Harper Government Invests in Culture in Kingston

KINGSTON, ON, July 31, 2012 /CNW/ - The Honourable Rob Nicholson, Member of Parliament (Niagara Falls), Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, on behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, today announced $575,099 in funding for 13 arts and culture projects in the Kingston area. These investments will assist organizations to increase tourism, create jobs, and stimulate the local economy.

"As a Queen's Alumni, I can truly say that it is a pleasure to be back in the Limestone City to support local arts and cultural organizations," said Minister Nicholson. "These investments will ensure that the community will have many opportunities to celebrate local artists, history, and heritage."

"This year marks the start of the five-year countdown to Canada's 150^th birthday in 2017," said Minister Moore. "Our Government is proud to invest in projects that contribute to our collective identity and define who we are as Canadians. On the road to 2017, let us continue to celebrate all of the things that make Canada the united, prosperous, and free country we are today."

The funding will support several arts, culture, heritage, and official-language organizations in the Kingston area. By supporting Canadian culture, the Government of Canada is strengthening the area's local economy, generating jobs, and enriching the quality of life in the community. Organizations receiving support include the Skeleton Park Music Festival, the Centre social et culturel Frontenac, Rainbow Horizons Publishing, the Prince Edward County Arts Council, and the Community Foundation for Kingston and Area.

"Over the years, the Government of Canada's support has been crucial to our work as stewards of a nationally ranked collection, and to our capacity to share great works of art with Canadians through our exhibitions," said Janet M. Brooke, Director of the Agnes Etherington Art Centre. "This year's funding is especially welcome, as it supports a major, nationally touring exhibition of Canadian art, and a key project in our vaults that will help us protect fragile works of art on behalf of all Canadians."

The Harper Government has provided total funding of $575,099 through eight programs and funds of the Department of Canadian Heritage: the Canada Arts Presentation Fund, the Canada Book Fund, the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program, the Canada Cultural Investment Fund, the Canada Periodical Fund, the Museum Assistance Program, the War of 1812 Commemoration Fund and the Development of Official-Language Communities Program. For more information about the projects, see the attached backgrounder.

BACKGROUNDER

Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage The program provides Canadians with more opportunities to take part in activities that present local arts and culture and celebrate local history and heritage.
City	Organization and Project	Amount (Fiscal Year)
Kingston	Skeleton Park Music Festival - Skeleton Park Music Festival	$14,700 (2012-2013)
		TOTAL: $14,700

Canada Arts Presentation Fund The 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.
City	Organization and Project	Amount (Fiscal Year)
Kingston	Le Centre social et culturel Frontenac	$25,000 (2012-2013) $25,000 (2013-2014)
Picton	Prince Edward County Arts Council - Prince Edward County Music Festival	$6,000 (2012-2013)
		TOTAL: $56,000

Canada Book Fund The principal objective of the Fund is to ensure access to a diverse range of Canadian-authored books in Canada and abroad. It fosters a strong Canadian book industry that publishes and markets Canadian-authored books.
City	Organization and Project	Amount (Fiscal Year)
Kingston	Rainbow Horizons Publishing - Publishing support	$100,422 (2011-2012)
		TOTAL: $100,422

Canada Cultural Investment Fund (Endowment Incentives Component) The Endowment Incentive encourages Canadians to support professional, not-for-profit arts organizations. Last year, the Government of Canada contributed 81 cents for every dollar donated by the private sector.
City	Organization and Project	Amount (Fiscal Year)
Kingston	Community Foundation for Kingston & Area - Kingston Symphony Association	$63,836 (2011-2012)
Kingston	Ontario Arts Council Foundation - Kingston Symphony Association	$4,045 (2011-2012)
		TOTAL: $67,881

Canada Periodical Fund The Fund provides financial assistance to Canadian print magazines, non-daily newspapers and digital periodicals to enable them to overcome market disadvantages and continue to provide Canadian readers with the content they choose to read.
City	Organization and Project	Amount (Fiscal Year)
Kingston	1425545 Ontario Inc. - Your Workplace - CPF - Aid to Publishers	$29,156 (2012-2013)
Kingston	Quarterly Committee Of Queen's University - Queen's Quarterly - CPF - Aid to Publishers	$28,040 (2012-2013)
		TOTAL: $57,196

Museums Assistance Program The Program provides funding to Canadian museums and related institutions for projects that foster excellence in museum activities and that facilitate access to the treasures of our collective heritage.
City	Organization and Project	Amount (Fiscal Year)
Kingston	Agnes Etherington Art Centre - A Vital Force: The Canadian Group of Painters	$100,580 (2012-2013) $16,800 (2013-2014) $25,620 (2014-2015)
Kingston	Agnes Etherington Art Centre - Key Collections Storage	$24,700 (2012-2013)
Kingston	Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston - Storage Improvements	$29,100 (2012-2013)
		TOTAL: $196,800

Development of Official-Language Communities Program The 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.
City	Organization and Project	Amount (Fiscal Year)
Kingston	Centre social et culturel Frontenac - Programming 2012-2014	$34,800 (2012-2013) $34,800 (2013-2014)
		TOTAL: $69,600

War of 1812 Commemoration Fund The Fund supports community-based projects to foster greater awareness and understanding among Canadians of the importance of this event in our history.
City	Organization and Project	Amount (Fiscal Year)
Kingston	Ontario Genealogical Society: Borders and Bridges: 1812-2012 - OGS Conference 2012	$5,000 (2012-2013)
Kingston	Museum of Health Care at Kingston - Friendly Fire	$7,500 (2012-2013)
		TOTAL: $12,500

SOURCE: Canadian Heritage

For more information (media only), please contact:

Sébastien Gariépy
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
819-997-7788

Jillian Lum
Manager, Communications Ontario Region
Canadian Heritage
416-973-2050
[email protected]

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.)