SASKATOON, March 30, 2007 -The Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women and the Honourable Carol Skelton, Minister of National Revenue and Member of Parliament (Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar), today announced $483,292 in funding to the Saskatoon Community Foundation, which contributes to the financial stability of Saskatoon's Persephone Theatre. Combined with the donations made by the private sector, the Foundation will receive more than $1.2 million.
"Canada's New Government believes that it is very important for Canadians to have access to the arts and culture," said Minister Oda. "This support will not only allow the Persephone Theatre to offer the people of Saskatoon first-class productions such as Evita, Cecil and CleopaYtra, and Hockey Mum, Hockey Dad, but it also demonstrates the success of public-private partnerships in providing stable funding to arts organizations."
"Our Government is taking concrete steps to allow Canadians to benefit from the vibrant arts community in Saskatchewan," said Minister Skelton. "We are pleased to support the Persephone Theatre, an organization that contributes significantly to the cultural vitality of our province.
"These commitments show the level of support for what we have built over the past 33 years. I believe there will always be more we can do to grow art and culture in our community, and these gifts will be invaluable in helping us to do more and continue to grow," said David Gerecke, President of the Persephone Theatre.
The Saskatoon Community Foundation will receive $483,292 from the Endowment Incentives component of the Canadian Arts and Heritage Sustainability Program (CAHSP) in 2006-2007 to match donations made by the private sector to the Persephone Theatre. This component of the CAHSP encourages the private sector to support arts organizations by matching up to one dollar for every dollar raised from the private sector for an arts organization's endowment fund. The Persephone Theatre's endowment fund was successful in attracting a total of $750,000 from the private sector in 2006-2007.
Information:
Véronique Bruneau
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women
819 997-7788
Danielle Maier
Communications Advisor
Regional Office of Minister Skelton (Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar)
306 780-8236
Angela Cassie
A/Director of Communications
Prairies and Northern Region
Canadian Heritage
204 983-4367
