Cultural Olympiad looks ahead to 2009 and announces two iconic international artists to next year’s program

Vancouver, BC – Following on the heels of its successful seven-week 2008 festival, the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad is well on its way to developing the 2009 program. An open call for artists’ proposals for Cultural Olympiad 2009 is now underway and organizers today announced the first two major international events for Cultural Olympiad 2009. Co-presented in partnership with the City of Vancouver’s cultural community, the United Kingdom’s Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Orchestra and Israel’s Batsheva Dance Company will perform next February as part of Cultural Olympiad 2009, marking the Vancouver debut for both these world-renowned ensembles.

“These stellar ensembles reflect the level of excellence, spirit of adventure and diversity of programming that characterizes the Cultural Olympiad,” said Robert Kerr, program director, Cultural Olympiad for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). “We’re thrilled to partner with the cultural community to bring these iconic artists to Vancouver audiences, both of whom have had enormous impact on the international cultural landscape.”

Among the world’s most revered chamber orchestras, the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields is celebrated for its technical brilliance and glorious interpretations of the classical music repertoire. Part of its 50th anniversary tour, the orchestra’s program features Bach, Mozart and Walton, led by sensational young conductor and violin soloist Julia Fischer. The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields performs February 15, 2009 at the Orpheum Theatre, and is a co-presentation with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

Israel’s spectacular Batsheva Dance Company has become synonymous in arts circles with passion, innovation and daring. The company brings to Vancouver its internationally-lauded “Deca Dance”, a powerful, emotionally-potent work designed to showcase the breadth of artistic director Ohad Naharin’s choreographic invention. Co-presented with DanceHouse and “Chutzpah!”, the Lisa Nemetz International Showcase of Jewish Performing Arts, the Batsheva Dance Company performs February 20 and 21, 2009 at the Vancouver Playhouse.

“Culture plays a powerful role in the Olympic and Paralympic Movements and our Cultural Olympiad will be a meeting place for artists from around the globe,” said Burke Taylor, VANOC vice president, Culture and Celebrations. “As we create this international stage, we are partnering with Canada’s creative community to present performances and exhibitions that offer an expansive world view and showcase the extraordinary range and calibre of our artists.”

An open call for co-presentation proposals, now underway, and a new artist registry will ensure that Canada’s arts and culture community is also integrally involved and well represented in next year’s festival. Complete programming and partnerships for Cultural Olympiad 2009 will be announced in fall 2008. Cultural Olympiad 2009 runs from February 1 to March 21, 2009.

Tickets for the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Orchestra and Batsheva Dance Company go on sale August 25, 2008 and September 4, 2008 respectively. Further details will be available on www.vancouver2010.com.

The Cultural Olympiad team is presently developing local, national and international programming for Cultural Olympiad 2009 and Cultural Olympiad 2010. These next two festivals will build on the success of the 2008 edition, with enhanced national and international participation.

The open call for 2009 and 2010 proposals, launched in November 2007, has prompted strong response, with close to 100 submissions received to date. Not-for-profit arts organizations and educational institutions interested in co-presenting an event, exhibition or installation as part of Cultural Olympiad 2009 and Cultural Olympiad 2010 are invited to submit their proposals. Complete program criteria are outlined at www.vancouver2010.com/en/CultureEducation/CulturalOlympiad/OpenCall.

Final submission deadlines for the 2009 and 2010 programs are April 30, 2008 and September 30, 2008 respectively.

VANOC has also launched an artist registry for individual artists and ensembles interested in participating in Cultural Olympiad and/or other Olympic and Paralympic Games programs. Designed as a programming resource, the registry will also serve as a central artist database that VANOC can reference for the development of future events. Submission guidelines are available at www.vancouver2010.com/en/CultureEducation/CulturalOlympiad/ArtistRegistry.

The first Cultural Olympiad to be staged two years before an Olympic Winter Games, Cultural Olympiad 2008 featured more than 300 performances and exhibitions that showcased the vibrancy and diversity of Canada’s creative community. Running from February 1 to March 21, 2008, and co-presented in partnership with 62 arts and cultural organizations, the festival’s 80 free and ticketed events drew an estimated 170,000 people, surpassing attendance projections by 15 per cent. The event also provided organizers a valuable opportunity to apply lessons from their first season toward greater success in 2009, such as earlier promotion and fostering increased awareness of culture’s vital role in the Olympic Movement.

A key pillar of the 2010 Winter Games, Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad will showcase the finest in Canadian and international arts and culture through a series of three festivals. Cultural Olympiad 2008 launched this multi-year celebration. An expanded program will take place in 2009, culminating with Cultural Olympiad 2010, which features the Olympic Arts Festival (January 22 to February 28, 2010) and Paralympic Arts Festival (March 12 to 21, 2010).

Government
The Cultural Olympiad program has been enhanced through contributions by individual provinces supporting their artists, in partnership with the Cultural Olympiad. The Government of Canada (through the Ministry of Canadian Heritage), the Province of BC (through the Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts), the Government of Alberta (through the Alberta Foundation for the Arts) and the Government of Ontario (through the Ontario Arts Council) have each helped support the participation of their artists in Cultural Olympiad 2008. Vancouver 2010 gratefully acknowledges this support ands looks forward to building upon this solid partnership base for 2009 and 2010.

Corporate
Bell is a Premier National Partner and the exclusive Telecommunications Partner to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. As part of its commitment, Bell is proud to partner with VANOC as presenting sponsor of the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad.

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. Visit www.vancouver2010.com.

Wendy Soobis
VANOC Communications
wendy_soobis@vancouver2010.com

VANOC Communications
mediarelations@vancouver2010.com