NLIS 1
July 18, 2003
(Industry, Trade and Rural Development)

 

Rising Tide and Rebel Island Theatres receive funding support

Gerry Byrne, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Newfoundland and Labrador�s representative in the federal Cabinet, and Judy Foote, Minister of Industry, Trade and Rural Development, announced funding today for two theatre companies. Rising Tide Theatre�s Summer in the Bight Festival in the Trinity area will receive $95,000 and Rebel Island Theatre�s NaGeira Festival in Carbonear will receive $15,000 under the Culture and Heritage Industries element of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Comprehensive Economic Development Agreement.

"Investments in the cultural industries create huge benefits for the Newfoundland and Labrador economy. Last year alone, these two theatre projects created and maintained five long term positions, and nearly 100 short-term jobs," said Minister Byrne. "These activities are proving themselves beneficial in the communities that host them, and make an invaluable contribution to the development of our tourism industry."

Rebel Island Theatre produces the NaGeira Theatre Festival, which has been drawing audiences to Carbonear since 1997. The theatre company is a non-profit entity and governed by a board of directors appointed by the Town of Carbonear. Under new artistic director Michael Chiasson, the company is offering eight plays this year, including Ray Guy�s Young Triffie�s Been Made Away With, Ed Kavanagh�s Amanda Greenleaf and the Spell of the Water Witch, and John Sheehan�s Harbour Grace � A Gull�s Eye View. In addition, Rebel Island Theatre offers a dinner and Lorne Elliott�s theatre comedy Culture Shock.

"In 2002 we attracted over 3,000 people," said Florence Button, general manager, Rebel Island Theatre Company. "In some ways we�re just getting our feet wet, but we�re very pleased with where we are. We�re looking forward to an exciting season; we have a full lineup of fabulous theatre this year. This kind of support really helps us, and the whole community, build the event." While the festival is still relatively new to audiences, the company has been successful in qualifying for assistance from the Canada Council. The event creates and maintains employment, builds skills and community infrastructure and contributes to the economic strength of the Carbonear region.

"Newfoundland and Labrador has a rich cultural heritage that defines us as a people and shapes our identity on the national and international stage. Our cultural industries currently employ more than 2,800 people and contribute almost $200 million to the provincial economy," said Minister Foote. "Groups like Rising Tide and Rebel Island Theatre keep our cultural traditions alive while providing a wide range of economic benefits to the communities that support them. The province�s culture and heritage also plays an integral part in defining and enhancing our tourism product to the world."

Rising Tide Theatre was established in 1978, and is the province�s leading professional theatre company. The Summer in the Bight Theatre Festival is Newfoundland and Labrador�s premier theatre attraction. "I�m really proud of where we�ve come with this over the past 25 years," said Rising Tide Theatre�s artistic director and executive producer Donna Butt. "The people of this community have worked so hard with us and we have become one to make this thing happen. But this kind of success doesn�t happen over night without support from a wonderful dedicated team and an extraordinary community." Last year, the company performed for approximately 25,000 people and is both an artistic and economic jewel in the province�s tourism crown. The event�s economic impact is estimated at $4 million dollars annually. The 2003 season includes plays, pageants and dinner theatre running from June to the end of August.

The Cultural and Heritage Industries Program of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Comprehensive Economic Development Agreement is 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 comprised of leaders in the cultural and heritage industries in this province.

For more information, please contact:

Olivia Letemplier
Office of the Hon. Gerry Byrne
Minister of State for ACOA
(613) 941-7241

Doug Burgess
Director, Public Affairs
ACOA
(709) 772-2935

Tansy Mundon
Director of Communications
Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development
(709) 729-4570

Florence Button
General Manager
Rebel Island Theatre
(709) 596-7453

Donna Butt
Artistic Director and Executive Producer
Rising Tide Theatre
(709) 464-3847

2003 07 18                                         9:50 a.m.


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