Comedy and Laughter Are in the Spotlight in the Québec City Region
Government of Canada funding will help the 18th ComediHa! Festival support new talent and provide greater public access to their innovative programming
QUÉBEC CITY, June 7, 2017 /CNW/ - The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, and the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED), today announced funding of $445,000 is being provided to the Festival International du Rire for the ComediHa! Festival.
CED awarded a $300,000 non-refundable contribution for this comedy festival in 2015, 2016 and 2017. An additional non-refundable contribution of $75,000 was granted to the organization to test a winter edition of the ComediHa! Festival in February 2017. This funding was awarded through the Quebec Economic Development Program and was used to market and develop the event.
Canadian Heritage is providing support of $70,000 through the Canada Arts Presentation Fund. The funding will help new talent break through and will provide greater public access to special comedy programs combining various disciplines, such as theatre, improv, music, dance and visual arts.
Quotes
"With its dynamic nature through the years, the ComediHa! Festival has proven to be a key driver of creativity and cultural development in the Québec City region. This funding will help ensure that the Festival can continue to provide innovative programming, support local talent and entertain audiences of all ages."
—The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage
"Tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world. By supporting activities like the ComediHa! Festival, we are showing our commitment to helping the industry flourish and making the cities that host them more attractive."
—The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
"For its 18th edition, ComediHa! is inviting audiences to see life in a funny way with a new and diverse lineup. Village ComediHa! is the heartbeat of the festival at Parc de l'Esplanade. Street cuisine, fun entertainment and a festive patio await visitors. Pillars of the Festival since its inception, ComediHa! galas will return to the Grand Théâtre de Québec with comedic and high-level variety acts."
—Sylvain Parent-Bédard, Founding President of the ComediHa! Festival
Quick facts
The Festival International du Rire is a non-profit organization whose mandate is to produce the ComediHa! Festival, a popular comedy event that brings together a variety of disciplines.
For the 2017 edition, ComediHa! is offering residents and visitors more than 100 performances presented at a number of indoor and outdoor venues in Québec City.
The ComediHa! Chapiteau in the Parc de l'Esplanade will host several activities, including the popular "Shows Mystères." Visitors will also be able to chart their own comedy course through the streets of Quartier Petit-Champlain, at Place Royale and at the Imperial, where intimate and unusual venues can be discovered.
Related links
| ComediHa! |
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| Quebec Economic Development Program |
http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca/eng/agency/programs/qedp/index.html |
| Canada Arts Presentation Fund |
SOURCE Canadian Heritage
(media only), please contact: Pierre-Olivier Herbert, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, 819-997-7788; Media Relations, Canadian Heritage, 819-994-9101, 1-866-569-6155, [email protected]; Media Relations, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, 514-283-7443, [email protected]
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