Alberta would not have its dynamic arts and culture
endeavours without the profound contributions of volunteers
and voluntary organizations and associations. Arts and
culture reflects and sometimes shapes our society. Our
diversity is simultaneously challenged and embraced. The
intrinsic values of listening to a beautiful musical phrase,
quietly contemplating a well-crafted landscape, turning the
pages of a book that can’t be put down, reading an article
about a social issue, partaking in a festival or a poets
stroll or listening to a singer’s voice that sends shivers up
the spine are precious and make our province a more
interesting place to live. Horst Schmidt, a former Alberta
Minister of Culture, once noted that, “Culture is a thing
beyond value. It’s a backbone, the measure of how advanced a
society is.”