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The 13th annual FrancoFête en Acadie, put together each year by the Réseau atlantique de diffusion des arts de la scène (RADARTS), came to a close on Nov. 8 with its awards ceremony for both artists and promoters.

The role and heartbeat of each promoter is to make French-language cultural events accessible to the wider public while at the same time affording local artists a venue and a chance to make their mark on their own region. For its efforts and the manifestation of its passion, the ARCf de Saint-Jean received the Award of Excellence.

The association and its cultural affairs director, Rodney Doucet, won the award as a result of their participation and exemplary enthusiasm on every level.

"Over the past 10 years we have co-ordinated the only French-language cultural program to be offered up to Saint Johners, and it is with a great deal of pride that I accept this award, recognizing the excellence with which the ARCf de Saint-Jean has worked toward this goal," Doucet said after the awards ceremony. "We have strived to not merely be a cultural facilitator but to create magical moments between French-language artists and the Francophone and Francophile population here in the Port City. I'm very grateful to my fellow promoters, members of RADARTS, the many Saint Johners who take advantage of these cultural rendez-vous as well as all of those with whom I work on a daily basis to promote the best of what French-language performing arts have to offer."

Other recipients included School District 3 with the Éveil Award for cultural promotion in an educational setting, and the Réseau culturel francophone de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador (The Newfoundland and Labrador Francophone Cultural Network) along with its Director Xavier Georges, with the Dépassement Award for outstanding performance. Remember that the FrancoFête is one of the most important French-language multidisciplinary cultural events in Atlantic Canada, dedicated solely to the promotion, distribution and development of Acadian and French-language performing arts.

Upcoming events

* Ongoing Exhibit: At the Centre Samuel-de-Champlain's Salon Irène Grant-Guérette (67, Ragged Point). Nicole Haché's Ainsi va la vie (Such is Life). Free admission. Ongoing until January 22, 2010. Information: 658-4600.

Eric Kennedy is the director of communications for the Regional Association of Francophone Communities for Saint John. His column appears in both English and French every Monday.