Festival International De Musique Actuelle De Victoriaville Launches its 21st Edition
VICTORIAVILLE, May 20, 2004 -- The Honourable Hélène Chalifour Scherrer, Minister of Canadian Heritage, today announced Government of Canada support for the 21st edition of the Festival international de musique actuelle de Victoriaville (FIMAV), taking place from May 20 to 24 in Victoriaville."The Government of Canada is proud to be associated with North America's largest avant-garde music festival," said Minister Chalifour Scherrer. "By focussing on originality and the desire to offer a unique musical experience, event organizers will enable many Canadians to discover new cultural horizons while making a significant contribution to the entire region's tourist development."
Those who love innovative music are once again invited to this one-of-a-kind gathering which will feature a diversity of musical influences. FIMAV's 21st edition is counting on Europe's and the Americas' leading-edge greats, Cyro Baptista, Louis Sclavis and Lorri Freedman. More than 100 musicians will take to a variety of stages in the city over the course of the five-day festival.
Initiated in 1983 by artists and cultural organizers in the Victoriaville region brought together under the Productions Plateforme Inc. banner, FIMAV has won numerous awards since its inception, including the Ambassadeur par excellence de la région des Bois-Francs award from Tourisme Bois-Francs and the Special jury prize at the Grands Prix du tourisme québécois in 2002.
Financial assistance of $65,000 is provided by the Department of Canadian Heritage through its Arts Presentation Canada program. This program seeks to give Canadians more access to direct experiences of the diversity and richness of Canada's culture through professional arts festivals, presentation of live professional performances, and other artistic experiences provided by arts presenters. It is part of the Tomorrow Starts Today initiative, which has been renewed for a fourth year, with a total budget of $207 million.
Funding for this initiative was provided for in the March 2004 federal Budget.
Information:
Marc Roy
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788
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