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January 28, 2009
For immediate release

Island Students Take Part in New ArtsSmarts Projects

Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour

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Students in eight Prince Edward Island schools have new opportunities to develop their artistic skills through the ArtsSmarts program this year.

ArtsSmarts is a national program which brings artists and educators, schools and communities together to nurture creative thinkers and encourage participation in the arts.

Among the eight ArtsSmarts projects underway this year is the Earth Song project at Central Queens Elementary School where painter Maurice Bernard and singer/songwriter Catherine MacLellan will work with students to create a painting inspired by a song and a song inspired by a painting. Other 2009 projects include mask making, sculpture, painting, singing and creative writing.

“ArtsSmarts brings schools and young people together with artists, arts organizations and the community to create new opportunities and great new works of art,” said Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour Minister Carolyn Bertram. “I want to express gratitude to the artists, program coordinator, teachers and community leaders who work to develop the students’ creativity in such a fun and engaging way.”

Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Gerard Greenan acknowledged the commitment of teachers who make these opportunities possible for their students. “Our teachers and local artists are to be commended for the tremendous amount of planning and coordination that these projects can require. Their tireless efforts allow students to explore new ways of learning, to work collaboratively, and to experience the joy of creative expression,” said Minister Greenan.

ArtsSmarts PEI is administered and funded by the Department of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour and the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. ArtsSmarts PEI is a proud partner of the national ArtsSmarts Network.

BACKGROUNDER

Parkdale Elementary School

Building Blocks of Art - Students will paint, decorate and build a sculpture using old, recycled wooden toy blocks. The students will choose from a variety of sizes and shapes explore the inter-relationship of the shapes and plan ways to change the blocks by painting and adding texture and details. Artist: Terry D Stevenson

École Évangéline

Chante moi ta chanson - Students will create a song after studying PEI’s Acadian song repertoire. They will work with local singers and songwriters to study the variety of styles as well as the evolution of the songs. Each students will also complete a research project on a French Island composer. Artists: Lucie Bellemare, Stéphane Bouchard, Jeannita Bernard & Paul Gallant

St Louis Elementary and Bloomfield Elementary Celebrating Cultural Diversity through Mask Making - Students will create an abstract expressionism project (mask) using different mediums. They will explore different textures while completing their mask. Artist: Christina Campbell

Central Queens Elementary

Earth Songs - Students will create a painting inspired by a song and a song inspired by a painting. A visual artist and a singer/songwriter will work with each class. Artists: Maurice Bernard & Catherine MacLellan

École Évangéline

L’Acadie au coeur de la francophonie - Students will create three murals representing Acadie’s Francophonie. They will compare their culture to other Francophone cultures by studying the music, clothing, arts, food and way of life to discover differences as well as similarities with the world’s Francophonie. Artist: Lynne Gaudet

Grand Tracadie

Our Place in Time - Students will design and construct 3 exterior murals (4X8) which will depict the place of fishing, farming and the people in their community from the 1800's to the present. Artist: Everett Johnston

Elm Street Elementary

Canadian Critters in Colour - Each student will create an 11 X 14 inch canvas with acrylic paints depicting the Canadian Wildlife. Artist: Maurice Bernard

École-sur-Mer

Composition d’une chanson thème pour l’école - The students will compose a theme song for the École-sur-Mer encorporating themes of the past, the present and the future of the school. The song will also reflect the students’ French pride. Artist: Angèle Arsenault

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Media Contact: Connie McNeill
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