Government of Canada Provides Financial Support to Rencontres Internationales de la Photographie en Gaspesie

NEW RICHMOND, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Sept. 6, 2011) - The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, today announced the awarding of $119,719 in non-repayable funding to the organization Parcours du point de vue – Gaspésie. Granted through the Community Diversification program, this financial assistance has served for the domestic and international promotion of Rencontres internationales de la photographie en Gaspésie, an international photography festival.

"I am proud of the Government of Canada's financial participation in Rencontres internationales de la photographie en Gaspésie, an artistic event that is sure to contribute to the economic diversification of this magnificent part of the country," said Minister Lebel.

Itinéraires photographiques (photographic itineraries) is the theme for this second edition of Rencontres, which runs August 5th to September 12th. With its top-quality exhibitions and projections, the event features more than 900 works from some 30 emerging and established photographers from all over the world, presented in 13 different Gaspésie municipalities. This unique rendezvous is expected to extend the tourism season by several weeks and attract an increased number of visitors from here and all over to the region. The exceptional quality of Rencontres internationales de la photographie en Gaspésie and its role in helping build the region's reputation as a prime cultural destination motivated local economic stakeholders to deploy the necessary efforts to have this major event held for a second time.

For more about Rencontres internationales de la photographie en Gaspésie, visit http://photogaspesie.ca/.

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