Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
October 16, 2017

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation:

Provincial Government Celebrates 25^th Anniversary of MusicNL

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to recognize the 25^th anniversary of MusicNL.

What started as a group of musicians recognizing a need for a formal structure, has evolved into an organization that continues to promote, develop and advocate for the music industry in our province.

Mr. Speaker, last night the annual awards show capped off an exciting week of performances, showcases and training opportunities. I also had the pleasure of presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award to Glen Tilley.

This year’s MusicNL Week focused on export development, assisting our musicians and performers with export opportunities, including buyer education and business development training. Our musicians had a chance to perform for buyers from North America and Europe, helping them to gain exposure, learn about the industry, and grow an audience base.

Mr. Speaker, the musical talent that exists in Newfoundland and Labrador is second to none, and artists from this province deserve opportunities to reach as broad an audience as possible.

That is why the Provincial Government proudly invests $350,000 annually in MusicNL, and proudly contributed $34,000 to help MusicNL expand on its robust export development program this year.

By helping local musicians foster their talents and business skills, our government continues to cultivate a culture and style that is all our own, while contributing to the growth of the music sector.

I invite all Honourable members to join me in congratulating MusicNL on a successful 25^th anniversary. Thank you.

2017 10 16                              2:00 p.m.