Canadian Heritage Provides Grant to Ex Machina to Renovate the Dalhousie Fire Station
QUEBEC CITY, January 22, 1996 -- The Honourable Michel Dupuy, Minister of Canadian Heritage, today announced financial assistance for Ex Machina, a non-profit organization administered and operated by Robert Lepage and colleagues, for the renovation of the former Dalhousie fire station, in Quebec City."The work proposed by Ex Machina is very important," considers Mr. Dupuy. "It will breathe new life into the cultural, theatre and artistic scene in Quebec and all of Canada, with local, regional, national and international impact."
The project, to be completed by the fall of 1996, will consist of renovating and fitting out the Dalhousie fire station in Quebec City to turn it into a multidisciplinary research and production centre for theatre, opera, puppet theatre, television and video, film, multi-image presentations, music, performance, combined arts and lectures.
The contribution of $2 million was granted under Component II - Capital Assistance -of the Cultural Initiatives Program (CIP). Since its inception, the CIP has granted funding to many professional cultural organizations in order to improve management or for projects involving capital assistance, festivals or special events in areas such as cinema, dance, design, music, theatre and the visual arts.
Ex Machina will be producing and distributing shows by Robert Lepage and other members of the organization, and will co-ordinate all Lepage's activities. He is a very well-known figure on the international scene, recipient of both the Order of Canada and the Governor General's Award.
"Canadian Heritage's support of cultural organizations, such as Ex Machina, demonstrates the Canadian government's desire to contribute to developing and maintaining an environment that favours the advancement of the arts in Quebec," stated Mr. Dupuy. "The federal government is aware of the major contributions that such organizations make to enriching our artistic heritage."
Funding for this project, which was included in the federal budget tabled in February 1995, is part of established funding. The support granted shows that culture is among the priorities defined by this government to better serve Canadians and make rational use of public funds.
Information:
Nicole Racette
Public Affairs, Quebec Region
Canadian Heritage
(514) 283-1544
Neil Wilson
Press Secretary
Minister's Office
(819) 997-7788
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