Nicole Nytchay
writer
Grant MacEwan University’s Students’ Association (SA) has been nominated for the Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts Sustained Support of the Arts award for its ongoing commitment to supporting the arts in Edmonton.
The Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts is a collaboration between the mayor’s office and the Professional Arts Coalition of Edmonton (PACE).
With the encouragement of the SA’s Stephanie Hall, who submitted the application to the Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts, the SA will soon be recognized.
“I believe the Students’ Association of MacEwan has made an extraordinary impact through their support of the arts community on campus and within Edmonton,” said Hall, office assistant at MacEwan’s Centre for the Arts and Communications (CFAC). “The Students’ Association of MacEwan supports and encourages a variety of artistic endeavours, which has helped the MacEwan community flourish and enriched Edmonton’s art scene.”
The SA has been supporting the arts for the last 40 years and is committed to helping students succeed.
Some of the programs and events offered to MacEwan students include Will Play for Food, Adopt-a-Painting exhibition, grad shows and other performance opportunities.
These events encourage student participation and showcase their talents.
“I think it’s a great result of the important work that the Students’ Association does with MacEwan and supports the work of the students,” said Cadence Konopaki, manager of programs and services at CFAC. “The Students’ Association supports local arts and entertainment with events such as (a) two-day music festival, open mic nights and the visual art sale fundraisers.”
The SA assists students with finding employment or internships and provides funding assistance for art activities.
Funding was provided for a Peer Support nude calendar that focused on improving body image and self esteem.
“The Students’ Association nomination honours and recognizes the support we offer to students,” said Leanne Olson, director of programs and services at CFAC. “We support our students . . . when they are just starting out and beyond the world of MacEwan and into the community.”
Members of the SA are excited about the nomination and are looking forward to the Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts.
Originally, the Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts was a luncheon that allowed the business community to showcase Edmonton’s talents and build relationships with local artists.
When Mayor Stephen Mandel was elected, he envisioned the event to be an awards ceremony to honour local artists.
The awards ceremony showcases different artists’ performances by incorporating live musicians and theatre.
“The Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts gives us an opportunity to highlight the arts community in one night,” said Daniel Cournoyer, chair of PACE. “This celebration brings a sense of civic pride to the city and attracts intelligent people in the community that support Edmonton’s vibrant cultural arts scene.”
Show your support for the Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts at the Winspear Centre on April 11. Visit http://www.paceedmonton.com for more details.
