Culture Days September 26
Press Release
Nominations are open for the first Mayor’s Spirit of Atikokan Culture Awards. These awards are intended to recognize the contributions of individuals and organizations who contribute to the cultural character of the community. This year the awards will recognize achievements in the creative arts and heritage. The timing of the awards coincides with Culture Days, a national campaign that is open to all communities interested in making the public aware of the importance of the arts and culture to their lives. In subsequent years other sectors, such as outdoor recreation or organized sports, will be the focus of the awards.
On Sunday September 26 at 2 pm at the Atikokan Arts Centre, the Spirit of Atikokan Committee will host the first Mayor’s Spirit of Atikokan Cultural Awards “to recognize the contributions and achievements of individuals or groups in the Creative Arts and Heritage in Atikokan”.
Nominations are currently being sought in the following categories:
1. Outstanding achievement by an individual artist or heritage worker
2. Outstanding sponsor, benefactor, or patron
3. Outstanding achievement by an individual developer of the creative arts or heritage
4. Outstanding achievement by an organization in the creative arts and heritage
Groups or individuals are invited to participate, by submitting names for these categories.
In addition to the above rewards, the Spirit of Atikokan Committee has created Volunteer Appreciation Certificates for each of Atikokan’s cultural groups who would like to recognize up to three volunteers from their organization at this special ceremony. The presidents (or chairperson) of each group will be invited to present these framed certificates to the volunteers of their choice, who they feel should be receiving public recognition for their efforts, past or present.
There will also be an open house of the Atikokan Arts Centre and its studio facilities. As part of the open house, artists and groups are invited to take part in the event by demonstrating their craft or providing information to the public. Tables and chairs are provided free of charge. There is an art studio with a sink if required. We also invite short performance demonstrations as part of the ceremony.
The Spirit of Atikokan is an advisory group to Council that represents various cultural sectors in the community. Members from organizations representing sports and recreation, outdoor recreation, the creative arts, heritage, Quetico Provincial Park, and ARC (Atikokan Renewal Committee) meet with Council and Town staff to discuss how Atikokan’s cultural character can be incorporated into municipal planning.
Culture Days is a collaborative pan-Canadian volunteer movement to raise the awareness, accessibility, participation and engagement of all Canadians in the arts and the cultural life of their communities. A national steering committee, together with provincial committees (known as provincial task forces) is self-mobilizing at the grassroots level to implement concurrent annual province-wide public participation events each September beginning in 2010. The annual, concurrent Culture Days events across Canada will feature free, hands-on, interactive activities that invite the public to participate ‘behind the scenes’, to discover the world of artists, creators, historians, architects, curators, and designers in their community.
In support of these annual provincial events, Culture Days will drive a major annual national communications and public relations campaign designed to help inspire and catalyze greater public participation in the arts and cultural life of our communities. This year Culture Days launched a web site (www.culturedays.ca) where communities could post their events and receive exposure with this nation-wide event.
Individuals or groups who would like to participate by nominating individuals or organizations for the Mayor’s Achievement Award, recognizing a few volunteers, or hosting a demonstration or information table at this special community event should call Catherine at 597-6485 or Peter at 597-8738, by Friday September 17, 10 am. Nomination forms will also be available at the Town Hall, Atikokan Arts Centre, Atikokan Centennial Museum, Atikokan Public Library, Atikokan Economic Development Corp. office, the Progress office, Atikokan Native Friendship Centre, and the Pictograph Gallery.
Related posts: