Canadian University Press Releases/Newswire

Source: University of Regina
http://www.uregina.ca/news/releases/2006/october/12.shtml

Program links art to students, teachers and community

October 12, 2006

Release:
October 12, 2006
Contact: Sabrina Cataldo, External Relations
E-mail: Sabrina.Cataldo@uregina.ca
Phone: (306) 585.5632
Mobile: (306) 536.4312
Fax: (306) 585.4997

Program links art to students, teachers and community
A collaboration of art, education and technology led by University of Regina
educators will give students, teachers and the Saskatchewan community
greater access to the art collections of two of the province’s major
galleries.

The project "Consultez/ArtSASK" will create an interactive website using a
major portion of the collections of the MacKenzie Art Gallery in Regina and
the Mendel Art Gallery in Saskatoon, creating an interactive website.
Theme-based interactive online activities will be presented in English,
French and Cree. The activities and materials created will match the
curriculum needs of SaskLearning, focusing on elementary, secondary and
post-secondary students. The first theme will focus on Prairie women
artists.

"The University of Regina is a leader in arts education and an advocate of
publicly accessible art. This partnership allows us to extend our expertise
using technology, creating a valuable learning resource for students,
teachers and the community," said Michael Tymchak, dean of the Faculty of
Education.

The website will feature compelling stories about Saskatchewan and Canadian
artists and their work, adding to a deeper understanding of past and
contemporary art practices. Based on themes chosen by the galleries, the
website will link to the galleries’ online collections, and provide
information about the art and artists, video clips of their work, and
interactive online activities. The ArtSASK website materials, and all
promotional materials, will be translated into French, and one theme area
will be translated into Cree.

"The internet is a wonderful tool that enables us to make arts and culture
available to all Canadians," said the Hon. Beverley Oda, Minister of
Canadian Heritage and Status of Women. "The Government is pleased to support
the ArtSASK Project, which is committed to sharing the treasures of
Saskatchewan’s rich artistic heritage in English, French and Cree."

Canadian Heritage is investing more than $297,000 in the project. Additional
cash and in-kind contributions provided by the U of R (Centre for Academic
Technologies and Faculty of Education), SaskLearning, MacKenzie Art Gallery,
and Mendel Art Gallery bring the total project value to just over $400,000.

The website will go live by spring 2007.

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