St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
The province’s internationally renowned choral event, Festival 500 Sharing the Voices, officially gets underway in St. John’s today, thanks to support from the Government of Canada. Senator Elizabeth Marshall, on behalf of the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and La Francophonie, made the announcement today.
“The economy is our government’s top priority and we recognize that vibrant cultural industries contribute to a strong nation,” said Senator Marshall. “Our support for Festival 500 ensures the events can help build capacity in the province’s arts and cultural industries while serving as a catalyst for cultural and economic growth in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Festival 500 is a biennial, non-competitive choral festival that attracts professional choral groups from around the world. It provides groups with performance opportunities, the chance to work with and learn from guest artists and clinicians, and the opportunity to participate in workshops, seminars and joint performances.
Since it began in 1997, Festival 500 has expanded outside St. John’s, including a West Coast Regional Festival in Corner Brook, the Labrador Regional Festival in Happy Valley – Goose Bay, outreach events in Ferryland and the Brigus area, as well as The Phenomenon of Singing, an international academic symposium co-sponsored by Memorial University. This year, Festival 500 is launching two new initiatives: the Professional Development Program for Small Vocal Ensembles, which involves specialized mentoring for individuals and groups by international choral experts, and the Foreign Choir Sponsorship Initiative, which assists international choirs through financial support needed to participate in Festival events.
“Festival 500 offers unique experiences to those in the local, national and international choral industry,” said Harry Connors, chair of the Festival 500 Corporation Board of Directors. “This funding will help ensure that we can continue to enrich the lives of visitors and residents with diverse programming, while making a positive contribution to the local economy.”
ACOA funding of $300,000 for Festival 500 is being provided through a contribution of $200,000 from the agency’s Business Development Program and $100,000 from its Innovative Communities Fund. This funding will support costs associated with events held in St. John’s, such as artistic and production costs, participant services, professional staff and administration fees, and symposium costs. As well, ACOA assistance will be used to coordinate and promote Festival events at rural venues around the province, including Corner Brook, Labrador, Ferryland, and Brigus/Cupids.
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Festival 500 Sharing the Voices officially gets underway in St. John’s today, thanks to support from the Government of Canada.
Festival 500 is a renowned international choral festival that attracts professional choral groups from around the world. Since the Festival began in 1997, it has continued to grow in popularity and success, and has expanded across the province.
Senator Elizabeth Marshall, on behalf of ACOA Minister Bernard Valcourt, today announced $300,000 to the Festival 500 Corporation through ACOA’s Business Development Program and Innovative Communities Fund. Federal assistance will support costs associated with events in St. John’s, as well as costs to coordinate events at rural venues in Corner Brook, Labrador, Brigus and Ferryland.
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INFORMATION:
Janine McCarthy
A/Director, Public Affairs
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
709-772-2935
Aimee Donahue
Fund Development and Marketing Officer
Festival 500 Corporation
709-738-6013
