The Winnipeg Branch of the “Department of Culture” is Ready to Make Some Noise!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Winnipeg Branch of the “Department of Culture”
is Ready to Make Some Noise!

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Department of Culture (Winnipeg) Contact:
Milena Placentile, departmentofculture [dot] winnipeg [at] gmail [dot] com

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September 27, 2008 -- (Winnipeg, MB) -- The Winnipeg Branch of the Department of Culture is a growing community of Canadian citizens who are artists, arts professionals, and cultural workers concerned about ensuring the social and cultural health and prosperity of our nation in the face of a Federal Government that is aggressively undermining the values that define Canada.

We are you: the painters, architects, dancers, writers, actors, designers, filmmakers, sculptors, performers, photographers, ceramicists, directors, curators, musicians, archivists, fashion designers, producers, weavers, choreographers, videographers, editors, librarians...

But we’re not organizing as arts and cultural workers protesting cuts to the arts. No! There’s so much more to it than that!

We’re arts-minded people protesting the irresponsible and unfair government that has dramatically reduced quality of life in Canada for all Canadians. That irresponsible and unfair government is Stephen Harper's gang of CPC MPs -- an aggressive and regressive alliance of ultra-right non-progressive Conservatives and members of the former Reform.

We are part of a national network of concerned citizens who don’t buy their lie that supporters of the arts live in an elitist bubble unaffected by the destruction of health care, public services, safe food and water, child care, labour laws, women’s rights, public education, the environment, thoughtful culture, and everything else the Conservatives seem to hate. We’re fighting for economic, social, and political justice for all.

The CPC has done a shocking amount of social, economic, and political damage in such a short time, so it’s a good thing Harper decided to call it quits when he did -- we’ve had enough and we’re working to ensure he’s unemployed by Oct 14!!

We encourage all Canadians to vote strategically to unseat Conservatives -- We don't want 'em, we don't need 'em, and we’re going to send ‘em packing!

UPCOMING EVENTS HOSTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE & OUR ALLIES

These are just a few of the DoC-initiated and DoC-friendly events that will allow fellow citizens the chance to rally together, gather information, and shout out against Conservative bullying!

- Gone in 30 Seconds Video Making Party – Sun, Sept 28 – 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. – 300-100 Arthur Street (DoC-initiated)
- Why Women Count in the Federal Election (a public debate, not including a CPC candidate because they rejected the invitation!) – Wed, Oct 1 – 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. – 515 Portage Avenue (DoC-friendly)
- The Winnipeg Wrecking Ball (Theatre night) – Mon, Oct 6 – Box office opens at 7:00 p.m. - Unit Y300 – 393 Portage Avenue (DoC-friendly)
- Not a Conservative Party! (Musical rally) – Wed, Oct 9 – Starts @ 7:00 p.m. - 120 King St. (DoC-initiated) (More info coming soon!!)
- All Fired Up! (a cabaret night celebrating National Coming Out Day) – Sat, Oct 11 – Doors @ 8:00 p.m., Performances begin @ 10:00 p.m. - 441 Main Street (DoC-friendly)

We are also starting a communications campaign that will involve circulating posters and handbills, and canvassing, as well.

It's not enough that we vote against the Conservatives on Oct 14, we need to inform our fellow Canadians -- who see a decline in quality of life, but haven't yet correlated it as the impact of Conservative and neo-liberal policies and actions -- about the need to vote strategically to unseat Conservatives, wherever they may be.

Winnipeggers wanting to volunteer for this cause are welcome to contact: departmentofculture [dot] winnipeg [at] gmail [dot] com.

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Department of Culture (Winnipeg) Contact:
Milena Placentile, departmentofculture [dot] winnipeg [at] gmail [dot] com.

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The Winnipeg Branch of the Department of Culture is joining the fight against the social, economic, and political tyranny of the CPC.
Join us!
http://www.departmentofculture.ca
http://department-of-culture-winnipeg.blogspot.com

The Department of Culture ... Who, What, Why...

WHO WE ARE

We are the Department of Culture, a growing community of Canadian citizens who are artists, arts professionals and cultural workers concerned about ensuring the social and cultural health and prosperity of our nation in the face of a Federal Government that is aggressively undermining the values that define Canada.

We are you: the painters, architects, dancers, writers, actors, designers, filmmakers, sculptors, performers, photographers, ceramicists, directors, curators, musicians, archivists, fashion designers, producers, weavers, choreographers, editors, librarians . . .

WHAT WE STAND FOR:

The Department of Culture was founded on the following objectives to:

• ENCOURAGE A MULTIDIMENSIONAL VISION OF CULTURE that emphasizes living interactions between the artistic, cultural, social, political and economic aspects of society.
• PROMOTE A VIEW OF CITIZENSHIP in which all Canadians are active participants in the creation of culture rather than simply as passive receivers of it.
• ENSURE THAT GOVERNMENTS, AGENCIES AND INSTITUTIONS ARE ACCOUNTABLE for their social and cultural agendas.
• SUPPORT THE CREATIVE AGENCY OF ARTISTS to make political change through all forms of artistic production.

WHAT ARE WE FIGHTING FOR

This is not a fight about money. This is not a fight for the inherent value of cultural expression. This is not a fight about this or that ideology. This is not a fight about what percentage of GDP should go here or there. This is not a fight to save our national reputation. This is a fight for all of the above. It’s about how all of these things serve each other - arts, health care, sports, education, agriculture, the environment, and immigration. We are battling the false dichotomies espoused by the Conservative government and their ilk. This is a movement to fight for progressive social and cultural values through artist-initiated actions that employ the skills, experiences, collaborative methods and imagination that define artists’ work. When it comes to the current government specifically, we don’t like their priorities, we don’t like their values, we don’t like their secrecy, we don’t like the many cuts to our allies and we don’t like the cuts to the arts.

Welcome to the Department of Culture Winnipeg

We are the Winnipeg Branch of the Department of Culture, a growing community of Canadian citizens who are artists, arts professionals and cultural workers concerned about ensuring the social and cultural health and prosperity of our nation in the face of a Federal Government that is aggressively undermining the values that define Canada.

We are you: the painters, architects, dancers, writers, actors, designers, filmmakers, sculptors, performers, photographers, ceramicists, directors, curators, musicians, archivists, fashion designers, producers, weavers, choreographers, editors, librarians . . .

But we’re not organizing as artists protesting cuts to the arts. No! There’s so much more to it than that!

We’re arts-minded people protesting the poor and unfair government that has dramatically reduced quality of life in Canada for all Canadians. That poor and unfair government is Stephen Harper's gang of CPC-MPs -- an aggressive and regressive alliance of ultra-right non-progressive Conservatives and members of the former Reform.

We are part of a national network of concerned citizens who don’t buy the lie that supporters of the arts live in a bubble unaffected by the destruction of health care, public services, safe food and water, child care, labour laws, women’s rights, public education, the environment, thoughtful culture, and everything else the Conservatives seem to hate We’re fighting for economic, social, and political justice for all.

The CPC has done so much damage in such a short time, so it’s a good thing Harper decided to call it quits when he did -- we’ve had enough and we’re working to ensure he’s unemployed by Oct 14!!

We encourage all Canadians to vote strategically to unseat Conservatives. We don't want 'em! We don't need 'em! Let's send ‘em packing!

Stay tuned to this blog to find out more about our upcoming events. To join us, contact us: departmentofculture.winnipeg@gmail.com!