Government of Canada Ensures Financial Stability of Cultural Sector by Renewing Arts Investments for Next Five Years

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Jun 26 (MARKET WIRE) --
The Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official
Languages, today announced the renewal of arts funding for the next five
years. He made the announcement at the Vancouver Arts Summit, where he
also discussed the benefits of the creative economy and the opportunities
presented to the arts and cultural sectors by the changing technological
landscape.

"The cultural sector needs stability in this time of economic
uncertainty. With ongoing investments by our Government, artists and arts
organizations can plan their activities for the longer term and continue
to create, produce, and present innovative works that will make Canadians
proud," said Minister Moore.

These renewed investments in the arts represent $504 million in support
over five years and are in addition to measures announced in Canada's
Economic Action Plan. These measures include a 41-percent increase in the
budget for the Canada Arts Training Fund(i) and additional funding of $60
million over two years for the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund,(i) doubling
the budget for the program this year and extending it to 2010-2011.

This brings total Government of Canada investment to $1.51 billion for
the fiscal years from 2010 to 2015. Of the funding announced today, $25
million per year will go to the Canada Council for the Arts, maintaining
its yearly funding at its highest level ever-$181 million.

"Our Government is spending more on arts and culture, and we're spending
more efficiently," added Minister Moore. "Each of our arts programs has
undergone an evaluation process and can now be more effective in our
efforts to support the arts community."

"Today's announcement is excellent news for artists and arts
organizations throughout our country, as well as all Canadians whose
lives are enriched by the arts," said Alain Pineau, National Director of
the Canadian Conference of the Arts. "A five-year financial commitment
provides exactly the kind of stability that the sector needs to be able
to continue making an important contribution to our society and economy."

The Canada Cultural Investment Fund(i) will continue to help our arts and
heritage organizations find more income sources and become increasingly
financially viable. Funding for cultural and heritage infrastructure will
continue through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund,(i) and support for
festivals and professional arts events will continue through the Canada
Arts Presentation Fund(i) (provisional title).

Through its arts policies and programs, the Government of Canada aims to
promote Canadian artistic talent and provide with access to the arts. The
Government's investments in the arts sector help further develop creative
excellence in Canada, allow many Canadians to have access to the arts,
and ensure arts organizations develop in a sustainable environment.

(i) Note that the following four programs have changed their names.
However, their mandate and objectives remain the same.

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Former name New name
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Canadian Arts and Heritage Canada Cultural Investment Fund
Sustainability Program
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Cultural Spaces Canada Program Canada Cultural Spaces Fund
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National Arts Training Contribution Program Canada Arts Training Fund
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Arts Presentation Canada Program Canada Arts Presentation Fund
(provisional title)
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BACKGROUNDER

How much funding is being announced today?

The Government of Canada's renewed investment in the arts includes $51.8
million growing to $81.8 million annually for Canadian Heritage arts
programs and $25 million annually for the Canada Council for the Arts.
This means a total of $504 million over five years as follows:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Funding Renewed ($M)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
PCH Programs 2010- 2011- 2012- 2013- 2014- Five-Year
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Total
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Canada Cultural Investment Fund 33.8 33.8 33.8 33.8 33.8 169
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Canada Cultural Spaces Fund N.B. 30 30 30 30 120
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Canada Arts Presentation Fund 18 18 18 18 18 90
(provisional title)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Renewed PCH Program Funding 51.8 81.8 81.8 81.8 81.8 379
Subtotal
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Canada Council for the Arts 25 25 25 25 25 125
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 76.8 106.8 106.8 106.8 106.8 504
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
N.B. $30 million was already confirmed for the Canadian Cultural Spaces
Fund in Canada's Economic Action Plan 2009 for fiscal year 2010-2011.
Therefore, it is not part of this funding renewal and does not appear in
this table.

Today's announcement builds on two increases contained in Canada's
Economic Action Plan 2009:

- An increase of 41 percent to train the next generation of Canada's most
promising artists through the Canada Arts Training Fund, as announced by
Minister Moore in March at the Banff Centre for the Arts. The budget for
this program has increased from $17.1 million to $24.1 million, and
funding has been made ongoing.

- $60 million for the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund to improve arts and
heritage infrastructure-an additional $30 million in 2009-2010, which
doubled the program's funding for the current fiscal year, and a one-year
extension of the program to 2010-2011. (Today's announcement extends this
program from 2011-2012 to 2014-2015.)

