Appointments Made to Arts and Culture Partnership Council

New and returning members of the Nova Scotia Arts and Culture Partnership Council will bring their expertise and perspectives to the table to advise government on ways to support development of their sector.

Tourism, Culture and Heritage Minister Bill Dooks announced today, Oct. 8, that Gregor Ash, Addy Doucette, Paula Davis and Steven Naylor have accepted appointments to the council for 2008-09. Wanda George has been reappointed to another term with the council.

"The arts and culture sector in Nova Scotia plays a vital role in the economy and the quality of life in our province," said Mr. Dooks. "We appreciate the council members' dedication to working with the provincial government to continue to develop the sector."

Paul Gallant of Le Conseil des arts de Chéticamp, Joella Foulds of Celtic Colours, and Jim Morrow of Mermaid Theatre have accepted appointments to the council's executive committee for 2008-09.

The new council members bring a wide variety of experience to their role:

• Mr. Ash of Halifax is an energetic and active member of the Nova Scotia arts community, having successfully worked in multiple disciplines including book selling, publishing, the recording industry, design, craft and film. He has worked at the Atlantic Film Festival for 12 years and has served as its executive director since 2000.

• Ms. Doucette of Antigonish has an extensive background managing, directing, producing and teaching theatre. She was the founding artistic producer for Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre and served as director of theatre with St. Francis Xavier University from 1979-2007. Her commitment to the arts has been recognized with the university's 2004 Outreach Award for Service to the Community and the 2008 Theatre Nova Scotia Legacy Award.

• Ms. Davis from Port Hawkesbury is the marketing and events manager for the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre and an active grass roots coordinator of arts and culture events. She actively develops and promotes an extensive calendar of performing and visual arts, retail craft and development events while serving as a member of ten local and regional arts and cultural committees.

• Mr. Naylor resides in Halifax and has a PhD in musical composition from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. He has an extensive background as a professional artist and lecturer at Dalhousie and Acadia universities. Mr. Naylor is the artistic coordinator of music and sound design for Mermaid Theatre. He has received many awards and grants for his compositions and is affiliated with the Canadian Music Centre, Canadian League of Composers, Canadian Electroacoustic Community and Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada.

• Ms. George from Canning holds a PhD in rural planning and development from the University of Guelph. She is professor at Mount Saint Vincent University in the tourism and hospitality management department and is returning to the council for a second term. She is also project coordinator for the World Heritage Tourism Research Network where her research focuses on the interrelationships and dynamics that occur among tourism, rural communities, local culture and community stability.

• Dianne Coish and Peggy Tibbo-Cameron represent the culture division of the Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage on the council.

Special thanks were offered to non-returning council members for their service and continued commitment to the sector:

• Jenni Blackmore, Seaforth, Halifax Regional Municipality
• Shelley Fashan, Lake Echo, Halifax Regional Municipality
• Laurie Swim, Lunenburg, Lunenburg Co.
• Karen Diadick-Casselman, Cheverie, Hants. Co.

The Nova Scotia Arts and Culture Partnership Council, in consultation with the arts and culture sector, provides advice and recommendations to guide the Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage regarding ongoing investment in Nova Scotia's artists, cultural industries, and cultural activities. The council members represent a cross-section of Nova Scotians with geographic and cultural diversity, and a broad range of experience in the arts and culture sector.