativity through break dancing, which led to a presentation performed by students for their class.
St. John Bosco School
St. John’s
$500
December 4 to 15, 2011
Local dance instructor Katy Noftall offered sessions in hip hop dance to 37 girls in grades six to nine, helping them develop an awareness of healthy living, and demonstrating that physical activity is fun.
Mary Queen of the World School
Mount Pearl
$500
December 15, 2011
Musician and songwriter Ray Lake presented his show Kick Up Your Rubbers to 286 students in kindergarten to grade three, as well as grade six students. This 45-minute presentation used songs and active movement by students to explore concepts of healthy living and anti-bullying.
Cowan Heights Elementary
St. John’s
$500
November 23, 2011
Musician and songwriter Ray Lake presented his show Kick Up Your Rubbers to 405 students in kindergarten to grade seven. This 45-minute presentation used songs and active movement by students to explore concepts of healthy living and anti-bullying.
Brother Rice Junior High
St. John’s
$500
November 17, 2011
Musician and songwriter Ray Lake presented his show Up the Harbour, Down the Shore to 120 grade eight students. This 50-minute interactive performance explored key concepts in Newfoundland and Labrador history and culture by using songs to engage students in a view of our history that highlighted significant events and trends that have shaped our people.
Holy Cross Junior High
St. John’s
$500
January 9, 2012
Musician and songwriter Ray Lake presented his show Up the Harbour Down the Shore to 56 grade eight students. This 50-minute interactive performance explored key concepts in Newfoundland and Labrador history and culture by using songs to engage students in a view of our history that highlighted significant events and trends that have shaped our people.
Booth Memorial High School
St. John’s
$500
January 26 to 30, 2012
Working with songwriter Jody Richardson, 60 grade nine students explored and analyzed song structure and composition. The students collectively created their own songs by the end of the two sessions.
Booth Memorial High School
St. John’s
$500
January 26 to 30, 2012
Working with songwriter Jody Richardson, 60 grade nine students explored and analyzed song structure and composition. The students collectively created their own songs by the end of the two sessions; 120 students in grade nine were split into two groups for the project.
Avalon
Persalvic Elementary
Victoria
$700
October 27, 2011
Wonderbolt Circus's Beni and Dashi Malone presented two performances of Upside Clown, a circus clown show for young audiences, to 310 students from kindergarten to grade nine.
Tricon Elementary
Bay de Verde
$655
October 28, 2011
Wonderbolt Circus's Beni and Dashi Malone presented two performances of Upside Clown, a circus clown show for young audiences, to 108 students from kindergarten to grade six.
Cabot Academy
Western Bay
$640
October 27, 2011
Wonderbolt Circus's Beni and Dashi Malone presented two performances of Upside Clown, a circus clown show for young audiences, to 101 students from kindergarten to grade six.
Woodland Elementary
Dildo
$788
January 23 to February 20, 2012
In a continuation of a program started last year, local fiddler Rendell Mercer worked with 40 students from grades one to six to explore fiddle music and technique.
Eastern
Heritage Collegiate
Lethbridge
$638
January 30, 2012
Musician and songwriter Ray Lake presented his show Up the Harbour, Down the Shore to 88 grade eight and eleven students. This 50-minute interactive performance explored key concepts in Newfoundland and Labrador history and culture, by using songs and music to engage students in a view of our history that highlighted significant events and trends that have shaped our people. Ray also conducted a songwriting workshop with grade ten students that highlighted aspects of the Newfoundland Studies course.
Pearson Academy
Wesleyville
$700
January 30 to March 30, 2012
Working with musician Chris Feener, 88 students from grade seven to eleven learned how to play guitar and about guitar performance techniques.
Central
Cottrell's Cove Academy
Cottrell’s Cove
$653
November 18, 2011
Musician Fergus O'Byrne worked with 16 students from grade seven to twelve to explore traditional Newfoundland and Labrador music and song.
Cottrell's Cove Academy
Cottrell’s Cove
$691
November 18, 2011
Musician Jim Payne worked with 11 students from kindergarten to grade six to explore traditional Newfoundland and Labrador music and song.
Western
Jakeman All Grade
Trout River
$887
January 12 and 13, 2012
Visual artist Samantha Caines offered workshops in acrylic painting. Students then created painted collages of personal and cultural symbols. Ten grade twelve students enrolled in Art 2200 took part in the project.
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