The Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), is supporting Newfoundland and Labrador's music industry and advancing the region's tourism sector by investing in the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention.
The Convention is an international event that will take place in St. John's in August. It will feature concert and solo performances, workshops and an international conference devoted to fiddle and dance traditions of countries from around the North Atlantic Rim.
Federal funding of $35,000 for the Convention was announced today by the Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, on behalf of the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of ACOA.
"This event will place Newfoundland and Labrador's cultural sector on the international stage and will give profile to our many talented musicians from across the province," said Minister Hearn. "The North Atlantic Fiddle Convention will bring a significant boost to the tourism industry and will help promote our province as a cultural destination."
This is the first time the event will be hosted outside of Scotland and organizers are expecting approximately 4,700 attendees, one quarter of whom will be from outside the province. This year's convention will focus on the theme "crossing over," to highlight its first time being held outside of Scotland and to focus on the crossing over of geographical boundaries, musical genres and generations.
"We are very excited to be hosting this event in Newfoundland and Labrador for the first time," said Dr. Anna Kearney-Guigné, chair of the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention. "It will have many benefits for local artists and will give highly qualified professionals in the areas of production, distribution and marketing the opportunity to exchange ideas and enhance their skills."
The North Atlantic Fiddling Convention Newfoundland and Labrador, 2008 Incorporated was created to organize this year's event. Planning is being coordinated with the help of a number of partners, including Memorial University of Newfoundland's School of Music, the Research Centre for Music Media and Place (MMaP) and the Folklore Department, as well as the University of Aberdeen's Elphinstone Institute, the St. John's Arts and Culture Centre, the City of St. John's, Service Canada, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council. Additional corporate media support is being provided by Newcap Radio/Steele Communications.
The first convention took place in Scotland in 2000 and expanded to a larger, international event in 2001 with attendees from places such as Ireland, Sweden, the United States and Canada. In 2006, the event attracted 13,000 attendees from 10 different countries.
ACOA's investment of $35,000 in the project is provided through its Business Development Program.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
The Government of Canada is providing $35,000 for Newfoundland and Labrador to host the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention in St. John's in August. The international event, which has previously only been held in Scotland, is expected to draw 4,700 attendees, one quarter of whom will be from outside of the province. The convention will include concert and solo performances, workshops and an international conference devoted to fiddle and dance traditions of countries from around the North Atlantic Rim.
The announcement of federal government funding was made today by the Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans on behalf of the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
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INFORMATION:
Doug Burgess
Director, Public Affairs
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
709-772-2935
Dr. Anna Kearney-Guigné
Chair
North Atlantic Fiddling Convention Newfoundland and
Labrador, 2008 Incorporated
709-737-3661
