MEDICINE HAT, Alberta, June 22, 2009 - On behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, LaVar Payne, Member of Parliament (Medicine Hat), today announced funding for the Medicine Hat Jazz Society, which will be used for the annual Medicine Hat JazzFest.
JazzFest 2009 will highlight 13 local, 45 national, and 25 international jazz artists in concerts and workshops. The festival will feature an eclectic mix of venues from the signature concert series at the Downtown Bus Terminal Parkade to intimate performances at late-night clubs throughout Medicine Hat. The week long festival will take place from June 22 to 28, 2009.
"This Government knows how essential arts and culture are to our communities and our identity," said Minister Moore. "The Medicine Hat Jazz Society makes an outstanding contribution to the cultural vitality of this region, and we are proud to support it."
"I am delighted that our Government is very supportive of arts and culture in Canada. JazzFest has a long and important history in Medicine Hat," said Mr. Payne. "We have seen this festival grow year after year, and individuals in our riding have been the beneficiaries of the performances of the fine artists who are on stage at this festival."
"In its 13-year history, the Medicine Hat JazzFest has grown from a grassroots, community-based event to a widely recognized world-class festival in a small western Canadian city," said Lyle Rebbeck, Artistic Director of the Medicine Hat Jazz Society. "Support through the Government of Canada has been an integral part of seeing this dream become a reality."
Emerging and featured artists will perform various styles of jazz music at this year's festival, including Dixieland, Latin, and contemporary. The festival features a mix of ticketed and free events, with more than 8,000 people expected to attend in 2009. The purpose of the festival is to provide the public with access to well-known diverse Canadian artists and to challenge audiences with innovative and unique jazz and blues performances.
The Government of Canada has provided funding of $35,000 through the Arts Presentation Canada Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage. This program gives Canadians increased access to the diversity and richness of Canada's culture through professional arts festivals, presentations of live professional performances, and other artistic experiences.
Information:
Deirdra McCracken
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
819-997-7788
deirdra.mccracken@pch.gc.ca Ginette Montreuil
Regional Manager
Communications
Western Region
Canadian Heritage
604-666-6504
Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
