Government of Canada Helps Promote Atlantic Talent to International Markets
OTTAWA, October 17, 2005 -- The Honourable Joe McGuire, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Member of Parliament (Egmont), on behalf of the Honourable Liza Frulla, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Status of Women, today announced $35,000 in funding for the Atlantic Presenters Association (APA). Funding will enable the Association to invite delegates and talent scouts from abroad to its biannual Contact East Trade Show, which will take place in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, October 16-19, 2005."Contact East is an opportunity for delegates, industry professionals, and visitors to experience the wealth of talent in Canada," said Mr. McGuire. "Many creative Canadian performers, including a number from Prince Edward Island, will also have the opportunity to meet members of the international music industry and promote their abilities."
"The Atlantic Presenters Association and Contact East provide Eastern Canadian artists with valuable exposure to audiences and representatives of the music business from across Canada and around the world," said Minister Frulla. "I am pleased to support this initiative, which will help ensure the vitality of CanadaÕs music industry by expanding its markets."
The Atlantic Presenters Association facilitates professional performing arts touring in Atlantic Canada. In addition to its work on the Contact East trade show, the Association supports the presentation of East Coast artists throughout Atlantic Canada.
Financial assistance is provided by the Department of Canadian Heritage through the Trade Routes program. The program helps arts and cultural entrepreneurs and organizations to penetrate the global marketplace. Support is available for all sectors of arts and culture, including the performing arts, visual arts, film and video, television, music and sound recording, publishing, design, crafts, heritage preservation and restoration, and new media.
Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 2005 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.
Information:
Jean-François Del Torchio
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Status of Women
(819) 997-7788
Ron Crozier
Special Assistant
Office of Joe McGuire, Member of Parliament
(613) 992-9223
Jean-Guy Beaupré
Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-9314
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