Fringe North received $79,200 from the federal government, local MP Terry Sheehan announced today in a news release.
This funding was split into $37,900 to the festival itself through the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage (BCAH) fund, and $41,300 for jobs through the Canada Summer Jobs program.
This year's festival features over 40 artists, each bringing their own unique creativity to the Fringe North stages.
From theatre to puppetry, spoken word to hip hop, music, dance, visual arts and more, there is a little something for everyone. Don't miss the free Family Fun Zone, digital presentations, vendors market and pop-up exhibitions.
For more information, see the press release below.
This week, our city will once again be hosting the annual Fringe North arts festival. Terry Sheehan, MP for Sault Ste. Marie, announced that the Government of Canada is supporting the festival through two funding streams this year. Through the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage (BCAH) fund, Fringe North will receive $37,900.
Fringe North began in 2016 and has since grown to be a staple in the region’s summer entertainment scene, providing easily accessible opportunities for all artists and all audiences to participate in. Although the primary focus is theatre, the festival has expanded to include a multi-arts experience offering something for everyone.
Festivals hold an important place for Canadians. The BCAH program supports them by funding smaller, local community festivals and celebrations, which provide many opportunities for artists to showcase their work and for communities to share in the art displayed. Every year, festival funding supports over 700 events across 435 communities, including, Indigenous cultural celebrations and LGBTQ+ events.
Additionally, eight jobs at Fringe North have been funded by the Government through $41,300 from the Canada Summer Jobs program. This program provides wage subsidies to employers to create quality summer work experiences for young people aged 15 to 30 years, across a variety of fields and industries. This summer, the Canada Summer Jobs program provided more than $1 million for 283 summer positions in the riding of Sault Ste. Marie.
This year's Festival features over 40 artists, each bringing their own unique creativity to the Fringe North stages. From theatre to puppetry, spoken word to hip hop, music, dance, visual arts and more, there is a little something for everyone. Don't miss the free Family Fun Zone, digital presentations, vendors market, and pop up exhibitions. And with five venues to choose from, there is always something happening.
QUOTES
"From the beginning, Fringe North has become an important partner in showcasing Northern Ontario’s artists and culture, and I am proud that our government is a partner in making this happen. I encourage everyone in town to go and experience the many performances and galleries that will be featured this week."
- Terry Sheehan, Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie
"We greatly appreciate this support from the Government of Canada. Their support has contributed to the development of an incredible festival this year. Many amazing artists from across Ontario have come together, and the result is something we are certain will delight and surprise people. Their work is stunning, thought provoking, and wildly fun. And we are able to do this because of crucial funding opportunities like the Building Communities through Arts and Heritage fund and Canada Summer Jobs. Supporting the arts in small northern communities is so important. A community with a vibrant, engaged arts and culture sector is a more vibrant and engaged community. It brings tourism. It creates jobs. It forms connections. Alongside so many great organizations and individuals, we are proud to contribute to the continued growth and development of arts and culture here in Sault Ste. Marie. ."
- Tova Arbus, President of Fringe North