WINNIPEG, January 17, 2008 - On behalf of the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages, Joy Smith, Member of Parliament (Kildonan-St. Paul), today announced funding for the West End Cultural Centre.
The Centre will receive two contributions totalling more than $200,000. The first contribution, $58,200 for 2008-2009, will go towards the Building Bridges: Culture and Community program, designed to strengthen the presentation of music outside the mainstream and to integrate the arts into community life. This program includes over 75 concerts/presentations, with half being devoted to Canadian artists in a variety of musical genres. The second contribution, $150,000, will go towards the redevelopment of the Centre's facility to improve physical conditions for artistic creativity and innovation, as well as increase access for the community to performing arts.
"The Government of Canada is proud to support the West End Cultural Centre, a key venue for the artistic community in Winnipeg," said Minister Verner. "By providing these funds to the centre, there will be more opportunities for performers across the country to showcase their craft in a redeveloped facility. Also, the audiences gain exposure to a larger variety of performances improving the artistic vitality of the region."
"The West End Cultural Centre has served the community and hosted numerous world renowned artists over the past 20 years," said Mrs. Smith. "I am pleased that our Government is helping this organization begin a new chapter in its history."
"We are very pleased that the federal government continues to support our work connecting the community to artists. The year 2008 is going to be an exciting one for the West End Cultural Centre as we start work on turning our crumbling, old building into a revitalized community arts centre," said Nan Colledge, General Manager of the Centre.
The West End Cultural Centre is an established presenter, guided by years of experience, a clear understanding of its audiences and the milieu, and a mandate to provide opportunities for citizens to be involved in the arts. It has played a major and unique role in the public presentation of Canadian culture in Winnipeg, while providing quality programming to all people, regardless of age or economic status. It has effectively enriched the lives of artists, audiences, and the community through year-round programming and meaningful outreach from its location in the core of the city's west end, one of the poorest and most diverse communities in Winnipeg.
The Government of Canada is providing the $58,200 investment under the Arts Presentation Canada program of the Department of Canadian Heritage. This program seeks to provide Canadians with opportunities to experience the diversity and richness of Canada's culture through professional art festivals, performances, and other artistic experiences.
The contribution of $150,000 is being provided through the Department of Canadian Heritage's Cultural Spaces Canada program, which supports infrastructure projects in the cultural field that will increase access for Canadians to performing arts, visual arts, media arts, and exhibits, or improve physical conditions for artistic creativity and innovation. The program supports renovations and the construction of arts and heritage facilities, as well as the acquisition of specialized equipment, and provides funding for feasibility studies and projects to transform buildings into arts or heritage facilities. This is a supplement to a previous funding through the Cultural Spaces Canada program.
Today's announcement brings the total Department of Canadian Heritage contribution to the West End Cultural Centre's redevelopment project to $1.13 million.
Information : Dominic Gosselin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages
819 997-7788
Debbie McDonald
Administrative Assistant
Office of the Member of Parliament for
Kildonan-St. Paul
204 984-6322
Angela Cassie
A/Director of Communications
Prairies and Northern Region
Canadian Heritage
204 983-4367
