Arts Grants Help Thunder Bay
THUNDER BAY – “Thunder Bay has a vibrant arts and culture community. I want to thank and congratulate those organizations that have received funding through the Ontario Arts Council, and all individuals and groups that contribute to the vitality of this sector in Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario,” stated Bill Mauro, Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP.
Mauro’s announcement of funding for a number of arts and culture projects will supply critical operating funds for a number of regional arts groups.
The Ontario Arts Council is the primary funding body for the professional arts in Ontario. In 2011-2012, the OAC funded 1,681 individual artists and 1,125 organizations in 216 communities across Ontario for a total of $52.8 million.
The arts are a vital part of Ontario’s communities. The culture sector directly generates almost $20 billion annually to Ontario’s economy, and creates more than 250,000 jobs in communities around the province.
In addition to the economic impact, a healthy arts culture sector contributes to the quality of life in our communities – the arts benefit the social, cultural and civic life of Ontarians.
Operating Grants
Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra was awarded $222,000 through the Orchestras program toward its 2013-14 operations. The Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra is the only professional orchestra in Northern Ontario and presents around 35 home performances each year. The TBS Chorus, a Youth Orchestra, extensive regional touring, plus diverse educational and outreach programs in schools and around the region are all part of its annual offerings.
Community Arts & Heritage Education Project (CAHEP) was awarded $40,000 through the Arts Education Organizations program toward its 2013-14 operations. Begun as a pilot project in March 2003, CAHEP incorporated as a non-profit organization in June 2005.
CAHEP is a grassroots community-based arts education organization that develops and implements multidisciplinary arts and heritage programming and resources for Thunder Bay communities. CAHEP sees the importance of collaborative work of people of all ages in the building of healthy, creative and enriched communities.
CAHEP has been busy in the downtown Fort William Business area doing several projects with Youth Centres Thunder Bay and the local BIA.
In addition, CAHEP has been active with the several of the initiatives in Thunder Bay including Evergreen neighbourhood, the Windsor Junot area’s Community Action Group and the Underground Gym.
Project Grants:
Atikokan Children’s Entertainment Series was awarded $6,000 through the Ontario Arts Presenters program toward five artistic performances of varying genres between October 2013 and May 2014 for family audiences of Atikokan and surrounding areas, including First Nation reserves.
Atikokan Entertainment Series was awarded $4,700 through the Ontario Arts Presenters program toward a series of six family-oriented shows, which will include theatre, folk, comedy, pop and dance, from September 2013 to March 2014.
Sleeping Giant Folk Music Society was awarded $3,300 through the Ontario Arts Presenters program toward six concerts in Thunder Bay between September 2013 and May 2014. They will provide local and regional access to live folk music performance featuring a diversity of professional musicians.
Related articles
