Office of Terry Sheehan
Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie
News Release
Sheehan announces federal funding for Over the Rainbow and Fringe Festival
(Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario—July 22, 2021) Sault MP Terry Sheehan is pleased to announce $30,100 in support of the Fringe North International Theatre Festival and $27,000 in support of the Over the Rainbow Children’s Entertainment.
With the support of federal funding, Canadians are able to enjoy a wider variety of professional artistic experiences in their communities.
Each year, the federal government supports professional arts festivals, performing-arts series and other arts activities in more than 250 cities and communities across Canada.
Investments in arts and culture result in economic growth, as the cultural sector generates more than 3.5 per cent of jobs in Canada and employs more than 652,000 Canadians. Recently the Government of Canada announced continued Support for Arts, Culture, Heritage and Sport Sector Organizations through Budget 2021. For more info please visit https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/news/2021/06/continued-support-for-arts-culture-heritage-and-sport-sector-organizations.html
QUOTES
“I am proud that our government invests in cultural organizations. The Fringe North International Theatre Festival and the Over the Rainbow Children’s performances lead to many spin-off benefits in our community—promoting inclusion and diversity, showcasing our creators and creative industries, and supporting economic growth and tourism.”
--Terry Sheehan, Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie, Parliamentary Secretary to The Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (FedNor)
“Festivals give all Canadians the opportunity to experience the arts close to home. Our government is proud to support this festival. Events like this one bring vitality and jobs to local communities, making them even better places to live.”
—The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage
"As an organization, Fringe North is committed to creating new and sustainable opportunities in the arts and culture sector. We are so grateful to announce several paid positions for youth this year, made possible by funding and support from the Canada Summer Jobs program. We are also thrilled to be able to pay artists this year, with funding from Canadian Heritage. Paid employment in the arts is critical and necessary, especially in Northern Ontario, where the standard seems to be that people who want to work in this sector have to leave. Ensuring there is funding to support paying arts professionals one of the crucial steps to ensuring there are opportunities for them right here in our own community."
--Tova Arbus, President, Fringe North
“Over the Rainbow Children’s Entertainment is thrilled to receive a grant from Canadian Heritage for the next three years. This Grant will make it possible for us to continue our mandate to bring in world class professional entertainers and ensure opportunities for the children/youth of Sault Ste. Marie to experience live performances. The pandemic has created challenges and this grant is so necessary to allow us to plan for the future and will enable us to bring in performances quickly as soon as it is safe to do so.”
--Sandra Houston, Over the Rainbow Children’s Entertainment
Associated Links
Fringe North International Theatre Festival
Over the Rainbow Children’s Entertainment
Media Contact
Sandra Paul
705-542-8463
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