CALGARY, Nov. 22, 2013 /CNW/ - Joan Crockatt, Member of Parliament (Calgary Centre), on behalf of the Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, today announced support for the new Decidedly Jazz Dance Centre in Calgary.
"This investment will allow local audiences to enjoy artistic works in a modern and fully equipped theatre," said Mrs. Crockatt. "We are pleased to contribute funding that will provide Decidedly Jazz with a permanent home to rehearse, perform, and grow."
Funding will enable the Decidedly Jazz Society to construct a new five-storey dance centre in downtown Calgary. The building will include seven dance studios, administration offices, a space for building and storing costumes, dressing rooms, media storage, and a library. The dance studios will range in size from 1,190 square feet to a two-storey, 3,520-square-foot studio that will double as a fully equipped performance space with seating for 175 people.
"The Decidedly Jazz Society makes an outstanding contribution to the cultural scene in Calgary by ensuring that fans of jazz dance have access to exceptional artistic experiences," said Minister Glover. "Our Government is pleased to support this new state-of-the-art facility, which will allow the Society to host a greater number of performances and expand its services in the community."
"This is the important final step in the public funding portion of our campaign," said Kathi Sundstrom, Executive Director, Decidedly Jazz Society. "Contributions from the three levels of government, together with donations from the private sector, now bring our total amount raised to more than 85 percent of the $25 million total. This new dance centre will have a significant impact our community, providing studio, creation and performance space for Decidedly Jazz, as well as for other arts groups, professional artists and dance companies. We thank the Department of Canadian Heritage for contributing to this important new cultural facility for Calgary."
The Decidedly Jazz Society, established in 1984, is Canada's only professional year-round jazz dance company. The Society provides local and national audiences with access to compelling, engaging, and uplifting jazz dance performances and musical creations. In addition to regular performing series, the Society conducts education outreach performances for students, carries out school residencies, and conducts lectures, workshops, and co-education alliances with post-secondary institutions including the University of Calgary's Dance Program.
The Government of Canada has provided $1,900,000 over two years ($500,000 in 2013-2014 and $1,400,000 in 2014-2015) through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage. This program seeks to improve physical conditions for artistic creativity and arts presentations or exhibitions. It is also designed to increase access for Canadians to performing arts, visual arts, media arts, museum collections, and heritage displays.
SOURCE: Canadian Heritage
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(This news release is available on the Internet at www.canadianheritage.gc.ca under Newsroom.)
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