The Canadian Conference of the Arts Announces the Recipients of the
2007 Keith Kelly Award for Cultural Leadership and the CCA Diplôme d’honneur
Ottawa, November 8, 2007 – The Canadian Conference of the Arts (CCA) is proud to announce that Joe Fafard, internationally renowned sculptor, is the recipient of the CCA Diplôme d’honneur. As well, Robert Pilon and Garry Neil are the recipients of the Keith Kelly Award for Cultural Leadership. The award ceremony, held at the end of the Symposium on the Role of Arts and Culture in Public Diplomacy, will be hosted by Montreal’s Mayor Gérald Tremblay and will take place on November 22 2007, at 6 p.m., at the Montreal City Hall’s Main Hall.
The Diplôme d'honneur is presented annually to a Canadian who has made a sustained contribution to the cultural life of the country, whether through volunteer activity, mentoring, patronage, individual arts practice or other recognized support. First awarded in 1954 to the Right Honourable Vincent Massey, then Governor General, in recognition for his achievements as President of the Massey-Lévesque Commission, the Diplôme d’honneur has recognized the contribution of more than 70 recipients to the advancement of Canada’s cultural life. This year, the CCA presents the award to sculptor Joe Fafard, an emblematic figure of Canadian art and a source of inspiration to numerous young creators of the Prairies and the entire country.
The Keith Kelly Award for Cultural Leadership has been awarded annually since 1998, when it was established to recognize the leadership shown by the former National Director of the CCA during his tenure from 1989-98. It is presented to a Canadian who has made a significant contribution to the arts through advocacy work or the development of cultural policy, or who has otherwise demonstrated leadership in the field. This year’s recipients have been selected ex æquo by the jury for their respective involvement in international organizations promoting cultural diversity: Robert Pilon in the Coalition for Cultural Diversity and Garry Neil in the International Network for Cultural Diversity (INCD).
The recipients of the CCA awards are selected by a jury comprised of members of the CCA Board of Governors and other CCA members in order to achieve geographical balance.
A short biography of each recipient is included after this press release.
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For more information about the awards or the Symposium,
please consult our website at www.ccarts.ca, or contact :
Line Dezainde
Communications Officer
Canadian Conference of the Arts
613-238-3561 ext. 14
Recipients’ biographies
Joe Fafard was born in Ste-Marthe, Saskatchewan. He holds a Fine Arts Degree from the University of Manitoba and a Fine Arts Masters Degree from Pennsylvania State University. His work has been shown in numerous galleries and museums in Canada and has been featured in many publications. In 1981, he was made Officer of the Order of Canada for his outstanding contribution to Canadian culture.
Garry Neil holds a Baccalaureate Degree specialized in Canadian History, Political Sciences and the Economy, from the University of Toronto. He has held management positions in several cultural organizations, namely with the Association of Canadian Publishers (ACP) and the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA). He is now at the helm of Neil Craig Associates, experts in matters pertaining to communications and politics.
Robert Pilon holds a Masters Degree in Sociology from the Université du Québec à Montréal, with a specialization in economic and industrial sociology. Following a teaching career at the post-graduate level, Robert Pilon worked for more than ten years for the Association québécoise de l’industrie du disque, du spectacle et de la video (ADISQ). In November 1999, he was appointed Executive Vice-President of the newly formed Coalition canadienne pour la diversité culturelle. He has made a remarkable contribution to the success of the Coalition.