Stephenville Theatre Festival receives funding

Mr. Bill Matthews, MP for Burin-St. George�s, on behalf of Gerry Byrne, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), and the Honourable Kevin Aylward, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, today announced $40,000 in funding to assist Stephenville Festival Inc. with the production of its popular Stephenville Theatre Festival, which takes place during July and August.

The funding, which is through the Canada-Newfoundland Comprehensive Economic Development Agreement (CEDA), will provide event program support to enhance the tourism impact of the 2002 Stephenville Theatre Festival. The festival was established in 1979 and has produced 22 years of professional theatre in Newfoundland and Labrador, attracting local, national and international audiences.

"The Stephenville Theatre Festival is an important tourism attraction for this region, and has a significant impact on the economy on the West Coast," said Mr. Matthews. "The Government of Canada, through ACOA, is proud to support this initiative, which has a proven track record for offering first class theatre production."

"Our Renewal Strategy for Jobs and Growth highlights the many opportunities for the continued development of our province�s tourism industry. Initiatives such as the Stephenville Theatre Festival attract audiences from all over the world and help strengthen the overall tourism industry in the region," said Minister Aylward.

This initiative is being funded under the Cultural and Heritage Industries element of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Comprehensive Economy Development Agreement, a three-year, $3.4 million fund administered federally by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Canadian Heritage, and provincially by the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. The fund is overseen by advisory committees comprising leaders in the cultural and heritage industries in this province.

Media contact:

Peter Graham, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of State for ACOA, (613) 957-9959
Doug Burgess, ACOA, (709) 772-2935
Vanessa Coleman-Sadd, Tourism, Culture and Recreation, (709) 729-0857

2002 03 27                           4:35 p.m.