Nova Scotia Artwork Purchased for Art Bank Collection

NOTE: The names of the artists and the artwork purchased for the Nova Scotia Art Bank follow this release.

Almost two dozen Nova Scotia artists and craftspeople will be honoured today, April 11, as their work becomes part of the Nova Scotia Art Bank collection.

In a presentation ceremony at the Mary E. Black Gallery, in Halifax, the province will pay tribute to the 22 artists whose work has been selected by an independent jury for purchase by the art bank.

"The province encourages the development of artistic excellence and we are pleased to support the work of outstanding Nova Scotia artists and craftspeople through our Art Bank Purchase Program," said Tourism, Culture and Heritage Deputy Minister Kelliann Dean.

Established in 1975, the Nova Scotia Art Bank Purchase Program has supported the careers of local artists for more than 30 years. Today, the collection consists of almost 1,800 pieces of art, which are displayed in government offices throughout the province and in special gallery exhibitions across the country.

"Thanks to the Art Bank Purchase Program, we can preserve and showcase the work of Nova Scotia artists for both present and future generations," said Ms. Dean.

The newly purchased work will be on display to the public at the Mary E. Black Gallery, 1061 Marginal Rd., Halifax, from April 12 to April 22.

Applications for the 2007 Art Bank Purchase Program will be accepted until Nov. 15. For more information, go to the Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage website at www.gov.ns.ca/dtc/culture/culture_funding.asp .

Note: Following are the names of the artists and the name of the artwork purchased for the Nova Scotia art bank.

Rose Adams of Dartmouth, A Raven's Pompeii Jamie Baxter of Tiverton, Hanging Chicken Mark Bovey of Halifax, Diagnosis #10, tp Wayne Boucher of Annapolis Royal, Proscenium - Footlights Dean Brousseau of Brookside, City of Trees #1; City of Trees #4 Cathy Busby of Halifax, The North End Book Geoff Butler of Granville Ferry, Deconstructed Icons Ernest Cadegan of Port Williams, Porters Point #9;Behind the Door Barry Colpitts of Tangier, New Wagon Andrew Danson of Halifax, Berlin - Traume Peter DiGesu of Halifax, From A Dream Tonia Di Risio of Halifax, Kitchen II Dee Gibson of Halifax, Thought Series #25 Richard Hines of Halifax, Sliced Apple Leola LeBlanc of Dartmouth, Farde a joues/Cheek Blush Patricia Loucks of Bedford, Clear Cut #2 Margot Metcalfe of Halifax, Wharf Ivan Murphy of Halifax, Edges of Form Matthew Reichertz of Halifax, Untitled #43/Tiny Town Roxanne Smith of Dartmouth, Signal Lights, Halifax, NS Jacqueline Steudler of Fall River, In the Midst of Trees #5 Laurie Swim of Lunenburg, Stonehurst Fish Store