Media Release - For Immediate Release

April 8 2010

Canada Council Awards University Art Gallery Increased Funding

Image: Jennie O’Keefe Fever Sleep, 2008, mixed media, painted porcelain. From the recent Pulp Fiction Exhibit .

Saint Mary's University Art Gallery has again received a substantial increase in its operating funding from the Canada Council for the Arts.

The annual award under the programme of Assistance to Art Museums and Public Galleries, for the period 2010-2013, has increased from $48,000 (base amount of $44,000 with a supplement of $8,000) to a new base amount of $55,000. This is an increase of 14.5% overall, incorporating a 25% increase over the previous base amount.

The grant, which will be given each year for the next three years, supports the contemporary exhibition programme of the Gallery, including exhibitions, publications and complementary programmes such as artist’s talks.

Awards under the programme are adjudicated through an arm’s length, peer-review process by a national jury of visual arts professionals. In previous competitions under this programme (in 2005, 2007 and 2008), Saint Mary's University Art Gallery has received increases of 21%, 10% and 9.1% respectively.

“Once again,” says the Gallery’s Director/Curator Robin Metcalfe, “our professional peers have recognized the excellence of our administration, exhibitions, publications and audience development. A static global budget for the programme and strong competition limit how quickly a gallery’s annual grant can be increased, but juries have nevertheless consistently rewarded the Gallery with increases at every opportunity over the past five years.”

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For More Information:

Steve Proctor
External Affairs
Saint Mary's University
(902) 420.5513
E-mail: steve.proctor@smu.ca
www.smu.ca

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