ORILLIA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Feb. 24, 2011) - The Mariposa Folk Festival and year-round concert series will once again celebrate the best in Canadian folk music with support from the Government of Canada. Funding was announced today by Bruce Stanton, Member of Parliament (Simcoe North), on behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.

The Mariposa Folk Foundation, which will present the 51^st annual festival from July 8 to 10, 2011, at Tudhope Park, has a mission to promote and preserve folk art in Canada through song, story, dance, and craft. The three-day festival is recognized as a leader in folk music presentation and will feature Canadian musicians, family entertainers and diverse artists from Francophone, Aboriginal, and other cultural communities. From April 2011 to March 2012, the organization will also present a series of folk music concerts in Orillia and Toronto.

"Our Government is proud to support the Mariposa Folk Foundation, a recognized leader in folk music presentation," said Minister Moore. "The activities of the Foundation, including the annual Folk Festival and year-round concert series, are essential to the promotion and preservation of Canadian culture."

"The Mariposa Folk Festival and its concert series are much anticipated events," said Mr. Stanton. "Thanks to these activities, a wide audience will enjoy quality programming and diverse performances."

"We are very pleased by this strong show of support for the Mariposa Folk Festival," said Chris Lusty, President, Mariposa Folk Foundation. "In keeping with Mariposa's reputation for artistic excellence and diversity, the funds announced today will allow us to present an exciting line-up of artists from all regions of Canada and other points around the world."

The Government of Canada has provided funding of $40,000 through the Canada Arts Presentation Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage. This program 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.

(This news release is available on the Internet at www.canadianheritage.gc.ca under Newsroom.)