VANCOUVER, April 12, 2007 - On behalf of the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, Jim Abbott, Parliamentary Secretary for Canadian Heritage and Member of Parliament (Kootenay - Columbia), today announced financial support of more than $1.5 million for four Vancouver foundations that help ensure a sound financial footing for 11 arts organizations.
"I am proud to support organizations that work to showcase the excellence of our artists and the cultural vitality of our country," said Minister Oda. "This program shows our Government's commitment to the arts and culture. It also shows the success that is possible when private and public sectors work together to support the arts."
"Our government is taking concrete action so that all Canadians can fully appreciate the richness and diversity of our artistic scene," added Mr. Abbott. "Today's announcement is an investment in the future of Canadian organizations that are constantly innovating to excel and to provide Canadians with extraordinary cultural experiences."
"The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is committed to creating and growing secure, reliable, long-term revenue streams to support the organization's many activities for generations to come," said Jeff Alexander, President & General Manager of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. "Matching funds from the federal government have helped us to significantly increase the market value of our Foundation and thus to begin to accomplish this goal. We are most grateful to the Government and the Department of Canadian Heritage."
The funding announced today will go the Arts Club of Vancouver Theatre Foundation, the Vancouver Foundation, the Vancouver Opera Foundation, and the Vancouver Symphony Foundation. These foundations encourage private donors to contribute to endowment funds that benefit the following organizations: The Arts Club of Vancouver Theatre Society, The Chor Leoni Men's Choir, the National Theatre School of Canada, the Island Arts Centre Society, the Vancouver Opera, the Pacific Baroque Society, the Vancouver Bach Choir, the Vancouver International Writers Festival Society, the Vancouver Society for Early Music, the Vancouver Symphony Society and the Visible Arts Society. These organizations received more than $2.4 from private-sector donors in 2006 - 07.
Canada's New Government is providing the funding under the Endowment Incentives Component of the Canadian Arts and Heritage Sustainability Program, which is offered by the Department of Canadian Heritage. This component of the program seeks to encourage private donors to contribute to endowment funds for arts organizations so that they may have access to stable and predictable long-term funding. Since 2002, the program has provided $47.5 million for endowment funds and the private sector has added $74.8 million, for a total investment of $122.3 million
Information:
Véronique Bruneau
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of
Canadian Heritage
and Status of Women
819 997-7788
Donald Boulanger
A/Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819 994-9101
