Algoma U hosts free arts policy workshop

NEWS RELEASE

ALGOMA UNIVERSITY

****************************
Canadian Conference for the Arts, cultural policy workshop November 12

SAULT STE. MARIE - Policy 101: Politics of the Arts and the Art of Politics; Building Regional Partnerships, is a workshop being held at Algoma University, November 12, from 6-9 p.m. 

The free workshop, open to the public, is being hosted by the Arts Council of Sault Ste. Marie and District, Community Resilience Sault Ste. Marie and NORDIK Institute.

The workshop looks at how the arts are shaped by government policy, providing a brief background to Canadian cultural policy including recent developments; an overview of current practices; and a toolkit for advocating for improved government support for the arts.

"This workshop is very timely for the arts community and will assist in providing tools for advancing the sector on many levels," states Jude Ortiz, NORDIK Institute researcher whose recent research looks at the link between a healthy arts sector and economically sustainable communities. 

Culture and the arts have a significant role in assisting communities in transitioning to the knowledge economy and the imminent post-carbon era.

"Creativity is the ultimate source of economic growth and therefore investment in culture and the arts is necessary to provide the infrastructure that will drive place-based economies by attracting, engaging and retaining investment, skilled trades, professionals and youth," states NORDIK's director, Gayle Broad. 

In 2008, Sault Ste. Marie  City Council endorsed the recommendations outlined in Ortiz and Broad's report Culture, Creativity and the Arts: Achieving Community Resilience and Sustainability though the Arts in Sault Ste. Marie.

Alain Pienau, national director of Canadian Conference for the Arts (CCA), will be leading the workshop. 

Mr. Pienau is well known for his advocacy efforts to promote increased support to the arts by government.

Information about the sponsoring organizations:

The CCA is the national forum for the arts, culture and heritage community in Canada. It provides research, analysis and consultations on public policies affecting the arts and Canadian cultural institutions and industries. The CCA fosters informed public debate on policy issues and seeks to advance the cultural rights of Canadians.

The Arts Council of Sault Ste. Marie and District is a registered, not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the arts in Sault Ste. Marie and surrounding area.

NORDIK Institute is Algoma University's community-based research institute that promotes more vibrant, caring and sustainable communities through research, dialogue, analysis and reflection dedicated to the practice of holistic community development.

For more information and to register for the free workshop contact Jude Ortiz, jude.ortiz@algomau.ca or call 949-2301 ext. 4222.

About Algoma University

Algoma University offers a wide variety of liberal arts and sciences degree options including programs in Psychology, Computer Science, Business Administration, Fine Arts, Community Economic and Social Development, and Biology; Algoma U is committed to offering a personal education experience unlike any university in Ontario.

As the Canadian home of the internationally recognized MSc CGT from the University of Abertay Dundee, Algoma University is at the forefront of computer games technology education.

Algoma University also offers accelerated second degree programs in Business Administration and Computer Science on its Brampton campus.

To learn more about Algoma University, visit www.algomau.ca.

****************************
More SooToday.com entertainment headlines