Including existing base funding in some programs, the above-noted
increases to the Canada Arts Training Fund and the Canada Cultural Spaces
Fund, and funding announced today, the total investment in the arts by
the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Canada Council for the Arts
will total $1.51 billion over five years as follows:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Funding ($M)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Programs 2010- 2011- 2012- 2013- 2014- Five-Year
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Total
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Canada Cultural Investment Fund 33.8 33.8 33.8 33.8 33.8 169
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Canada Cultural Spaces Fund 30 30 30 30 30 150
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Canada Arts Presentation Fund 33.4 33.4 33.4 33.4 33.4 167
(provisional title)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Canada Arts Training Fund(ii) 24.1 24.1 24.1 24.1 24.1 120.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Renewed Program Funding 121.3 121.3 121.3 121.3 121.3 606.5
Subtotal
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Canada Council for the Arts 181 181 181 181 181 905
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 302.3 302.3 302.3 302.3 302.3 1,512
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Description of Department of Canadian Heritage Arts Programs and
Canada Council for the Arts

Canada Arts Presentation Fund (provisional title)

The Government of Canada has renewed funding of $18 million for the
Canada Arts Presentation Fund, maintaining its total annual budget at
$33.4 million.

This Fund helps give Canadians direct access to a variety of local arts
festivals and professional performing-arts series. The program helps
Canadian not-for-profit organizations expand their programming to
include, for example, the presentation of Canada's emerging artists and
those from other provinces and territories.

In fiscal year 2008-2009 alone, the Canada Arts Presentation Fund
provided funding to 599 organizations in 237 different municipalities.

Through the Government's renewed investment in this fund, Canadians will
continue to have access to arts experiences from all regions of Canada
that reflect our rich cultural landscape. Canadian communities will have
the opportunity to participate in the broadest possible range of
professional artistic experiences created, produced, and distributed
through cultural venues and events.

(ii)Canada Arts Training Fund

Canada's Economic Action Plan 2009 announced increased funding to the
Canada Arts Training Fund, bringing this program's total budget to from
$17.1 million to $24.1 million.

The Canada Arts Training Fund supports the training of artists with great
potential through institutions that offer instruction of the highest
calibre. The program's objective is to contribute to the development of
Canadian creators and future cultural leaders. This year, this program is
providing operating funds to 37 national training schools in artistic
disciplines such as theatre, music, circus arts, dance, and Aboriginal
artistic expression. The Government's enhanced support for this program
will ensure that these important national institutions remain financially
stable and maintain their competitiveness in attracting the best faculty
and students.

Canada Cultural Spaces Fund

Continued annual funding of $30 million through 2014-2015 for the Canada
Cultural Spaces Fund builds on economic stimulus measures announced to
support cultural infrastructure projects in Canada's Economic Action Plan.

The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund supports the physical infrastructure
needed to ensure all Canadians can experience the work of Canadian
artists and appreciate museum collections, heritage displays, and
exhibitions in communities of all sizes across the country. The Fund's
investment in community assets results in more vibrant Canadian
communities while creating economic spinoffs in a variety of sectors
(construction, technology, and cultural tourism). The Government's
continued support for this program will ensure that Canada's cultural
facilities provide the best environment possible for arts and cultural
productions and presentations that Canadians want to experience.

Canada Cultural Investment Fund

The Government of Canada has announced the renewal of $33.8 million for
the Canada Cultural Investment Fund. This funding will help arts and
heritage organizations continue to build and diversify their revenue
streams, strengthen their organizational capacity, business skills, and
competencies. It will also assist them in being better rooted and
recognized in their communities.

This will be achieved through:

- Endowment Incentives, which will continue to stimulate private
donations to arts organizations

- Cultural Capitals of Canada, which will continue to reward Canadian
municipalities for their cultural achievements and support ongoing
cultural development

- Strategic Initiatives, which, through partnerships and collective
efforts, will enable arts and heritage organizations as well as
communities to access resources to implement better business practices,
diversify revenue sources, increase their competitiveness, and advance
cultural development.

Since 2006, the Canada Cultural Investments Fund has provided more than
$44 million to various endowment funds, while the private sector has
provided $72 million, for a total of more than $116 million. It has also
recognized 17 municipalities as Cultural Capitals of Canada based on
their track records for cultural development.

CANADA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS

The Government of Canada is renewing $25 million in existing funding for
the Canada Council for the Arts, which provides direct support to
Canadian artists and arts organizations to support activities such as
creation, production, presentation, and touring.

The Canada Council is a federal Crown corporation with a mandate "to
foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of
works in, the arts." The Canada Council is responsible for its policies,
programs, and decisions. Its primary funding criterion is artistic
excellence. It makes independent funding decisions based on merit as
determined through peer-jury review processes. The juries are composed of
experts in their artistic disciplines from all parts of Canada.

This Government is investing a total of $181 million annually in the
Canada Council for the Arts, the highest level of funding in its
history.

This news release is available on the Internet at
www.canadianheritage.gc.ca under Media Room.

Contacts:
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
and Official Languages
Deirdra McCracken - Director of Communications
819-997-7788
deirdra.mccracken@pch.gc.ca

Canadian Heritage
Western Region
Ginette Montreuil
Regional Manager, Communications
604-666-6504

Canadian Heritage
Media Relations
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155

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