Monday, October 6, 2008

All Candidates Forum (Including a Conservative Candidate?)

All-Party Forum on the Arts
Tuesday, October 7 – 12 noon to 1:30 pm
Tom Hendry Theatre (formerly the MTC Warehouse)
140 Rupert Avenue, Winnipeg, MB


A coalition of local arts groups has invited representatives from all major parties to attend a public forum on arts and culture.

Moderated by Dave Angus, President & CEO of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and President of the Board of Director of Prairie Theatre Exchange, the public forum will give candidates an opportunity to express their views on arts and culture – the contribution arts and culture make to the quality of life for Canadians, as well as the contribution arts and culture make to Manitoba’s economy.

Immediately following the forum, there will be the opportunity for representatives of the media to speak with candidates as well as members of the local arts industry.

Background
According to Statistics Canada, the cultural sector provides over 18,000 jobs in Manitoba when assessed using the North American industry classification codes. In 2003, a combined contribution of $261 million from all three levels of government provided the initial investment that supported $1.3 billion of cultural output. The cultural sector accounted for 4% of the total provincial GDP in 2003.

Over the past year, Manitobans have taken in local arts events and enjoyed the work of local artists in record numbers, indicating that they do very much value the arts. Manitobans read the novels of Miriam Toews. They enrol their children in classes at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. They attend the Winnipeg Folk Festival, the Winnipeg Fringe Festival and the Jazz Winnipeg Festival each summer. They are immensely proud when Manitobans receive international acclaim for their work, such as Oscar® nominated filmmakers Cordell Barker and Richard Condie.

Arts organizations in Manitoba offer affordable access to their presentations, performances and
exhibitions. Most offer a variety of free programs available to the general community, while some organizations offer free admission on a year-round basis.

The Manitoba Arts Coalition is an informal coalition with representatives from:
  • Ace Art
  • ACTRA
  • Arts and Cultural Industries of Manitoba (ACI)
  • Association of Manitoba Book Publishers (AMBP)
  • Film Training Manitoba
  • Jazz Winnipeg
  • Manitoba Association of Playwrights
  • Manitoba Chamber Orchestra
  • Manitoba Children’s Museum
  • Manitoba Music
  • Manitoba Opera
  • Manitoba Theatre Centre
  • National Screen Institute - Canada
  • New Media Manitoba
  • On Screen Manitoba
  • Prairie Theatre Exchange
  • Royal Winnipeg Ballet
  • Theatre Projects Manitoba
  • Urban Shaman Gallery
  • Video Pool
  • Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers
  • Winnipeg Film Group

This election, try swinging!


Join us at the Wrecking Ball tonight!

Monday, October 6, 2008
Box Office opens at 7:00 p.m.; Show starts at 8:00 p.m.

Prairie Theatre Exchange, Colin Jackson Studio
Unit Y300 – 393 Portage Avenue, 3rd Floor, Portage Place

Prices: Pay what you can (no advanced sales)
All proceeds will go to the www.departmentofculture.ca

Department of Culture, Right Across Canada!!

Dear friends,

The Department of Culture is a growing community of Canadian cultural workers who are dedicated to ensuring the health and prosperity of our nation in the context of a crucial federal election, and in reaction to a political party that is aggressively undermining the values that have defined Canada for decades.

The Department of Culture does not support a particular political party. We are a national network of concerned citizens affected by the destruction of health care, public services, safe food and water, child care, labour laws, women's rights, public education, the environment and thoughtful culture. We are fighting for economic, social, and political justice for all.

We urge you to vote on October 14; if you are wondering who to support in order to have the most impact in your riding, we highly recommend the website Vote For Environment, a comprehensive resource that will help you make an educated decision about the best use of your vote. Over the week ahead, please take a moment to share this information with friends, colleagues, and relatives, especially those in ridings where the race is tight, and a seat can be taken from the Conservatives.

There is a wealth of cultural activity inspired by the election taking place across the country this week; events that voice the opinions and celebrate the contributions of hundreds of ordinary Canadians. Please join us at The Wrecking Ball and This is NOT a Conservative Party! in your city.

respectfully yours,
Naomi

Monday, October 6: The Wrecking Ball

The Wrecking Ball goes national. That means there will be live events in major cities across Canada: All at Once, All on the Same Day, All Political, All New, All Written Expressly FOR the Federal Election. All thrown up by 100% Canadian actors, writers, directors and technicians in their gala niches from coast to coast. Proceeds go to support Department of Culture.

