Community and Cultural Affairs Minister Elmer MacFadyen, and Mildred Dover, Minister of Education today invited the public to attend celebrations for ArtsSmarts projects throughout the province. During the past year, more than 680 Island Students had the opportunity to actively participate in 11 ArtsSmarts sponsored projects, involving 15 Island artists.

The ArtsSmarts program offers students an opportunity to study core curricula through sculpting, painting, stained glass, film, dance and music. Through the arts, students develop an appreciation for Island history, story telling, nature, outer space and imaginary creatures. ArtsSmarts is the largest education initiative in Canada that incorporates arts into academic programs.

“I want to thank the artists who lend their valuable support to this endeavor and are an important component in the success of this program,” said Minister MacFadyen. “Although a few of the celebrations have already taken place, I encourage all Islanders to attend these showcase events and celebrate the dedication of these artists, the commitment of the teachers and the skills and abilities of Island students. Together they are enhancing learning opportunities through culture and the arts.”

Education Minister Mildred Dover encourages the public to attend the ArtsSmarts celebration. “This is a wonderful opportunity for people to check in with our students and schools and to see first hand the exciting things they are doing together with our talented and committed Island artists,” she said.

In addition to local celebrations for individual projects, provincial exhibits will be held in the Gallery of Eptek Centre in Summerside from May 10 to May 27 and at the Confederation Centre of the Arts May 20 to June 3 in the Upper West Gallery. An Open House will be held at the Confederation Centre of the Arts, Charlottetown on May 24 from 7 to 9 p.m. and at the Eptek Center in Summerside on May 22 from 7 to 9 p.m.

BACKGROUNDER

ARTSSMARTS CELEBRATION SCHEDULE

School name / Project Name / Contact person / Location / Date 2007 and Time

École La Belle Cloche, Des contes et des légendes, Darlene Arsenault, St. Mary’s Hall, March 15 at 6 p.m.

Souris Consolidated School, Our Community, Anne Marie MacDonald, Souris Consolidated School, April 5 at 2 p.m.

Stonepark Intermediate School, Form Expression and Context in Visual Art and Music, Allison Peter, Stonepark Intermediate School, May 23 at 7 p.m.

École Évangéline, Cirque des étoiles, Velma Durant, École Évangéline, April 23, 2 p.m.

Glenn Stewart Elementary School, Our Community, Our Home, Dianna Tutty, Glenn Stewart Elementary School, May 3 at 7 p.m.

Westwood Primary School, Autoportrait, Wanda Curry, Westwood Primary School, April 27, 12:50-1:30

Three Oaks Senior High School, Création collective, Veronica d’Entremont, Three Oaks Senior High School, May 2 at 9:30 a.m.

École Évangéline, Les gens de par chez nous, Denise Millette, École Évangéline, May 8 at 2 p.m.

Kensington Intermediate Senior High School, Multimedia Adventures, Sally MacDonald and

Jennifer Spense, KISH School, April 16 at 7 p.m.

École Evangeline, La vie des acadiens d'hier et aujourd'hui, Jenny Lavoie, École Évangéline, May 8 at 2 p.m.

St. Jean’s School, St. Jean’s Reads - Off the Page, Marilyn Clark and Anne Ives, to be announced