MEDIA RELEASE
DATE: April 8, 2010
For immediate release
The Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture award a Celebrate Ontario Grant to the 2010 Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival
The organizers of the 2010 Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival are very pleased to announce that they have been selected to receive a $38,100 grant from the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture.
The Ministry’s Celebrate Ontario 2010 Program has earmarked $12 million to increase the economic potential of new and existing tourism festivals and events. The program is available to festivals and events taking place in Ontario between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2011.
While the Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival’s operational expenses are largely covered by donations from area sponsors, the Celebrate Ontario Grant program is to be used specifically to secure musical talent and help expand the scope and appeal of the event ~ including expanding the popular “Blues Cruise” Classic Car event and The Broadway Garden, which will feature another stage and licensed refreshments area. The Festival has received Celebrate Ontario grants in each of the last four years. The grants have been a significant contributor to its growth and success during these years, allowing the Festival to expand its programming to create one of the premier Blues and Jazz festivals in Ontario.
The Honourable Michael Chan, Ontario Minister of Tourism and Culture states that “Festivals and events are important economic drivers for tourism and culture in Ontario”. He adds, “Celebrate Ontario will help the Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival attract more visitors to the community and stimulate the local economy.”
Festival Artistic Director and Co-Founder Larry Kurtz agrees. According to him, “Celebrate Ontario has been a major factor in our continued growth and success.” He continues, “We have been able to bring our vision of a great community event to life thanks to this important funding. People from far and wide now know that Orangeville is the place to be on the first weekend in June!”
The Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival is the single largest event in the Hills of Headwaters region and one of the most highly-respected events of its kind inCanada – a claim that is verified by the number of Juno Award winners that perform each year.
In 2003, its first year, the Festival was launched and managed by a team of just five (5) volunteers and attracted 2,000 visitors. By 2009, attendance had grown to over 26,000 visitors and the event injected over $1.1million into the local economy – thanks to the efforts a team of over 130 dedicated volunteers.
Now in its 8th consecutive year, the 2010 Festival will take place from June 3rd to 6th and will feature an ever growing program of events, which will appeal to a broad range of interests and tastes. Attendance is also expected to exceed 31,000.
For more information about the Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival, visit www.objf.org. From this website you may also enter a draw to WIN a VIP Blues and Jazz Festival Weekend for Two (valued at $890), view the festival’s Facebook profile page, and/or to subscribe to The Groove: “The official newsletter of the Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival“ to keep up to date with festival-related news.
Enquiries about the Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival can also be sent via e-mail to Gord McWilliams, Festival Administrator.
