TORONTO, May 10 /CNW/ - A new addition to CONTACT Toronto Photography
Festival this year, the Scotiabank Scholarship and Prize, provided three
students with a scholarship to attend the Magnum Photos Workshop, and one
workshop participant, selected by a jury panel, a $5,000 prize in an effort to
promote the arts. Charla Jones of Toronto was presented a $5,000 cheque at the
Magnum Workshop Exhibition opening inaugurating the CONTACT Gallery.
    The Magnum Workshop series is a core element of Magnum's educational
programming, driven by its global photographer members, and a prominent new
component of the CONTACT festival program.
    "Congratulations to Ms. Jones and the students who were able to attend
the Magnum Photos Workshop - a great addition to CONTACT Photography
festival," said John Doig, Scotiabank Senior Vice-President, Marketing. "At
Scotiabank we consider the important role that arts and culture play in our
communities, and we contribute to a wide variety of programs that both reflect
and enrich them. The Scotiabank Scholarship and Prize was created as an
opportunity to help students and future photographers achieve their full
potential and explore their photographic vision, and we are proud that it has
done just that."
    The Magnum Workshop, an intensive five-day master class with five
renowned Magnum photographers, the participants produce individual projects
under the same constraints as a professional assignment and receive daily
reviews and editing sessions. Focusing on story formation, visual literacy and
personal vision, the workshop aims to enhance photographers' working style and
overall vision. Participants were selected by the Magnum Photos Agency from a
world-wide call for submissions.
    "We are pleased to initiate this program with Scotiabank which will
provide scholarships for individual photographers to develop their
photographic visions in collaboration with Magnum photographers," said Song
Chong of Magnum Photos, New York. "The Scotiabank Prize will enable Ms. Jones
to further her photographic vision."
    "We are honored to bring together two of our greatest partners,
Scotiabank and Magnum Photos," said Darcy Killeen, CONTACT Executive Director.
"Working with them on this wonderful new project not only enriches the CONTACT
festival programming but also supports the creative vision of individual
photographers."
    Since its inception in 1947, Magnum's photographers have collectively
chronicled the most significant historical and cultural milestones of the past
century. Magnum Photos was founded by the forefathers of documentary
photography: Robert Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson, David "Chim" Seymour, and
George Rodger. Magnum Photos is a photographic co-operative of great diversity
and distinction owned by its photographer-members. Acclaimed for powerful
individual vision, Magnum photographers chronicle the world and interpret its
peoples, events and issues. Through its four editorial offices in New York,
London, Paris and Tokyo, and a network of fifteen sub-agents, Magnum Photos
provides photographs to the press, publishers, advertising Agencies,
television, galleries and museums across the world. www.magnumphotos.com

    CONTACT, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1997, is the largest
photography festival in world. With over 650 local, national and international
artists participating at more than 200 exhibition venues across the Greater
Toronto Area from May 1 - 31 each year, CONTACT attracts over one million
visitors. CONTACT is devoted to celebrating and fostering an appreciation of
the art and profession of photography. For more information, visit
www.contactphoto.com.

    Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live
and work, both in Canada and abroad. Recognized as a leader internationally
and among Canadian corporations for its charitable donations and philanthropic
activities, in 2007 the Bank provided more than $43 million in sponsorships
and donations to a variety of projects and initiatives, primarily in the areas
of healthcare, education, social services and arts and culture. Visit us at
www.scotiabank.com.