Government of Canada Supports "Your WAG 100"

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA--(Marketwire - Feb. 22, 2011) - The Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG) will have the support of the Government of Canada to launch "Your WAG 100." This was announced today by Rod Bruinooge, Member of Parliament (Winnipeg South), on behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.

The "Your WAG 100" project will take the form of an interactive Web-based journey through the history of the Winnipeg Art Gallery. Elements of the story will incorporate the different areas of the Gallery's collections, which include Canadian and European art, decorative arts, and Inuit art.

"Our Government is proud to be part of this innovative project that will help provide Canadians with an interactive space where they can experience, express, and share their culture," said Minister Moore.

"'Your WAG 100' will provide Canadians with innovative access to the history and collections of the Winnipeg Art Gallery," said Mr. Bruinooge. "The Government of Canada is proud to support projects that make our rich cultural and artistic heritage accessible to Canadians where and when they want it."

"The Gallery is looking forward to the creation of a dynamic website to mark its centennial that tells stories from various facets of our remarkable history and about the people and artists behind these stories," said Stephen Borys, Director of the Winnipeg Art Gallery. "The site will have something to engage all users and is also a place where visitors can share their personal stories about the WAG."

The Government of Canada has provided funding of $78,366 over two years (2010–2011 and 2011–2012) through the Canada Interactive Fund. The fund supports the creation of online Canadian cultural interactive content and applications developed by official-language minority, Aboriginal, ethnocultural, and other not-for-profit cultural organizations. It seeks to support projects that enhance interactive digital cultural content and applications, presented originally and creatively using the latest technologies and platforms.

This news release is available on the Internet at www.canadianheritage.gc.ca under Newsroom.