The largest gathering of Manitoba and Saskatchewan artists ever presented outside the Prairies!
OTTAWA, ON— Canada’s National Arts Centre is delighted to announce that PotashCorp has contributed $100,000 to become the Saskatchewan Presenting Partner for Prairie Scene, a multidisciplinary arts festival that will showcase 500 of the best established and emerging artists from Manitoba and Saskatchewan on stages across the Nation’s Capital from April 26 to May 8, 2011.
“We are so grateful to PotashCorp for their generous support,” said NAC Foundation CEO Jayne Watson. “Through their sponsorship they are truly helping to create new career opportunities for Saskatchewan and Manitoba artists, both here in Canada and around the world.”
“At PotashCorp, our travels provide us the opportunity to be ambassadors for our province; we proudly speak about Saskatchewan's talented people, our natural resources and the opportunities available,” said Bill Doyle, President and CEO of PotashCorp. ”We’re delighted to join the NAC in an initiative that will showcase our artists, and the rich artistic legacy of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, for Canada and all the world to enjoy.”
Prairie Scene is the fifth in a series of national festivals produced by the NAC showcasing the wealth of arts and culture in different regions of the country. The Scene festivals introduce artists to new audiences and national media exposure, but the Scenes also help boost careers by introducing young artists to presenters from all over the world.
Since 2003 the NAC has invited 314 presenters from 27 countries to travel to the Scene festivals to discover and book new talent, which has resulted in over 275 performance bookings and more than $1 million in fees for artists. More than 50 national and international agents, presenters and talent scouts will be at Prairie Scene to see Prairie talent in action. Their sole mission is to find new artists for their audiences across Canada, the U.S., Europe and Asia.
Prairie Scene launched in Regina on Nov. 18 and in Winnipeg on Nov. 19, with a lineup that includes some of the finest performing artists from Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Singer/songstress Buffy Sainte-Marie and internationally acclaimed violinist Erika Raum will appear at the festival, as will the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra with virtuoso James Ehnes. Persephone Theatre will present Kenneth Williams’ smash hit Gordon Winter; Saskatchewan playwright Gilles Poulin Denis’ Rearview brings Fransaskois culture to the Nation’s Capital, and Winnipeg Jewish Theatre’s Talk will get tongues wagging. Installations curated and/or presented by the Dunlop Art Gallery, Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art and many others provide a fascinating look at the Prairie visual arts landscape; and Saskatchewan’s Shawn Hounsell choreographs the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, while Robin Poitras and Rouge-gorge shed light on new dance creation. Music at the Scene includes appearances by Alexis Normand, Daniel ROA, eight-piece pop collective Library Voices, the Wailin’Jennys, and much, much more.
Complete festival programming will be announced in February 2011.
About PotashCorp
Headquartered in Saskatchewan, Canada, PotashCorp is the world’s largest fertilizer company by capacity, producing the three primary crop nutrients – potash, phosphate and nitrogen. With five potash operations in Saskatchewan, and one in New Brunswick, it is responsible for about 20 percent of global capacity and is the world’s leading potash producer. Its operations and business interests span seven countries, making PotashCorp an international enterprise and a key player in meeting the growing challenge of feeding the world.
Prairie Scene Partners
Prairie Scene would like to thank the Government of Canada, the Government of Manitoba and the Government of Saskatchewan for their generous support of this event.
The National Arts Centre and National Arts Centre Foundation gratefully acknowledge the support of Co-Presenting Partners MTS Allstream (Manitoba) and PotashCorp (Saskatchewan), Major Partner Enbridge Inc and Programming Partner The Mosaic Company. Prairie Scene Media Partners include Major Partner CBC/Radio-Canada, and Partners National Post, Ottawa Citizen, Winnipeg Free Press, Regina Leader-Post and Saskatoon StarPhoenix. For their commitment to supporting Prairie arts and artists, we give special thanks to Gail Asper and Michael Paterson, the John and Bonnie Buhler Foundation, Adrian Burns and Gregory Kane, Q.C., Ian and Kiki Delaney, David and Margaret Fountain, Susan Glass and Arni Thorsteinson, Peter Herrndorf and Eva Czigler, Doris and Charles Knight, Craig and Pamela Lothian, Stefan and Magdalena Opalski, as well as Harriett and Isadore Wolfe.
The NAC Foundation also extends a warm thank you to the Prairie Scene Council, a committed group of individuals whose leadership, support and guidance are key to the success of Prairie Scene. The Prairie Scene Council is led by Manitoba Honorary Chairs John and Bonnie Buhler, Saskatchewan Honorary Chair Tami Wall, Manitoba Chair Gail Asper and Saskatchewan Chair Craig Lothian. Members include Adrian Burns, Catherine A. (Kiki) Delaney, Leslie Gales, Susan Glass and Arni Thorsteinson, Wayne Goranson and Heather Quale, Lynda Haverstock and Harley Olsen, Charles and Doris Knight, D’Arcy Levesque, Brian and Gail Saunders, Pamela Wallin, and Harriett Wolfe.
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For more information please contact:
Mary Gordon
Communications Advisor
(613) 947-7000, ext. 849
mgordon@nac-cna.ca
Carl Martin
Communications Advisor
National Arts Centre
(613) 947-7000, ext. 560
Cell: (613)291-8880
cmartin@nac-cna.ca