Island musicians will benefit from some extra support during the upcoming East Coast Music Awards. Charlottetown will host the ECMAs from February 8 - 11, 2001. The events will include a number of showcase concerts, a trade show, workshops and the awards ceremony.
Prince Edward Island Business Development (PEIBD) along with the PEI Music Industry and the Council of Arts will sponsor a number of initiatives to help promote the recognition and marketing of the music industry and artists in PEI.
"We recognize that there is an important business component to the music industry," said Development and Technology Minister Mike Currie. "These initiatives will give Island musicians a chance to work on that - and to raise their profile during this important event."
In January 2001, PEIBD will sponsor, in cooperation with the PEI Council of the Arts, four training events for Island musicians. These sessions will focus on developing skills to assist artists in marketing themselves and their products.
On February 9, 2001, two ECMA Island Showcases will present an opportunity for Island musicians not selected for ECMA events to perform during ECMA week. This will provide Island musicians with the chance to prepare and improve their presentations and to be seen in an event during the ECMAs. One event will take place at the Arts Guild in the afternoon - the other will be an evening performance at the Basilica Recreation Centre. Island artists are invited to submit applications to the PEI Council of the Arts. If necessary, a jury will be formed to select the artists.
There will also be a pre ECMA showcase profiling the four Island entertainment groups that were selected to be highlighted at the 2001 ECMA showcases. Real Pelletier, Jeff Morris, Celtitude, and Ninth Hour were chosen as the 2001 ECMA Island entertainers and will perform at the event.
The fourth initiative will be assistance for artists to take part in the trade show held at the Charlottetown Civic Centre in conjunction with the ECMAs. PEIBD, in partnership with the PEI Council of the Arts, will develop and manage a booth which will highlight PEI musicians. The booth will provide an opportunity for artists who might not otherwise have the time or financial resources to participate in the trade show.
"Islanders are very proud of our long musical tradition and heritage," said Minister Currie. "It's great to see younger musicians keeping that tradition alive."
"Those in the music industry are very grateful for all the support being provided by Minister Mike Currie," said Bill Crook of the PEI Council of the Arts. "These sessions taking place throughout the ECMAs will present a great opportunity for our Island musicians and will give them the chance to prove how diverse and talented our artists are." Total cost for the four initiatives will be $20,000.