Art Gallery of Alberta and Capital Power launch innovative partnership

Multi-year initiative will bring outstanding art to Albertans

EDMONTON , Dec. 16 /CNW/ - The Art Gallery of Alberta (AGA) announced today that it has entered into an extraordinary three-year partnership with Capital Power Corporation (Capital Power). This visionary initiative, Capital Powered Art, provides vital financial support in making world-class art available to Albertans. This is the first new community investment by Capital Power. The long-term commitment is a rare gesture in the Canadian art world, establishing a stable environment for the AGA to plan for the future.

"The AGA and Capital Power share some common history and values," said Brian Vaasjo, President and Chief Executive Officer of Capital Power. "We both started here when Edmonton was quite small and have grown with the city. Now we are both embarking on a new stage of our development. It is important for both of our organizations to be recognized locally, provincially, nationally and internationally for excellence and demonstrated commitment to community. We believe this three-year partnership will be instrumental in helping both Capital Power and the AGA to achieve that goal."

Capital Powered Art will fund more than ten national and international exhibitions at the AGA over the next three years. The first of these initiatives is the National Gallery of Canada at the Art Gallery of Alberta program to be launched at the Grand Opening of the AGA on January 31, 2010 . Capital Power is sponsoring the entire NGC @ AGA series that will open with the exhibition Goya, The Disasters of War and Los Caprichos, featuring the Spanish master's infamous print suites The Disasters of War of 1810-23, edition of 1863, and a rare bound edition of his print masterpiece, Los Caprichos, from 1797-98, edition of 1799. The exhibition runs until May 30, 2010 .

"Our partnerships with Capital Power and the National Gallery of Canada reflect the national significance of the Art Gallery of Alberta and are critical to our future development," said Gilles Hébert, AGA Executive Director. "We want to reach out beyond the borders of Edmonton to engage the entire province and beyond. Hosting and curating exhibitions that feature incredible works from the National Gallery of Canada's collection will help us do just that. We are thrilled - this is a groundbreaking relationship with the National Gallery of Canada . Capital Powered Art is a visionary initiative that will help us deliver nationally-recognized programming. Capital Power's long-term commitment is a rare gesture in the Canadian art world, establishing a stable environment for the AGA as we plan for the future."

Designed by Los Angeles architect Randall Stout , the new Art Gallery of Alberta will feature over 30,000 square feet of premier exhibition space and an expanded exhibition center. Other inaugural exhibitions for the new AGA will include major works by Edgar Degas, celebrated Canadian photographers Yousuf Karsh and Edward Burtynksy and internationally renowned Canadian artists Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller. The AGA will also feature a children's gallery, The BMO World of Creativity and outdoor sculptures by Albertans Peter Hide and Ken Macklin on each of the Gallery's two terraces.

The new AGA will open with a two-day celebration starting January 31, 2010 . Free tickets will be available on the AGA's website, youraga.ca, starting January 18, 2010 . AGA Members will receive advanced access to these tickets starting January 4, 2010 .

CAPITAL POWERED ART VISUAL IDENTITY

The Capital Powered Art visual identity is available for download at www.capitalpower.com.

ABOUT CAPITAL POWER CORPORATION

Capital Power is a growth-oriented North American independent power producer, building on more than a century of innovation and reliable performance. The company's vision is to be recognized as one of North America's most respected, reliable and competitive power generators. Headquartered in Edmonton , Alberta, Capital Power has interests in 31 facilities in Canada and the U.S. totaling approximately 3,400 megawatts of generation capacity. Capital Power and its subsidiaries develop, acquire and optimize power generation from a wide range of energy sources. The company's web site can be accessed at www.capitalpower.com.

ABOUT THE ART GALLERY OF ALBERTA

The Art Gallery of Alberta is creating a new gallery - a "New Vision" for Alberta's capital. After a global architectural competition, Los Angeles based Randall Stout Architects, Inc. was selected to design the new gallery. With opening exhibitions in early 2010, the new AGA will be an 85,000 square foot premier presentation venue for international and Canadian art, education and scholarship. The new AGA will be a centre of excellence for the visual arts in Western Canada in the 21st century, expressing the creative spirit of Alberta and connecting people, art and ideas.

Founded in 1924, the Art Gallery of Alberta (AGA) is the oldest cultural institution in Alberta and the only museum in the province strictly devoted to the exhibition and preservation of art and visual culture. Serving both the city of Edmonton and the province of Alberta, the Gallery maintains a collection of nearly 6,000 objects. The AGA is focused on the development and presentation of original exhibitions of contemporary and historical art; on building national and international curatorial partnerships for the creation of new exhibition projects; and on the development and delivery of a program of touring exhibitions that disseminate contemporary and historical art within Alberta and across Canada .

The AGA is a not-for-profit organization that relies on the generous support of its Members, donors, sponsors and government. The Art Gallery of Alberta is grateful for the generous support of the many public and private donors and sponsors who have made the AGA's New Vision possible, as well as the ongoing support of the City of Edmonton , the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, The Canada Council for the Arts and our Members.

/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/

For further information: For media information, please contact: Sarah Hoyles, Media Relations & Communications Coordinator, T: [phone], E: [email protected]; Mike Long, External Communications Manager, T: [phone], C: [phone], E: [email protected]