Surrey City was named the winner of the 2008 Cultural Capital of Canada Award recently in a ceremony held at the Surrey Arts Centre.

 

The award, which was presented by Minister of Canadian Heritage Bev Oda to Mayor Dianne Watts, is accompanied by up to $2 million in funding.  Surrey will provide up to $650,000 in matching funding.

“Winning the Cultural Capitals of Canada Award serves as a national acknowledgement of the City of Surrey as a Canadian leader in art and culture,” said Mayor Dianne Watts. “Through these events, we will be able to bring the entire community together through art,” said Mayor Dianne Watts.

“Surrey has a diverse and talented arts community that reflects our rich, multicultural heritage,” said Parks and Community service chair coun. Linda Hepner. “The diverse Public Art Projects announced today will leave a lasting artistic legacy in each of our town centres.”

 

“One of the primary mandates for the Multicultural Advisory Committee was hosting Surrey’s first ever Multicultural Festival,” said Multicultural Advisory Committee chair coun. Mary Martin.  “Surrey’s Fusion Festival will fulfil this mandate by bringing together the music, food, costumes and dance of all of our diverse communities.”

As the 2008 Cultural Capital of Canada, Surrey unveiled a number of artistic and cultural projects for the coming year.   Surrey’s Cultural Capital projects include:

 

Surrey “Fusion Festival,” a three-day  multicultural celebration of Surrey’s diversity
Six Public Art Projects, one in each of the  city’s town centres 
Green Timbers Forest Interpretation Centre

• “Harvest the Fun,” an international dance competition featuring Indian, Asian and  Western dance

• Glocal: Me and My World, a youth and new media initiative

• Kla-How-Eya Canoe, a 30-foot traditional Coast Salish canoe and educational program

• Inspired Ideas Speaker Series, a lecture and community dialogue series on art and culture

• Civic Treasures Award Program, recognizing 12 cultural leaders for their contributions to
  Surrey’s cultural development