Province Continues Investing Millions in Cultural Organizations

TOURISM/CULTURE--Province Continues Investing Millions in Cultural Organizations

Fifty-three of Nova Scotia's leading cultural organizations and facilities are getting a major boost from the province today, June 16, with $2.8 million dollars in cultural investments.

Tourism and Culture Minister Rodney MacDonald made the announcement at the deCoste Entertainment Centre in Pictou.

"All of these organizations and facilities support community and artistic development along with industry growth," said Rodney MacDonald, Minister of Tourism and Culture. "These are investments in the cultural and economic growth of the province."

The funding comes from the department's Anchor Organizations and Facilities Programs, which provide operating funds and help the organizations develop Nova Scotia's cultural community.

With an investment of $2.8 million, these organizations are expected to generate an estimated $25 million in economic activity during the year. Successful applicants had to meet specific criteria, including proof of effective operations, the ability to generate their own resources and to offer programs that meet their mandate and the ability to deliver programs and services to the culture sector.

The deCoste Entertainment Centre, a major venue for the performing arts as well as conference, business and social activities, received $25,000.

"There has been a close working relationship between the centre and the Department of Tourism and Culture," said artistic director John Meir. "The funding has enabled us to develop innovative programming and enhance the growth of tourism in the summer months."

Organizations across the province are receiving support, with eight in Cape Breton, six in Halifax Regional Municipality, 14 in southern Nova Scotia, four in northern Nova Scotia, and 21 that are provincial in scope.

Celtic Colours International Festival, held every fall throughout Cape Breton, is receiving $125,000. "The province has been with us from the beginning and their support has been enormously important," said Joella Foulds, artistic director with the festival. "The festival keeps growing and last year had a $5.8- million economic impact on Cape Breton."

The business of culture in Nova Scotia has an estimated yearly value of $800 million and creates more than 29,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Overall, the province is investing more than $5 million in cultural programming. Additional provincial resources support cultural tourism and cultural heritage activities throughout the province.

NOTE--Following is a list of the organizations and facilities receiving funding in 2003-04 through the Anchor Organizations and Facilities Programs.

Cape Breton Region

Celtic Colours Festival $125,000 Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design $50,000 Savoy Theatre $22,730 Strathspey Place $10,000 Inverness County Council of the Arts $7,500 artsCape Breton Council of Arts & Culture $7,500 Le Conseil des arts de Cheticamp $6,000 Louisbourg Playhouse $2,750

Total approved $231,480

Southern Region

Atlantic Theatre Festival $147,000 Mermaid Theatre $77,000 Chester Playhouse $23,192 The Y'arc $22,730 King's Theatre $18,554 Astor Theatre $12,060 Annapolis Region Community Arts Council $7,500 Shelburne County Arts Council $6,000 Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival $3,500 Musique Saint-Bernard $3,300 Le Conseil des Arts de la Baie $5,000 Yarmouth Area Arts Council $3,500 Alliance of Kings Artists $3,500 Digby & Area Arts Council $3,000

Total approved $335,836

Northern Region

Anne Murray Centre $35,000 deCoste Centre $25,049 Guysborough, Antigonish, Pictou Arts Council $6,000 Northumberland Arts Council $4,000

Total approved $70,049

Halifax Regional Municipality Region

Neptune Theatre $255,000 The Nova Scotia International Tattoo $163,300 Dalhousie Arts Centre $100,000 JazzEast $10,800 Atlantic Fringe Festival $7,900 The Word on the Street Halifax Society $4,000

Total approved $541,000

Provincial in Scope

Symphony Nova Scotia $414,000 Black Cultural Society of Nova Scotia $247,000 Gaelic College of Celtic Arts $220,000 Cultural Federations of Nova Scotia $141,578 Dance Nova Scotia $61,000 Federation of Nova Scotian Heritage $61,000 Theatre Nova Scotia $61,000 Visual Arts Nova Scotia $61,000 Writer's Federation of Nova Scotia $61,000 Nova Scotia Choral Federation $61,000 Nova Scotia Designer Crafts Council $61,000 Multicultural Association of Nova Scotia $61,000 Music Industry Association of Nova Scotia $40,000 Design in Business in Nova Scotia $22,500 Societe Grou Tyme Acadien $20,000 Council of Nova Scotia Archives $13,600 Playwrights' Atlantic Resource Centre $3,000 Musique Royale $2,500 The Antigonish Review $2,000 Arts Atlantic $2,000 Atlantic Publishers Marketing Association $2,000

Total approved $1,618,178