Celebration 2006, the 50th Anniversary Conference of the B.C. Art Teachers' Association is taking place in Coquitlam at Gleneagle Secondary on February 16th - 18th, 2006. Plan to join us for this special celebration of the Visual Arts and Art Education.

Conference highlights include keynote speakers Nick Bantock, artist writer, Robert Kelly from the University of Calgary, Sharon McCoubrey, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at UBC Okanagan and President of the Canadian Society for Education Through Art; and Jason Murphy from the Vancouver Film School.

Special events begin with a Thursday evening opening reception at the Evergreen Cultural Centre featuring the District 43 Emerging Talent Exhibition in the gallery, and Jason Murphy with films from the BCATA sponsored Student Film Festival and the Vancouver Film School located in the theatre. Friday evening will feature the Celebration 2006 Gala Dinner and a performance by SWARM, the Vancouver-based extreme percussion troupe that merges innovative instruments, experimental sound and passionate performers.

Five workshop sessions will be offered on Friday and Saturday geared specifically for Primary, Middle and Secondary teachers in the following strands: Art Processes, Responding to Art, Integrating Art, Media Arts and Art Careers. Plan to spend time in the active Marketplace filled with commercial and educational displays.

Pass on this information to your friends and colleagues and send in your registration by December 31st to get the all-inclusive early-bird rate of $165. Registration is available for the entire conference, or for Saturday only. We look forward to welcoming you to the conference in February.

For more information, registration forms and the Call for Presenters, visit www.bctf.ca/psas/BCATA/2006/index.html or email Conference Co-Chairs Bronwen Young at b-myoung@shaw.ca or Taimi McMillan at tmcmillan@sd43.bc.ca

~Mike McElgunn, Gleneagle Secondary Teacher.