A wide range of arts organizations will benefit from an investment by the Government of Canada to foster the development of arts and to enable Canadians to enjoy outstanding artistic experiences.

The Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages today announced the Government of Canada is investing in 67 arts organizations.

These groups will share $11 million, which supplement private-sector donations to endowment funds. Public charitable foundations will hold the Government funding for these arts organizations.

"Our Government is pleased to support the efforts of organizations that allow Canadians to enjoy diverse and enriching experiences in such artistic disciplines as opera, dance, music, and theatre," said Minister Verner. "I am proud to support organizations that work to showcase the excellence of our artists and the cultural vitality of our country. Today's announcement demonstrates our Government's commitment to the arts, as well as our commitment to stimulating private sector investments which help assure the vitality of the arts and culture in communities across Canada."

"Vancouver Foundation applauds the Government of Canada for helping our province's arts organizations move toward more long-term, financial sustainability," said Faye Wightman, President and CEO of Vancouver Foundation, Canada's largest community foundation. "This endowment matching program, along with endowment funding offered through the British Columbia Arts Renaissance Fund, and donations from private investors, enables arts organizations to build a reliable stream of income that will help them create and deliver arts to our communities for years to come."

The Government of Canada is providing this funding through the Endowment Incentives Component of the Canadian Arts and Heritage Sustainability Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage. This program component seeks to encourage private donors to contribute to endowment funds for arts organizations, so that they may have access to stable and predictable long-term funding. Since 2002, the Department has provided over $73 million to endowment funds, while the private sector has contributed close to $103 million, for a total investment of $176 million.

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