More information about Alberta's PC Leadership candidates and the arts

Now that the field is down to three, here is some information gathered by PACE (Professional Arts Coalition of Edmonton) about the candidate's opinions about the arts in Alberta. 

The next (and likely final) vote for the leader of the Alberta PCs and the new Premier will be on Saturday October 1, 2011.  VOTE!  It only costs 5 bucks and any Alberta resident 16 and older can vote. 

Here is the information from PACE: (please note the information has been parsed to only reflect those candidates who remain in the race and who have spoken to PACE)

Gary Mar
 • Gary said he always has time to meet with arts professionals.

• Gary pointed out he had been minister responsible for culture and so can speak about the arts from an intrinsic perspective as well as economic.

• He talked about the benefit of fine arts in the schools. Arts and culture can teach empathy, give us pride as Albertans.

• Gary noted that every dollar invested in the arts, yields $8 to $10 back. He looks at investment in the arts not as a cost, but as a value.

• Gary said his commitment is not to permit any more cuts to the arts and to meet with arts groups to see what they need to make arts and culture flourish in Alberta.

• He considers supporting arts and culture as higher priority than sports, for instance, and talked about how the creative class can drive a knowledge-based economy.

• Gary remarked that the amount going to the arts isn’t even the equivalent to a rounding error in health care. He vowed he would not stop support for the AFA.

Alison Redford

• Alison said she supports the ArtsVote mandate of education, celebration and advocacy.

• She said she believes in a holistic and integrated approach to developing arts and culture in the province - an appreciation for arts and culture should be built into the fabric of our society.

• Alison indicated she would support a dedicated ministry if that was the best solution to the current challenges facing the arts in Alberta.

• Alison stated she strongly believes arts appreciation starts at a young age and getting funding for artists to work in schools is essential.

• As Premier Alison promised to bring attention to the importance of arts funding, saying we cannot and should not assume businesses and individuals will fund the arts.

• She said she would be looking to partner with groups who demonstrate that they have the support of stakeholders and that they have a plan.

• She explained that she believes that arts and culture leaders from our province are internationally recognized and could play a huge part in telling our story and raising the profile of the values that Albertans espouse and hold dear.

Doug Horner’s office said he would not meet with PACE. Doug’s campaign staff told us that he prefers we engage with him by e-mail or in public venues.

For more information on PC Alberta’s upcoming leadership convention and the six candidates, go to http://www.albertapc.ab.ca/

Hildegard von Bingen - Ordo Virtutum (The Way of the Virtues)

Edmonton's classical calendar full of highlights

Click on the link below to read this September 15, 2011 Edmonton Journal article by Tom Murray ...


Edmonton's classical calendar full of highlights

UPDATED: Concert Listings Sept 13-18

September 16 and 17, 2011 8pm Wicked Divas - Steven Reineke, conductor, Julia Murney, vocalist, Stephanie J. Block, vocalist. Including music from Wicked, Gypsy, Ragtime, Titanic and George Bizet’s Carmen. Winspear Centre. Carnegie Hall Info Session, Studio (enter through stage door) 6:30pm.

Saturday September 17, 2011 7:30pm Ordo Virtutum (The Way of the Virtues, a 12th century musical drama. Eva Bostrand (storefrontstudio) and some current and former members of Pro Coro Canada.  $20 general admission in advance, or $25 at the door (cash only). All Saints Anglican Cathedral, 100 and 103 St.

Saturday September 17, 2011 8pm Leonard Cohen Night 2011, La Cité Francophone.

Sunday September 18, 2011 2pm FREE Edmonton Choral Fair 2011 Joyful Noise, Chanteuses, Edmonton Christian Male Choir, Edmonton Metropolitan Chorus, Edmonton Youth Choir, EKOSingers, Gateway Chorus, Lynne Singers, Richard Eaton Singers, and Vocal Alchemy with special guests Anna Beaumont and Wajjo Drummers.  Edmonton City Hall.

Edmonton Choral Fair 2011

Regardless of an individual's singing experience, or taste in music, Edmonton has a choir that fits the bill. From absolute beginners to seasoned veterans, from young children to elder citizens, from classical aficionados to pop and jazz fans – Edmonton continues to prove itself as “The City that Sings!”

The afternoon features performing choirs: A Joyful Noise, Chanteuses, Edmonton Christian Male Choir, Edmonton Metropolitan Chorus, Edmonton Youth Choir, EKOSingers, Gateway Chorus, Lynne Singers, Richard Eaton Singers, and Vocal Alchemy with special guests Anna Beaumont and Wajjo Drummers.

The Edmonton Choral Fair 2011 is FREE and includes displays and information about each of the performing choirs, and even sign-up sheets to join or audition for one of the choirs.

Edmonton Choral Fair 2011

September 18, 2011

2:00 - 4:30 pm

Edmonton City Hall

Sir Winston Churchill Square

Downtown Edmonton

Arts District

Edmonton, AB

Make your vote count for the arts in Alberta!

