Jazz Is Set to Swing on Digital Platforms
The Government of Canada supports the special digital edition of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal
MONTRÉAL, June 26, 2020 /CNW/ – Arts and culture play an essential role in connecting people and in driving the Canadian economy. By investing heavily in this area, the Government of Canada is contributing to the country’s recovery efforts while providing Canadians with direct access to a variety of high-quality artistic endeavours.
Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Member of Parliament (Laurier–Sainte-Marie), along with the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development (CED) for Quebec Regions, and Member of Parliament (Ahuntsic–Cartierville), announced support from the Government of Canada for the special digital edition of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, which will take place from June 27 to 30, 2020.
Canadian Heritage will provide $1,500,000 in support of the 2020 edition of the Festival, including $1,250,000 through the Canada Arts Presentation Fund. This includes an initial $1 million investment, plus an additional $250,000 allocated under the Covid-19 Emergency Support Fund. This assistance will allow the public to enjoy performances from several artists through exclusive free music content on various digital platforms. The remaining $250,000 will go toward special programming to celebrate Canadian Multiculturalism Day on June 27 as part of the Celebrate Canada program.
CED’s financial contribution to the 2020 edition will be $687,375. This support will go toward preparing the online edition of the Festival and helping it reinvent itself, especially during this pandemic, and attract more participants. The funding will also go toward promoting the Festival in Canada and around the world.
Quotes
“The arts community is facing significant turmoil during the current crisis, which makes it more important than ever to invest in cornerstones of our cultural industry, which include the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal. I am pleased to see that in the face of adversity, Festival organizers have shown great creativity and prepared a special edition that is sure to please the diverse audience of this very popular event.”
—The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Member of Parliament (Laurier–Sainte-Marie)
“The pandemic has affected every sector of our economy, but together we will rise above it and overcome all the challenges left in its wake. The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal is a flagship summer event, and I hope that festival participants from around the world will make this virtual appointment that promises to be memorable.”
—The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, and Member of Parliament (Ahuntsic–Cartierville)
“It’s critical to continue holding the jazz festival for the people, and in spite of the challenging circumstances this year, we are excited to offer this avant-garde solution to get the music to the fans! We are extremely proud to be helping artists do what they do best: playing their music for us all!”
—Jacques K. Primeau, Executive Director of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal
Quick Facts
From June 27 to 30, the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal will take over a variety of digital platforms, offering unique and vibrant musical content featuring several local artists, each of whom will be recorded performing on stage in keeping with the highest quality standards that are normally associated with the Festival.
The digital edition will take over the city’s iconic L’Astral venue, which plays host to the Festival every year on the main floor of the Maison des Festivals in the heart of Montréal’s Quartier des Spectacles. L’Astral will be transformed into a custom broadcasting studio for this series of unique performances. For four days, the performances will be available for free online, allowing participants to watch from the comfort of their homes.
This shift to the digital platform in 2020 will allow the festival to maintain its essential role as a platform for jazz and to continue reaching so many communities, while also adhering to government security guidelines for the COVID-19 crisis.
The Canada Arts Presentation Fund provides funding to organizations that host arts festivals and seasonal professional-performance programs. It also supports organizations that back arts presenters.
The Department of Canadian Heritage is responsible for delivering the COVID-19 Emergency Fund, which supports arts and culture, heritage and sport organizations in an effort to minimize the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, up to $500 million has been allocated to helping alleviate financial pressures on impacted organizations. Of this amount, up to $326.8 million will be allocated to specific programs and organizations in the portfolio along with major delivery agencies, while $55 million will be provided by the Canada Council for the Arts and another $115.8 million by the Canada Media Fund and Telefilm Canada.
Celebrate Canada’s mission is to allow all Canadians to appreciate our country’s cultural, ethnic, linguistic and geographic diversity by ensuring that we can all access celebrations being held across the country. A component of the Celebrate Canada festivities and commemorations program provides financial assistance for activities organized for National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21), Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day (June 24), Canadian Multiculturalism Day (June 27) and Canada Day (July 1).
The Quebec Economic Development Program supports the economic development and diversification of Canada’s regions and helps them capitalize on opportunities for economic development.
SOURCE: Canadian Heritage
