VICTORIA, Aug. 30, 2013 /CNW/ - On behalf of the Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, the Honourable John Duncan, Minister of State and Chief Government Whip and Member of Parliament (Vancouver Island North), today announced support for 32 arts and culture organizations across Vancouver Island. Minister Duncan made the announcement at the Belfry Theatre alongside leaders of Victoria's arts community.
"Our Government is proud to support arts, culture, and official-language organizations in British Columbia," said Minister Duncan. "Today's announcement demonstrates that we are committed to supporting organizations that not only enrich their community's cultural life but also strengthen its economy. "
The support announced today will enable 32 organizations across Vancouver Island to deliver programming, organize festivals and centennial celebrations for their communities, purchase and install collections software systems in local museums, and present annual concert series. The organizations benefiting from support include the Belfry Theatre Society, the Victoria International Chalk Art Society, the Victoria Symphony Society, the Dance Victoria Society, and the Pacific Rim Arts Society.
"The Government of Canada recognizes that arts and culture are important generators of economy growth, jobs, and wealth in our communities," said Minister Glover. "Arts and culture organizations, like the ones we're supporting today, contribute to the cultural strength of our communities and enrich the quality of life for all Canadians."
"It's great to see federal money continuing to support arts and culture here on Vancouver Island," said James Lunney, Member of Parliament (Nanaimo-Alberni). "These programs and organizations represent an integral part of the identity of our Island communities and contribute to the quality of life we enjoy."
"The Belfry Theatre is pleased to host this announcement," said Ivan Habel, General Manager of the Belfry Theatre. "We are extremely grateful for the critical investment that the government offers us and many arts and cultural organizations across the country."
The Government of Canada has provided total funding of $1,610,138 through the following programs of the Department of Canadian Heritage: the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program, the Canada Arts Presentation Fund, the Canada Arts Training Fund, the Endowment Incentives component of the Canada Cultural Investment Fund, the Cooperation with the Community Sector component of the Development of Official-Language Communities Program, and the Museums Assistance Program.
For more information about the projects, see the attached backgrounder.
BACKGROUNDER
Today's announcement includes the following projects:
| Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage This program provides Canadians with more opportunities to take part in activities that present local arts and culture and celebrate local history and heritage. |
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| City | Organization | Project | Funding and Year |
| Nanaimo | The Vancouver Island Exhibition | Vancouver Island Exhibition - Community Festival | $12,400 (2013-2014) |
| Courtenay | Comox Valley Exhibition Association Fall Fair | Comox Valley Exhibition | $10,000 (2013-2014) |
| Sidney | Community Arts Council of the Saanich Peninsula | Peninsula ArtSea Festival and the Sidney Fine Art Show | $14,500 (2013-2014) |
| Victoria | The Victoria International Chalk Art Society | The Victoria International Chalk Art Festival | $13,400 (2013-2014) |
| Gabriola Island | Gabriola Arts Council | Thanksgiving Studio Tour and Festival | $2,000 (2013-2014) |
| Victoria | Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria | Moon Festival at Gordon Head | $2,000 (2013-2014) |
| Pender Island | Ptarmigan Music and Theatre Society | Island Mosaic Community Arts Festival | $7,800 (2013-2014) |
| Port Alberni | Alberni District Fall Fair | Alberni District Fall Fair | $6,400 (2013-2014) |
| TOTAL: $68,500 | |||
| Canada Arts Presentation Fund This fund gives Canadians increased access to the variety and richness of Canada's culture through professional arts festivals, presentations of live professional performances, and other artistic experiences. |
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| City | Organization | Project | Funding and Year |
