The Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, today outlined financial support for major festivals and cultural attractions in the province. The Provincial Government, through the Cultural Economic Development Program, is investing a total of $568,000 this year to support professional arts organizations for events or projects that stimulate sustainable economic development in the cultural industries.

As part of this funding, Scott Reid, MHA for St. George’s-Humber, on behalf of Minister Mitchelmore, recently announced $40,000 to support the Stephenville Theatre Festival’s annual operational budget. The Stephenville Theatre Festival is the longest running professional theatre festival in Newfoundland and Labrador, running this year from July 12 to August 11.

A complete breakdown of the support for festivals and cultural attractions can be found in the backgrounder below.

As part of The Way Forward, the Provincial Government released a new Cultural Action Plan to help set priorities and key actions towards supporting and sustaining the cultural sector. The Way Forward outlines all actions the Provincial Government is taking to achieve a strong, diversified province with a high standard of living, and can be viewed at thewayforward.gov.nl.ca.

Quotes
“The Stephenville Theatre Festival is a great example of our rich and unique artistic community that works tirelessly to create, produce and showcase some of the best work featured in this country. The arts and cultural sectors play a very important role in this province, and through our new Cultural Action Plan, we plan to improve opportunities in this vital and growing sector.”
Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

“Stephenville Theatre Festival provides entertaining, engaging and enlightening theatre productions to a culturally diverse local and international market. After 41 seasons the Festival is deeply entwined in the fabric of the community and our identity as an organization is drawn from our home here in Western Newfoundland. It is important to recognize the willingness of the Provincial Government to support our legacy as the longest running professional theatre company in the province and our future as we undertake new and exciting projects in the theatrical arts. Our partnership with government cannot be understated in its importance as we move onward and upward to season 42 and beyond.”
Ivan J White
General Manager, Stephenville Theatre Festival

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Learn more
Stephenville Theatre Festival 

The Way Forward: Cultural Action Plan 

Follow us on Twitter: @GovNL and @TCII_GovNL

Media contacts
Tansy Mundon
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
709-729-4570, 693-1865
tansymundon@gov.nl.ca

Ivan J White
General Manager, Stephenville Theatre Festival
stfgeneralmanager@gmail.com

BACKGROUNDER

Operational Support for Major Festivals and Cultural Attractions in 2019