Young Artists Sought for 2003 Canada Winter Games

TOURISM/CULTURE--Young Artists Sought for 2003 Canada Winter Games

The province is seeking young musicians, dancers, painters and actors to represent Nova Scotia at the 2003 Canada Winter Games in Bathurst-Campbellton, N.B.

Four young Nova Scotia artists, aged 16 to 23, will be a part of the cultural component of the Games, which falls under the banner of the National Artists Program.

The National Artists Program is a federally funded project that offers young artists from each Canadian province and territory an opportunity to participate in collaborative, multidiscipline, arts creation under the mentorship of experienced practising artists. The young artists will be in Bathurst-Campbellton for the duration of the Games from Feb. 22 to March 8, interpreting the Games experience through the arts.

"This is a great opportunity for four young Nova Scotians to participate in a national arts program," said Rodney MacDonald, Minister of Tourism and Culture. "These young people will have a chance to meet like-minded youth from across Canada, to experience the Canada Games and to express that experience through the creative arts."

One young artist from each of the dance, music, theatre and visual arts disciplines will attend the Games on behalf of their home province or territory. Two experienced artists and an assistant from the host community will be assigned to each of the four artistic disciplines and will facilitate, monitor and assist the young artists in individual and group settings toward the completion of artistic projects inspired by the Games. The four young artists selected to represent Nova Scotia will travel with the Nova Scotia Games Team and stay in the Athletes Village.

The Department of Tourism and Culture is conducting a provincewide selection process to identify the four young artists who will represent Nova Scotia in this exciting opportunity. Guidelines and application forms are available on the department's Web site, at www.gov.ns.ca/dtc/culture.html , by clicking on "Get more information about Funding Programs...", or by phoning 902-424-4442, or by e-mail to <cultaffs@gov.ns.ca.>

Completed applications and the required support materials must be received at the Culture Division office by Oct. 18. Applications will be reviewed by a panel of artists and other representatives from the cultural community using the criteria set out in the guidelines.