FrancoFolies de Montréal Launches the 16th Francophone Music Festival
MONTRÉAL, July 29, 2004 -- Minister of Canadian Heritage Liza Frulla today announced funding for the 16th FrancoFolies de Montréal, which will run from July 29 to August 7."The FrancoFolies de Montréal has the kind of energy that we want to continue to inject into Canadian culture," said Minister Frulla. "For 16 years, this festival has provided an opportunity for Francophone artists to perform and renew themselves artistically. The FrancoFolies festival is one of the major summer events that contributes to Montréal's cultural vitality and generates significant economic benefits. I wish the FrancoFolies de Montréal another successful festival this year."
The 16th FrancoFolies will present almost 1000 Francophone artists from across Canada and around the world representing a wide variety of musical styles. More than 150 free shows will take place outdoors, including several special presentations. This year, a series of concerts featuring hip-hop music will be presented for the first time. Last year, the festival attracted more than 800 000 participants, about half of them young people. The festival also attracts a growing number of people from cultural communities, as well as tourists from abroad.
Financial assistance of $75,000 is provided to the FrancoFolies de Montréal by the Department of Canadian Heritage through its Arts Presentation Canada Program. Arts Presentation Canada 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 $207 million in funding.
Funding for this initiative was provided for in the March 2004 federal Budget.
Information:
Donald Boulanger
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788
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