Alberta's ruling conservative party will elect a new leader on Friday September 17 - make your voice heard and have a say in our next premier. 

Click here for more information on how to vote - you can vote if you are 16 years of age and up and have a membership which you can buy online.

In a leaders debate on CBC last week, most candidates stated their support for arts funding in order to give our communities a quality of life edge in competing for the best and brightest minds from all over the world to come and stay in Alberta.  Alison Redford put a focus on arts education in schools and Ted Morton said that he would not fund arts projects that were politically motivated, such as documentaries that show Alberta's tar sands in a bad light.

Watch the leader's debate at CBC Centre Stage in Edmonton last week

Make your own decision and VOTE!!

Check out all the candidates here with links to their web sites

Nominations for the Cultural Diversity in the Arts Awards

Edmonton Arts Council :: Cultural Diversity in the Arts Awards

Cultural Diversity in the Arts Awards

The City of Edmonton through the Edmonton Arts Council established the Cultural Diversity in the Arts Program to recognize that artists from all parts of the world enrich Edmonton’s cultural scene.

Newcomers from diverse cultural backgrounds to our city can find themselves in artistic isolation upon their arrival. The awards intend to help these artists pursue their artistic work and connect with the more mainstream institutions and support networks in Edmonton.

Anyone may nominate artists for this award, or artists may self-nominate.

Submission Deadline: October 3, 2011 at 4:30 pm

Click here for the nomination form

Alberta Arts Days at the Jubilee Auditorium

YOU'RE INVITED TO ARTS DAYS AT THE JUBE!
Friday, September 30, 2011 at 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Saturday, October 1, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Make the Jube part of your Arts Days festivities, and share the excitement about arts and culture that’s building right across the country. This year’s province-wide Arts Days celebration is set for September 30, October 1, and October 2 – three days of public arts events to delight, enchant and inspire the whole family! The Jube will hold special events open to the public on Friday and Saturday.

On Friday, September 30, bring your school to the Jube for our celebration of Arts in Education. From 9:30 to 11:00 a.m., students are invited to take part in a range of interactive arts activities. Explore the passion and drama of opera with Edmonton Opera; dance with the Alberta Ballet; and get a photographic perspective with artists from the Visual Arts Alberta Association. This program is intended for school children. Register in advance by calling (780) 638-3502.

Then on Saturday October 1, it’s our third annual Arty Party; a freewheeling multi-media extravaganza. It’s free, and you’re invited! We’re partnering up with The Works Art and Design Festival for an art-packed night of live music, food and beverages – and, of course, art of all kinds!

Once again this year, Jennifer Alabiso is overseeing the Jube’s Arts Days program in her role as Senior Manager for Community Engagement. She says, “It’s been terrific, to have this momentum. I’m glad that the Province has earmarked partnerships as the key to successful events – that’s exciting to me, seeing relationships build and grow.”

Alabiso is clearly motived by the opportunity to put Alberta art and artists into the spotlight at the Jube during Arts Days. “Open, Programmed and Free – and now – do it with community partners? That’s an initiative I can support and embrace!”

New Artistic Director at the Edmonton Recital Society

The Edmonton Recital Society enters its sixth year with a world-class lineup of three Main Series shows, a special Gala Concert and two notable upstarts in its Emerging Concert series, all under the direction of Tanya Prochazka, who replaces original artistic director Aaron Au.

“An internationally renowned cellist, Tanya is also a visionary,” says Au who will remain with the ERS as its president. “As a performing artist, her recitals have always been characterized as bold, innovative and full of life, flair and integrity. I know that she will bring the same qualities to future ERS seasons.”

Prochazka, one of Canada’s leading cellists and a music professor of music at the University of Alberta, will oversee a season that includes three Main Series concerts taking place at Alberta College's Muttart Hall (10050 Macdonald Drive)

For more information click here

Edmonton Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall Info Sessions

Learn about the ESO’s upcoming performance at Carnegie Hall in May 2012. These complimentary pre-concert sessions are open to the public and will take place in the Studio (unless otherwise noted), with light refreshments provided. Please enter through the Winspear Stage Door at the rear of the building.

Be the first to learn more about this special event, associated activities in New York, and travel packages as these details are released! For more information, please contact Eleanor Finger at 780-401-2578 or efinger@winspearcentre.com Tickets for the concerts following these sessions are available by contacting the Box Office at 780-428-1414 or online.

September 16, 6:30 to 7:30pm (before Wicked Divas)

September 17, 6:30 to 7:30pm (before Wicked Divas)

September 21, 6 to 7pm (before Mozart & Beethoven Treasures)

October 6, 6:30 to 7:30pm (before Four Guitars, One Orchestra)

November 20, 12:30 to 1:30pm (before Dvořák’s Violin Concerto)

November 26, 6:30 to 7:30pm (Founders’ Room) (before Juliette Kang plays Brahms)

January 27, 2012, 6 to 7pm (before Rachmaninoff's Third Piano Concerto)

January 28, 2012, 6:30 to 7:30pm (before Rachmaninoff's Third Piano Concerto)