Government of Canada Supports Festival des guitares du monde en Abitibi Temiscamingue

ROUYN-NORANDA, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - May 24, 2014) - The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, and the Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, announce funding for the 10th Festival des guitares du monde en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (FGMAT).

This assistance is being awarded in the form of two non-repayable financial contributions totalling $97,008. The first, in the amount of $72,008 over two years, has been granted by Canada Economic Development through the Quebec Economic Development Program. This funding will serve to promote the 2014 FGMAT on markets outside Quebec in the aim of attracting a greater number of tourists and generating increased economic spinoffs for the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region. The remaining $25,000 is being provided by Canadian Heritage through the Canada Arts Presentation Fund to support the 2014 festival's artistic activities.

Quick facts

• In 2013, the FGMAT drew over 6,000 festival-goers; nearly 28% of the tourists visiting the event were from outside Quebec. Since its first edition 10 years ago, the festival has showcased more than 1,000 artists, musicians and guitarists from around the world.
• The FGMAT is of indisputable economic and cultural importance to the region. Strengthening the event's visibility on United States, European and northeastern Ontario markets will help further extend Abitibi-Témiscamingue's tourism and artistic reach and influence.

Quotes

"By funding the Festival des guitares du monde en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, our Government is showing that tourism is at the very heart of its growth strategy."

Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec

"We are very pleased to support the Festival des guitares du monde en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, which allows residents and visitors to enjoy the greatest guitarists from Canada and beyond and contributes to the cultural and economic vitality of Abitibi-Témiscamingue."

The Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages

Related links

For further information on the FGMAT: www.fgmat.com/en

To learn more about the Quebec Economic Development Program: http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca/eng/programs/qedp/index.html

To learn more about the Canada Arts Presentation Fund: http://www.pch.gc.ca/eng/1267553110077/1268404392232

Keep up with the latest news from Canada Economic Development by visiting www.dec-ced.gc.ca or subscribing to Twitter @CanEconDev.

Follow Canadian Heritage on Twitter: @CdnHeritage