| Victoria | Victoria Independent Film and Video Festival | Victoria Film Festival | $30,000 (2013-2014) |
| Victoria | The Belfry Theatre Society | SPARK Festival | $45,000 (2013-2014) |
| Nanaimo | Crimson Coast Dance Society | Infringing Dance Festival; Dance on the Crimson Coast Presentation Series; Outreach Programs | $20,000 (2013-2014) |
| Victoria | Dance Victoria Society | Dance Victoria and Dance Days Festival | $150,000 (2013-2014) |
| Duncan | Cowichan Folk Guild | Expanding Intercultural Boundaries | $18,000 (2013-2014) |
| Ucluelet | Pacific Rim Arts Society | Pacific Rim Summer Festival | $10,000 (2013-2014) |
| Victoria | Theatre Skam Association | Bike Ride Festival | $12,000 (2013-2014) |
| TOTAL: $285,000 | |||
| Canada Arts Training Fund This fund contributes to the development of Canadian creators and future cultural leaders of the Canadian arts sector by supporting the training of artists with high potential through institutions that offer training of the highest calibre. |
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| City | Organization | Project | Funding and Year |
| Victoria | The Canadian College of Performing Arts | High-calibre national arts training in theatre, dance and voice | $600,000 (2013-2015) |
| TOTAL: $600,000 | |||
| Canada Cultural Investment Fund - Endowment Incentives Component This component encourages Canadians to donate to professional arts organizations so that they can prosper and ensure their long-term stability. Through this component, the Government of Canada provides funds to match those raised by private donors. |
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| City | Organization | Project | Funding and Year |
| Victoria | The Victoria Foundation Victoria Symphony Foundation |
Ballet Victoria Society Dance Victoria Society Early Music Society of the Islands Open Space Arts Society The Belfry Theatre Society The Canadian Heritage Arts Society Victoria Symphony Society |
$7,000 (2013) $104,386 (2013) $10,096 (2013) $10,000 (2013) $2,000 (2013) $8,445 (2013) $186,491 (2013) |
| TOTAL: $328,418 | |||
| Development of Official-Language Communities Program - Cooperation with the Community Sector This program aims to foster the development of Canada's minority Anglophone and Francophone communities and enable them to participate fully in all aspects of Canadian life. |
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| City | Organization | Project | Funding and Year |
| Nanaimo | L'Association des Francophones de Nanaimo | Maple Sugar Festival du sucre d'érable 2014 | $28,000 (2013-2014) |
| Victoria | La Société des Francophones de Victoria | 17ième Festival de la Francophonie 2014 | $40,000 (2013-2014) |
| Victoria | Assemblée francophone des retraités et aînés de la Colombie-Britannique | Rayonnement du réseau de retraités et d'aînés francophones de Colombie-Britannique | $33,000 (2013-2014) |
| Victoria | Société Radio Communautaire Victoria | Programming 2013-2014 | $43,000 (2013-2014) |
| Nanaimo | L'Association des Francophones de Nanaimo | Programming 2013-2014 | $60,000 (2013-2014) |
| Comox | Conseil Jeunesse Francophone de la Colombie-Britannique | 21e Jeux francophones de la Colombie-Britannique in Comox | $26,220 (2013-2014) |
| Victoria | Conseil Culturel et Artistique Francophone de la Colombie-Britannique | Le 24e Gala Chant'Ouest 2013 | $38,000 (2013-2014) |
| TOTAL: $268,220 | |||
| Museums Assistance Program This program supports heritage institutions and workers in the preservation and presentation of heritage collections. |
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| City | Organization | Project | Funding and Year |
| Victoria | British Columbia Museums Association | Collections Management Development Program | $45,000 (2013-2014) |
| Victoria | Art Gallery of Greater Victoria | Black Ice - David Blackwood: Prints of Newfoundland | $15,000 (2013-2014) |
| TOTAL: $60,000 | |||
SOURCE: Canadian Heritage
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For more information (media only), please contact:
Marisa Monnin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
819-997-7788
Anna Gravelle
A/Regional Manager
Communications
Western Region
Canadian Heritage
604-666-6504
Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
[email protected]
(This news release is available on the Internet at www.canadianheritage.gc.ca under Newsroom.)
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