Governments ready to discuss new minority-language programmes with “ELAN”
Monday, November 29, 2004
(Montreal) Organizers have given it the working title of ELAN (the English-Language Arts Network) and say it could have a major impact on the future of English-language artists and their organizations in Quebec.
The new organization is one of the results of the Quebec Arts Summit: three days of meetings between 120 Quebec English-speaking artists and 75 government and community partners in Montreal from November 25-27, 2004. Artists represented included writers, musicians, actors, dancers, visual and media artists and filmmakers and during the Summit they met with English-language educators, media and presenters to explore ways to set up new partnerships and to strengthen existing ones. On the final day, the artists met with government officials to ask for support from federal government minority language programmes.
Among the points they put forward was support for the newly-created English-Language Arts Network as well as for existing sectoral organizations like the Quebec Writers’ Federation and Quebec Drama Federation Organization.
Other points in the Arts Summit plan were:
Ø new venues for showcasing the work of English-language artists in Quebec,
Ø research support to better refine the needs of the community,
Ø translation services for promotional materials and grants,
Ø the development of better links between artists and the English education and media sectors in the province,
Ø specific support for the needs of English language communities in regions outside Montreal, and
Ø help in developing the audiences for work by English artists, dancers, film-makers, dramatists and writers, not only within English Canada but also in French Quebec.
“We are taking a new approach from some of the English lobby groups of the past,” says conference Chairman Guy Rodgers. “We are at home in Quebec and support the need of the linguistic majority to protect the French language and culture. But we also want to ensure there is a place in the Quebec arts scene for a vibrant English-language arts community.”
Representatives from all the disciplines involved in ELAN will be meeting within the next week to begin shaping a more detailed development plan and to launch a wider consultation process with the English-language artistic community. They expect to have their first meetings with federal government officials within two weeks.
“We have many excellent English-Quebec artists and a resourceful community that has learned to make the most of its skills and talents,” says Rodgers. “By pooling our resources and expanding our alliances we can make an even greater contribution to Quebec and Canadian culture. In certain key areas, like the need for better organization and information exchange, a little help from governments will have an enormous impact.”
Media contact:
Peter McFarlane
Tel. (450) 224-7731
Cell (514) 916-7731