Great Festival Province - Manitoba - to get an injection of Cash

August 4, 2014

PROVINCE ANNOUNCES NEW PROGRAM TO HONOUR COMMUNITY FESITVALS FOR LONGTIME CONTRIBUTION TO PROVINCIAL COMMUNITY IDENTITY

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Icelandic Festival First to be Recognized for Outstanding Achievement: Premier Selinger

GIMLI—Gimli’s Icelandic Festival is the first event to be recognized through Celebrate Manitoba, a new program to honour long-running festivals that showcase Manitoba’s history, artistry and cultural diversity, Premier Greg Selinger announced here today.

“This renowned festival is celebrating its 125th year of sharing the Icelandic culture that shaped the Gimli region so their selection as the first honourees in this program is both appropriate and well-earned,” said Premier Selinger.  “Islendingadagurinn has been around since 1890 and is still a major highlight in Manitoba’s impressive summer festival calendar.”

The Celebrate Manitoba program was created to officially recognize cultural festivals that have celebrated the province’s heritage for 50 years or longer, the premier noted.  Designated festivals will receive an official Celebrate Manitoba certificate after 50 years and festivals celebrating 100 years or more will receive a commemorative plaque.

“We have many festivals that set new standards of excellence in honouring our rich cultural heritage, showcase our diversity and celebrate multiculturalism,” said the premier.  “These festivals spotlight the creativity and artistic talents of Manitobans, while supporting local economies, generating tourism and raising our provincial profile regionally, nationally and internationally.”

Eligible annual events are cultural, community or arts festivals that:

• provide reasonable confirmation of long-running operation of more than 50 years,
• demonstrate significant community partnership and engagement, and
• demonstrate the respectful preservation and sharing of culture through their activities.

For more information or to nominate a festival, contact the Arts Branch of Manitoba Tourism, Culture, Heritage, Sport and Consumer Protection at 204-945-3847 in Winnipeg or visit www.gov.mb.ca/chc/artsbranch.

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