An agreement to promote collaborations, exchanges and exposure of Canadian artists on the international scene, and foreign artists in Canada, has been reached by the Canada Council for the Arts (CCA) and the Arts and Cultural Industries Promotion Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT). According to the CCA, the agreement has come at a time when opportunities for exchange and international collaborations between Canadian and foreign artists are increasing. With this in mind, the agreement is aimed at developing and harmonising existing programs and information exchanges and streamlining the efforts of both partners. Shirley L. Thomson, Director of the Canada Council for the Arts, has stated that she is very pleased with the agreement, noting that: 'it will prove beneficial to the Canadian arts community and the Canadian population as a whole.' 'By pooling our expertise, we think we can facilitate our cultural expansion abroad. The recent success of Canadian artists on the international scene… shows that we are definitely on the right track,' she said.