CORNER BROOK at The Backlot, box office at 10:00pm; show at 10:30pm

HALIFAX at The Bus Stop Theatre 2203 Gottingen St. Halifax; box office at 7:30pm; show at 8:00pm

MONTREAL at MainLine Theatre 3997 boul. St. Laurent; box office at 7:00pm; show at 8:00pm

OTTAWA at Saint Brigid's Centre, 314 St. Patrick St.(at Cumberland); box office at 7:00pm; show at 8:00pm

TORONTO at Tarragon Theatre, 30 Bridgman Ave.; doors at 7:00pm; show at 8:00pm

WINNIPEG at Prairie Theatre Exchange, Colin Jackson Studio, Unit Y300 - 393 Portage Ave., 3rd Floor, Portage Place; box office at 7:00pm; show at 8:00pm

CALGARY at the Epcor Centre's Jack Singer Lobby, 205 8th Ave. SE; box office at 7:00pm; show at 8:00pm

EDMONTON at The Varscona Theatre, 10329 83rd Ave.; box office at 7:30pm; show at 8:00pm

VANCOUVER at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage 2750 Granville St.; box office at 6:00pm; show starts at 9:00pm immediately following an All-Party Forum and Press Conference at 7:00pm

VICTORIA at the Belfry Arts Centre 1291 Gladstone Ave; box office at 7:45pm; show at 8:00pm

with Vikki Anderson, Margaret Atwood, Nancy Barry, Belladonna, Amélie Bisson, Wes Borg, Ardith Boxall, Andrea Boyd, Pierre Brault, Petrina Bromley, Jenn Brown, Gaylene Buckle, Ken Cameron, Rick Chafe, Ellen Close, Kim Collier, Chris Craddock, Tyrell Crews, Danielle Desormeaux, Julian Doucet, Katrina Dunn, Ciaran Dyke, Dennis Eberts, David Fennario, David Ferry, Neil Fleming, Lucia Frangioni, Anna Fuerstenberg, Bruce Godfree, Sandy Gow, Stephen Hair, Koby Rogers Hall, Stacie Harrison, Michael Healey, Fiona Highet, Kate Hurman, David Jansen, Jillian Keiley, Joey Keithley, Allison Kelly, Amanda Kelly, Jamie Konchak, Leslea Kroll, Trevor Leigh, Ian Leung, Hardee Lineham, Ieva Lucs, Ryan Luhning, Kate Lynch, Danette Mackay, Ruth Madoc-Jones, Simon Mallett, John Mann, Julia Tamiko Manning, Ross Manson, Ava Jane Markus, Doug McKeag, Sarah Migneron, Julie Mortensen, Wajdi Mouawad, Michael Nathanson, Oni the Haitian Sensation!, Teresa Pavlinek, Matthew Payne, Judi Pearl, Valerie Ann Pearson, Ellen Peterson, Valerie Planche, Gray Powell, Deb Pickman, Donavan Purcell, Bill Richardson, Andrea Ritchie, Rick Roberts, Lara Robinson, Michael Rubenfeld, Michèle Lonsdale Smith, Andrew Soren, Kevin Sutley, Judith Thompson, Michael Turner, Clinton Walker, Dave Walsh, Jonathon Young, Marcus Youseff, The Royal Liechtenstein Theatre Company, Le Ball de Montreal, Montreal Women's Choir and many others...


The Department of Culture presents
This is NOT a Conservative Party!
Rocking The Vote Right Across Canada
Flagship concert takes place in Toronto on
Thursday October 9 at The Phoenix Concert Theatre

REGINA's This is NOT a Conservative Party!
Tuesday, October 7 @ 8 pm at Regina's Cathedral Village Freehouse
for information contact Michele Sereda, culture.palliser@gmail.com

WINNIPEG's This is NOT a Conservative Party!
Wednesday, October 8 @ 7pm at King's Head Pub, 120 King St.
featuring: Quinzy, Drums & Wires, Patrick Keenan, DJ Rob Vilar + VJs Les Klassen, Hope Peterson, and PO-MO

TORONTO's This is NOT a Conservative Party!
Thursday, October 9 doors @ 8pm at The Phoenix, 410 Sherbourne St.
featuring Dave Bidini (Rheostatics), DJ Billy Bryans, Jason Collett (Broken Social Scene,) Jim Creeggan (Barenaked Ladies), Friendlyness (DJ/superheavyREGGAE), Manitou Kwe Singers, Nadjiwan, Parachute Club, Porkbelly Futures (Paul Quarrington), The Skydiggers, Ian Tamblyn, Clay and Paper Theatre, and Videos from Rick Mercer, Alex Cuba, Ron Sexsmith, Stars, Winners of the Gone in 30 Seconds video contest.


OTTAWA's This is NOT a Conservative Party!
Friday, October 10 @ 8pm at Zaphod Beeblebrox, 27 York St.
featuring from Vancouver BRASSTRONAUT + from Ottawa SADIE HELL
www.ZaphodBeeblebrox.com


VOTE on Tuesday, October 14
and then, if you're in Toronto, join us for the Department of Culture's Election Party
at the Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W. from 8pm on...
Watch the results and celebrate the progressive coalition government we can imagine together for our future.


Department of Culture
Vote For Environment
Department of Culture in Winnipeg
Department of Culture in Montreal

Harper's preferred Canada...

Black keys removed due to budget cuts...

Image created by Diana Thorneycroft, a member of Winnipeg's DoC...