New arts program links generations

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The Canada Council for the Arts has launched a new pilot program designed to give young Aboriginal artists an opportunity to learn from Elders while providing Elders with a way of passing on their knowledge to the next generation.

Grants of up to $20,000 will be awarded to Aboriginal arts organizations selected to take part in the program. The organizations will choose an Elder to work with youth, then the Elder will help choose the young people he or she will work with.

"The Elder/Youth Legacy initiative is an exciting new development at Canada Council," said Louise Profeit-Leblanc, the council's Aboriginal arts co-ordinator. "This new component of the Aboriginal Peoples Collaborative Exchange program has been sought by Aboriginal artists and organizations to ensure succession of artistic practice and to transfer knowledge to future generations."

To be eligible to apply to the program, the majority of an organization's members must be Aboriginal artists. The organization must be owned and operated by Aboriginal people and Aboriginal artists from Canada must be providing the artistic direction.

The deadline for applications to the Elder/Youth Legacy pilot program is June 15.

For more information, contact Profeit-Leblanc at 1-800-263-5588 ext. 4222 or by e-mail at louise.profeit-leblanc@canadacouncil.ca. Additional information can also be found on the Canada Council Web site at www.canadacouncil.ca