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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, March 18, 2016 | 32 John Bkila Sub-Editor jbkila@oakvillebeaver.com Former Oakville Galleries curator honoured with GG award by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff Artscene "Connected to your Community" A long-time Oakville Galleries curator's career will be recognized with a Governor General's Award Wednesday (March 23). Marnie Fleming will receive her award in Visual and Media Arts (Outstanding Contribution) next week during a ceremony and presentation of the medallions by Governor General of Canada David Johnston at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. "I am so grateful to be acknowledged for my work as a curator, but this recognition owes a lot to the work of others -- namely the gallery directors who supported me, my steadfast colleagues, and of course all the talented artists who made it so easy to organize outstanding exhibitions," Fleming told the Oakville Beaver. "When I look at the list of laureates who have received the award for Outstanding Contribution over the years, they have worked at major national or provincial institutions -- they are the giants to whom I have always looked up," she continued. "I am thrilled and indebted to the awards jury for recognizing that you can be a curator from a smaller gallery in a suburban locale and do great programming: excellence doesn't only happen in big institutions in big cities." Fleming, who served as curator of contemporary art at Oakville Galleries from 1991 until her retirement in 2014, received this year's Outstanding Contribution award in recognition of her careerlong commitment to showcasing artistic excellence in regional contexts, according to the local arts organization. Her nomination statement cited Fleming's "proli c, ground-breaking work" at Oakville Galleries and her dedication "to reimagining the role a small museum could play not only in its local community, but in actively supporting the careers of a new Marnie Fleming, a former, and long-time, Oakville Galleries curator, is being recognized with a Governor General's Award Wednesday (March 23) at Rideau Hall in Ottawa during a ceremony presided over by the Governor General of Canada David Johnston. Fleming was curator from 1991-2014. | photo courtesy of Oakville Galleries generation of artists." "I came to Oakville Galleries in 1991 and right from the outset I had ambitious plans for what could happen," said Fleming. "Over time, it was deeply satisfying to watch Oakville Galleries grow in stature to garner a national reputation for its exciting programming, publications and permanent collection." Matthew Hyland, director of Oakville Galleries, said Fleming changed the role of the Canadian regional art museum in exhibiting, collecting and publishing during her 24 years at the local arts gallery. "(Particularly) in ways that were substantive, forward-thinking and impactful at a national level," said Hyland. "While Oakville Galleries may be relatively modest in scale, Marnie's ambitions never were -- she was unwavering in her focus on bringing the best in contemporary art to Oakville in a manner that was meaningful, relevant and accessible." Governor General Awards recipients receive a medallion and a $25,000 cash prize. The awards are funded and administered by the Canada Council for the Arts, and include categories for artistic achievement in visual and media arts, ne craft and outstanding contribution. In the Arts... Young People's Mini-Concerts Oakville Symphony presents its Young People's Mini-Concerts Saturday (March 19). Meet a ute and piccolo player -- Máté Szigeti and Natalie Cabri -- in the lobby of the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, 130 Navy St. Two half-hour concerts, at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Concerts open to all, especially young children aged four to nine. Space is limited. Reserve spot at 905-844-6920, outreach@oakvillesymphony.ca. Visit oakvillesymphony.com/community-outreach. Kat Danser's Mississippi Juke Joint The Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts' Studio Sessions Series presents Kat Danser's Mississippi Juke Joint on Saturday (March 19) at 8:30 p.m. in the Studio Theatre. The centre is located at 130 Navy St. For tickets, visit oakvillecentre.ca or call 905-815-2021 or toll-free 1-888-489-7784. Daniel Tiger's Neighbourhood Live! The Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts' Acura of Oakville Family Series presents Daniel Tiger's Neighbourhood Live! on Sunday (March 20) at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. The centre is located at 130 Navy St. For tickets, visit oakvillecentre.ca or call 905-815-2021 or toll-free 1-888-489-7784. Bene t concert A scholarship fundraising concert for the Hamilton and Peel music festivals, featuring students of Linda Fletcher, Yvonne Zhang, Gregory Cross and Tom Oliver, will take place Wednesday (March 23) at Walton Memorial United Church, 2489 Lakeshore Rd., in Oakville at 7 p.m. There is a free will offering. Visit peelmusicfestival.ca or hamiltonmusicfestival.ca. Classic Albums Live: Animals The Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts' Chinwagn Classic Albums Live Series presents Animals on Thursday, March 24 at 8 p.m. The centre is located at 130 Navy St. For tickets, visit oakvillecentre.ca or call 905-815-2021 or toll-free 1-888-4897784. Downchild at OCPA The Legendary Downchild Blues Band is playing at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, Willson auditorium, 130 Navy St., on Wednesday, March 30. The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets cost $64 for general admission, $57 for big ticket members or $53 for big ticket plus members. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.oakvillecentre.ca/ whats-on/downchild-blues-band.html.