A Promising Encounter Between Sculptors from Nunavik and Chaudière-Appalaches

Press Release

The Government of Canada Supports the 18th Biennale de sculpture de Saint-Jean-Port-Joli

May 19, 2016 – Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, Quebec – Department of Canadian Heritage

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, today announced $21,700 in funding for the 18 th Biennale de sculpture de Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, which will take place from July 21 to 24, 2016.

This funding, provided through the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program, will help promote the art of sculpture and showcase the talent of emerging artists and professionals from the regions of Nunavik and Chaudière-Appalaches, among others.

Quick Facts

• The Biennale de sculpture de Saint-Jean-Port-Joli offers four days of festivities to experience, discover and celebrate sculpture and contemporary art in all their forms.
• Programming includes demonstrations of sculpture techniques, live sculpture creations, visits of local historic and artistic heritage, music shows and exhibitions of works by local artisans.
• As part of the 2016 event, local sculptors will be paired with Inuit artists from the Nunavik region of Quebec. Artists from the north and south will interact with one another—and with festival visitors—as they create permanent or temporary artworks.
• The Biennale de sculpture de Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, which hopes to attract 6,500 people, relies on the support of about a hundred volunteers, partners and local artists.

Quotes

“I am thrilled by the idea that this year, artists from Saint-Jean-Port-Joli are being paired with artists from Nunavik with whom they can create and share their passion. Visitors will no doubt enjoy this unique meeting of two rich artistic traditions.”

—The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage

“In July, the north wind will sweep across Saint-Jean-Port-Joli to blow away all moorings! Be blown away, in the sense of losing all artistic and cultural bearings. This is already what happens to artists in a symposium, in which they must often work in the presence of an audience for a given time. In summer 2016, the Biennale de sculpture de Saint-Jean-Port-Joli is going even further, thanks to our commissioner Beatrice Deer and the Avataq Cultural Institute, by inviting Inuit artists from Nunavik who will be paired with other artists from the Saint-Jean-Port-Joli region.”

—Michel Saulnier, Creative Director, Biennale de sculpture de Saint-Jean-Port-Joli

Associated Links

Biennale de sculpture de Saint-Jean-Port-Joli (French only)

Biennale de sculpture on Facebook (French only)

Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage

For more information (media only), please contact:Pierre-Olivier Herbert
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
819-997-7788

Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
pch.media-media.pch@canada.ca

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