FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

News Release

UVic Commissions Millennium Mural

Victoria, BC, June 2000: Martin Segger, Director of the Maltwood Art Museum & Gallery, announces the commission of a mural to celebrate the millennium. This project, which received $7,225 through the Canada Millennium Partnership Program (CMPP), will consist of a mural by British Columbia Metis artist Rick Rivet to enhance the newly dedicated David F. Strong Classroom Building at the University of Victoria. The project also received $8,500 from the British Columbia 2000 Millennium Arts and Heritage Fund.

"Through our program, Canadians in communities across the country are taking stock of their past and looking ahead to the future," said the Honourable Herb Gray, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister responsible for the Government of Canada's millennium initiative. "This program has given us the means to join with communities like Victoria, non-governmental organizations like the Maltwood Art Museum and Gallery and the private sector to raise awareness of our history, to support our youth and our arts and culture, to sustain the environment and to develop our communities. It provides up to one third of eligible costs from federal government sources for millennium activities that meet the program criteria."

-- Mr. Herb Gray, Millennium Bureau of Canada

"The Millennium Mural Project will create a visible symbol of the future for the students, faculty, staff and community of UVic. "The federal government is there mainly as a facilitator to give local project organizers a helping hand, but the real motivation comes from the people themselves. The Canada Millennium Partnership Program gives Canadians the opportunity to mark the millennium in their own way and at the same time share something of themselves with others across the country."

-- David Anderson, MP

"Rick Rivet is a graduate of the Visual Arts programme at UVic. In recent years Rivet has concentrated on large abstract canvases which explore his personal relationship with his Metis heritage. His exploration of spiritual as well as historical/cultural/economic/political questions in his art making his contribution to our millennium project particularly significant."

-- Martin Segger, Director of the Maltwood Art Museum & Gallery

 

A Message from the Honourable Herb Gray, Deputy Prime Minister and

Minister responsible for the Government of Canada's millenium initiative

Métis Millenium Mural

May 3, 2001

Congratulations and best wishes for the ceremonial unveiling of the commisioned work, Journey No. 51. The mural, by Métis artist Rick Rivet, will greatly enhance the University's collection of works representing Indigenous cultures and the important contribution they made to Victoria's history. The concourse offers an excellent place to permanently display the mural as a reminder to students, Victoria residents and the Métis community of their proud heritage.

The Government of Canada proudly supported the Métis Millenium Mural with a maximum financial contribution of $ 7,225 throught the Canadian Millenium Partnership Program. This program contributed up to one third of eligible project costs, while the private sector and other organizations provided the remaining funding.

Le gouvernement du Canada est fier d'avoir appuyé le projet la Murale du MillŽnaire par une contribution financière pouvant atteindre $7,225 grace au Programme des partenariats du millénaire du Canada. Ce programme couvrait jusqu' à un tiers des couts admissibles des projets, alors que le secteur privé et d' autres organisations fournissaient le reste du financement.

Our government is pleased to have had the oppurtunity to partner with the Maltwood Art Museum & Gallery, the University of Victoria, and the B.C. 2000 Arts & Heritage Fund on the acquisition of this important piece for the University's Campus art Enhancement Program. I commend this joint effort of the university, museum and artist for choosing a project of such historical and cultural signifigance to the community of Victoria.

It is also fitting, during this International Year of the Volunteers, to take time to recognize and appreciate the volunteers who contributed to the success of this project, and to society in general, through their dedicated efforts. the federal government was there to offer its support, but the real motivation came from the people themselves, It is their legacy they leave for future generations.

This initiative is one of close to 1,700 projects we have supported from coast to coast to coast. To find out how other Canadians across the country have left their mark in the new century, visit our "Canada and the Millenium" web site at www.millenium.gc.ca. Or simply call toll-free 1 800 0-Canada.

You have joined the thousands of Canadians who contributed to the millenium legacy in the spirit of our national millenium theme, "Sharing the Memory, Shaping the Dream." Thank you for getting involved and for helping to make this special time in Canada's history, a memorable one!

Rick Rivet

photographs from the dedication of Journey No. 51. Thursday May 3, 2001

University President David Turpin (left), Maltwood Art Museum & Gallery Director Martin Segger (centre), Rick Rivet (right)

 

The UVic Millennium Mural Project is made possible with the help of numerous partners, sponsors and volunteers including:

The Maltwood Art Museum & Gallery
The University of Victoria
The Canada Millennium Partnership Program
The British Columbia 2000 Millennium Arts and Heritage Fund

The South Island Metis Nation

For more information on the UVic Millennium Mural Project or on the Government of Canada's millennium initiative, visit the Canada Millennium Website at www.millennium.gc.ca.

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For further information:

Martin Segger
Director
Maltwood Art Museum & Gallery
(250) 721-6562 (phone)
(250) 721-8997 (fax)
msegger@uvic.ca

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