CALGARY, Oct. 2, 2012 /CNW/ - Today, there are more doors open to arts and culture in Calgary, as the Calgary Public Library officially launches the Sun Life Financial Arts + Culture Pass city-wide at all 18 public library locations.
The Sun Life Financial Arts + Culture Pass is about more than handing out free tickets. It is about sparking the imagination and opening access to a new world of experiences for low-income Calgarians. The opportunity to experience Calgary's premiere arts and culture experiences will impact the lives of thousands of individuals and families in Calgary by enhancing their quality of life and providing a lasting positive impact.
The Calgary Public Library is believed to be the first Library system anywhere to provide a qualified service to low-income residents by placing tickets to its city's arts and culture experiences directly in the hands of those who would not otherwise be able to access these experiences. By partnering with the City of Calgary Recreation Fee Assistance Program, individuals and families are qualified for financial support and for eligibility to access free tickets through this initiative. This builds upon the success of an initial pilot initiative in 2010 at five high-needs libraries in Calgary.
Now, through the financial investment of Sun Life Financial and philanthropic donations of local arts and culture partner organizations, the Sun Life Financial Arts + Culture Pass will be conveniently available at all 18 public library locations. A complete list of the 17 community arts partners who have confirmed they support to date can be found on our website at www.artsculturepass.ca.
"We are pleased to partner with the Calgary Public Library and support this exciting program, which gives thousands of families the opportunity to experience the city's rich Canadian arts and culture scene together," said Mary De Paoli, Sun Life Financial's Executive Vice-President, Chief Marketing Officer and Public & Corporate Affairs. "At Sun Life, we are committed to enriching people's lives by making arts and cultural activities more accessible in the communities where we live and work."
As the Calgary Public Library enters its second century of service, the Library is well positioned to ensure that a world of ideas, information and opportunities are within reach of every Calgarian. The Sun Life Financial Arts + Culture Pass is a prime example of an innovative service the Library is proud to offer to a qualified group of low-income Calgarians. Furthermore, with Calgary designated as the Cultural Capital of Canada, this unique initiative will help support access to quality arts and culture experiences by all residents and help to bridge connections between Calgary arts and culture organizations and underrepresented audiences.
PDF available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2012/10/02/20121002_C3429_DOC_EN_18736.pdf
SOURCE: Calgary Public Library Foundation
Media Contact:
Brent Buechler, Calgary Public Library Foundation
403.221.4127
[email protected]
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