Government of Canada helps double the amount raised by fundraising campaigns of five arts organizations in Montréal
MONTREAL, April 15, 2004 -- The Government of Canada helped double the amount of money raised from private donors through the fundraising campaigns of five Montreal-based arts organizations. This announcement was made by the Honourable Hélène Chalifour Scherrer, Minister of Canadian Heritage at a news conference held at Montreal's Place des Arts. Representatives of the organizations receiving the funding were also in attendance.The Government of Canada's contribution of almost $1.4 million is being distributed to the five Montreal performing arts groups to match the amount that each raised and paid into their foundation during their 2003-2004 fundraising campaigns. This financial support will enable these organizations to consolidate their revenues and find new sources of funding. The groups receiving funds are: The Compagnie Jean Duceppe, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, I Musici de Montréal Chamber Orchestra, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, and the Théâtre du Nouveau-Monde.
"Montreal is recognized for its great vitality, and this reputation is certainly reinforced by the presence of numerous arts bodies in the city. A symphony orchestra, a dance company or a theatre group makes an indispensable contribution to the energy of a community, and enriches the quality of life of its citizens," said Minister Chalifour Scherrer. "The groups we are partnering with today have demonstrated a sound approach to management, and their impressive artistic achievements deserve the praise of every Montrealer. The Government of Canada is very proud to provide them with one dollar for every dollar raised during their 2003-2004 fundraising campaigns."
Canadian Heritage provides this financial support through the Endowment Incentives component of the Canadian Arts and Heritage Sustainability Program. Under this initiative, government funding is added to funds already raised. The initiative encourages private giving to the endowment funds of arts organizations, in order that these organizations may gain access to new and predictable sources of funds. This program was launched as part of the Tomorrow Starts Today arts funding initiative. The budget for this important undertaking, which was renewed in 2004-2005 for a fourth year, is now $207 million.
Funding for this project was provided for in the March 2004 federal budget.
Backgrounders are available at the Internet address provided below.
Information:
Mylène Dupéré
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788
Grands Ballets Canadiens - $ 65,000
Established in 1957 by Ludmilla Chiriaeff, Montréal's Les Grands Ballets Canadiens has played a major role in the development and promotion of ballet in Montréal and the rest of Canada. As an example of its role in promotion, there are the four major productions the Company stages in Montréal every year. On the international level, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens undertakes two major tours every year. This year, before mid-April, Les Grands Ballets had performed in Ottawa, Quebec City and in California, and had performed during an international tour in six German cities, leading up to a final performance in Madrid.
The 34 dancers of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens work under the artistic direction of one of the giants of the dance world, Gradimir Pankov.
I Musici de Montréal Chamber Orchestra - $ 63,000
Founded and directed by conductor and cellist Yuli Turovsky, I Musici de Montréal is a 15-member chamber orchestra whose vast repertoire spans from baroque classics to contemporary music. I Musici's reach is considerable, with more than 100 concerts a year in Montréal and abroad. Since its beginnings in 1983, I Musici de Montréal has recorded with Chandos Records, which has produced the orchestra's 42 CDs. This special relationship has enabled I Musici to be heard in over 52 countries.
This Montreal-based institution has recieved many honours, including a "Diapason d'or", two Opus awards, the Grand Prize of the Montreal Urban Community Arts Council and a JUNO nomination.
Compagnie Jean Duceppe - $ 188,765
In 1973, Jean Duceppe founded the theatre group that bears his name, investing it with all the passion, instinct and stubbornness that he himself was famous for. Setting up in the Théâtre Port-Royal in Place des Arts, in its first season the company performed before 150,000 theatre-goers. Thirty years later, the theatre company will welcome its 5,000,000th audience member, during a performance of the play Charbonneau et le Chef, which is running from April 14 to 22, 2004. In 2003-2004, the Compagnie Jean Duceppe celebrated its 31st season. Jean Duceppe gave the company the push it needed to become one of Quebec's most respected cultural institution's, and those who followed him, led by Michel Dumont and Louise Duceppe, are certain to maintain that drive. Compagnie Jean Duceppe has also put the accent on contemporary works that deal with important modern-day issues, such as our concerns about culture and society.
Le Théâtre du Nouveau Monde -$ 60,500
On the evening of August 1, 1951, six young men came together to launch a new theatre, le Théâtre du Nouveau Monde. In 1966, TNM introduced a subscription plan for its loyal audience members. Important international tours in 1971, 1973 and 1975 brought TNM to such distant locales as the USSR, Czechoslovakia, Francophone Africa and France. TNM is a theatre that produces and presents the major plays of the national and international repertoire, while at the same time providing a space for the creation of original works.
More recently, in 2001, TNM celebrated its 50th anniversary through a major exchange project with France. The 2003-2004 season saw it embark on another large-scale co-production with theatres from Marseilles and Nanterre.
Montreal Symphony Orchestra - $ 1,000,000
Established in 1934 by a group of passionate music lovers, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra is one of the crown jewels of the Canadian arts scene. Today, the MSO is a professional ensemble of great renown, made up of nearly one hundred musicians. Its music reaches throughout Quebec, across Canada, and around the world. In the past twenty years, the orchestra has completed more than 38 national and international tours. The Montreal Symphony Orchestra has also made 88 recordings on labels such as Decca, EMI, Philips and CBC Records. These have won 46 national and international awards, including 12 JUNOs and 6 Félix awards. This year, the MSO announced that world-renowned conductor Kent Nagano will take on the role of musical director beginning in 2006, succeeding an impressive list of conductors that includes some of the most accomplished in the field.
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