| Put your hands out for pennies
The latest edition of the Calgary Literary Events newsletter advises writers that it’s time to prepare those grant applications to the Alberta Foundation for the Arts (deadline is September 15), but it also suggests that they write a personal letter to their MLA to request increased provincial funding for the foundation – according to Kathy Hanson, who writes the newsletter, "AFA's budget has barely increased in the last decade, yet the arts community has been expanding." AFA has been forced to spread their limited budget over larger numbers of groups, meaning a smaller piece of the pie for everyone." In fact, the Writers Guild of Alberta has seen a decrease of $8,000 in funding this year, publishers across the province received less funding this year, and increasing numbers of individual writers are applying for grants and worthy projects are being declined due to a lack of funding. Less money for writers and publishers may reverse the recent trend Alberta has been celebrating, namely the increased recognition of its writers and publishers.
Another agency that can be a source of funding for writers and publishers is the Canada Council for the Arts. It is holding an information session on the grants that are available for professionals in dance, media arts, music, theatre, writing and publishing, interdisciplinary work and performance art, on and how to apply. The session takes place Thursday, August 16 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Art Gallery of Calgary (117 - 8 Ave. S.W.).
Calgary 18th annual science fiction and fantasy convention, Con-Version XVIII, blasts off this weekend at The Metropolitan Centre (333 - 4 Ave. S.W.). To find out who is coming and what’s new this year, visit the Web site at www.con-version.org. Those wishing to attend can register online or at The Sentry Box, Comic-Kazi or Words and Pictures.
Timothy Findley is going to be very busy during his visit to Calgary as a guest of the Markin-Flanagan Distinguished Writers Programme. Findley will also be the guest speaker and recipient of this year’s annual Bob Edwards Award luncheon, presented by Alberta Theatre Projects. The event celebrates the the spirit of Bob Edwards, editor of the Calgary Eye Opener from 1902 to 1922. Tickets for the event are disappearing fast – phone 294-7475 or visit Alberta Theatre Projects’ Web site at www.ATPlove.com. |
