2009 Sobey Art Award Exhibition Extended until November 22nd at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
November 4, 2009
Due to the overwhelming popularity of the 2009 Sobey Art Award Exhibition, the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia has extended its viewing run for two weeks.  The decision, taken earlier this week by the Gallery’s Director Ray Cronin, was a result of the unprecedented attendance to a Sobey Exhibit at the Gallery. “More than 10,000 people have been through the exhibition since its opening on the 5th of September,” Cronin said.  “The popularity of the work by all of the artists and community support for the Sobey Art Award has gotten stronger every year since its inception in 2002,” ads Cronin.
The Sobey Art Award winner, David Altmejd, representing Quebec, was announced on Thursday, October 15, during a gala event at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in Halifax.  Altmejd was chosen from a shortlist of 5 Canadian artists, including: for West Coast and Yukon, Luanne Martineau; for the Prairies and the North: Marcel Dzama; for Ontario: Shary Boyle; and for the Atlantic: Graeme Patterson.

“With record attendance numbers, this has been an exciting year for the Sobey Art Award exhibit in Halifax,” states Sarah Fillmore, Curator of the Sobey Art Award.  “We are so pleased to have had to extend the show for the public, the attendance numbers truly speak to the impact this Award is having on the public engagement with contemporary art in this community.”

The works by: Luanne Martineau, Marcel Dzama, Shary Boyle, David Altmejd and Graeme Patterson will remain on view at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia until November 22.
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ABOUT THE SOBEY ART AWARD
The Sobey Art Award, Canada's preeminent award for contemporary Canadian art, was created in 2002 by the Sobey Art Foundation. It is an annual prize given to an artist under 40 who has exhibited in a public or commercial art gallery within 18 months of being nominated. A total of $70,000 in prize money is awarded annually; $50,000 to the winner and $5,000 to the other four finalists. Since its inception, the Sobey Art Award and accompanying exhibition have been organized and administered by the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.

For further information:
Bernard Doucet, Director of Development, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia 
(902) 424-0073 
doucetbj@gov.ns.ca