Minister Joly Announces Funding for Yukon-Based Arts, Culture and Official-Language Organizations

WHITEHORSE, YUKON--(Marketwired - Feb. 27, 2016) - Department of Canadian Heritage

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, today announced support for nine Yukon-based arts, culture and official-language organizations.

Funding will enable these organizations to continue their important work in promoting the arts, fostering and developing official languages in minority communities, supporting local festivals, and celebrating emerging and established artists.

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#GoC is proud to invest in #arts and #culture in #Yukon @YukonArtsCentre 1/2

From festivals to performance spaces to #officiallanguages. The #arts are vital to our communities 2/2 @YukonArtsCentre

Quick Facts

- Total funding of $2,026,080 has been provided to nine organizations: the Association franco-yukonnaise, the Dawson City Arts Society, the Dawson City Music Festival Association, Jazz Yukon, Les EssentiElles, the Nakai Theatre Ensemble, Whitehorse Concerts, the Yukon Arts Centre and the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous Society.

- Projects have been funded under the following programs of the Department of Canadian Heritage: Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program, the Canada Arts Presentation Fund, the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund and the Development of Official-Language Communities Program. See the attached backgrounder for additional information.

Quotes

"Each of these organizations contributes to the richness, diversity and unique character of the North. The Government of Canada values creators in all fields; investing in talented Canadians helps create jobs, encourages tourism and improves overall quality of life and sense of community."

- The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage

"On behalf of the Association franco-yukonnaise, I want to thank the Minister of Canadian Heritage for renewing our funding for the next three years. This funding will allow us to pursue our community development activities and thus better respond to the needs of francophones in the Yukon."

- André Bourcier, Vice President, Association franco-yukonnaise

"The support of Canadian Heritage has made it possible for the Yukon Arts Centre (YAC) to upgrade is 24-year-old sound system to the 21^st century. The new system will benefit not only YAC, but also the many Yukon groups that use the theatre: Whitehorse Choir, Blue Feather Festival, the Available Light Film Festival and many others."

- Al Cushing, Chief Executive Officer, Yukon Arts Centre

"The Board of the Yukon Arts Centre Corporation is very grateful for the support of Canadian Heritage for our sound system. The Arts Centre is the best performance venue in the North, which means we can attract top-notch talent from both north and south of 60. This sound system is an important part of keeping the Arts Centre a first-rate facility."

- Dr. Deborah Bartlette, Chair Board, Yukon Arts Centre Corporation

"Canadian Heritage stepped up to help transform the performing and listening experience at our 25-year-old Yukon Arts Centre. The new sound environment is natural, inclusive and beyond expectations. This upgrade raises the bar with new performance capabilities and aural outcomes-a great thing for Northern audiences."

- Duncan Sinclair, President, Jazz Yukon

Associated Links

Association franco-yukonnaise

Dawson City Arts Society

Dawson City Music Festival Association

Jazz Yukon

Les EssentiElles

Nakai Theatre Ensemble

Whitehorse Concerts

Yukon Arts Centre

Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous Society

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Backgrounder

Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage The Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program provides Canadians with more opportunities to take part in activities that present local arts and culture and celebrate local history and heritage.
City	Organization		Project	Funding and Year
Dawson City	Dawson City Arts Society		Dawson City International Short Film Festival	$2,000 (2015-16)
Whitehorse	Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous Society		2016 Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous Festival	$49,400 (2015-16)
				TOTAL: $51,400

Canada Arts Presentation Fund The Canada Arts Presentation Fund gives Canadians increased access to the variety and richness of Canada's culture through professional arts festivals, presentations of live professional performances, and other artistic experiences.
City	Organization		Project	Funding and Year
Dawson City	Dawson City Music Festival Association		Dawson City Music Festival and Concert Series	$32,000 (2016-17) $32,000 (2017-18)
Dawson City	Dawson City Arts Society		Klondike Institute of Art and Culture Performing Arts Series	$7,500 (2016-17) $7,500 (2017-18)
Whitehorse	Jazz Yukon		Jazz on the Wing	$20,600 (2016-17) $20,600 (2017-18)
Whitehorse	Nakai Theatre Ensemble		Pivot Theatre Festival	$14,000 (2016-17) $14,000 (2017-18)
Whitehorse	Whitehorse Concerts		Classical Currents	$22,000 (2016-17) $22,000 (2017-18)
				TOTAL: $192,200

Canada Cultural Spaces Fund The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund program seeks to improve physical conditions for artistic creativity and arts presentation or exhibition. It is also designed to increase access for Canadians to performing, visual, and media arts, and to museum collections and heritage displays.
City	Organization		Project	Funding and Year
Whitehorse	Yukon Arts Centre		Sound System Renewal	$166,800 (2015-16)
				TOTAL: $166,800

Development of Official-Language Communities Program The Development of Official-Language Communities Program aims to foster the development of Canada's minority Anglophone and Francophone communities and enable them to participate fully in all aspects of Canadian life.
City	Organization		Project	Funding and Year
Whitehorse	Association franco-yukonnaise		2016-19 programming	$491,853 (2016-17) $491,853 (2017-18) $491,853 (2018-19)
Whitehorse	Les EssentiElles		2016-19 programming	$46,707 (2016-17) $46,707 (2017-18) $46,707 (2018-19)
				TOTAL: $1,615,680