Lunenburg Enchanted by Musical and Cultural Festivities

LUNENBURG, NOVA SCOTIA--(Marketwired - July 24, 2014) - Department of Canadian Heritage

The Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society will receive total funding of $46,000 ($23,000 for each fiscal year 2014-15 and 2015-16) through the Canada Arts Presentation Fund for its annual festival and concert series.

Gerald Keddy, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue and for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Member of Parliament (South Shore-St. Margaret's), made this announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.

The Society presents the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival and a concert series annually in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg. The 29^th edition of the festival will take place from August 7 to 10 at six indoor and outdoor venues. The annual concert series is held at the Pearl Theatre, in community churches and at a community heritage bandstand, with 13 concerts held throughout the year.

Planned programming includes more than 100 performances by over 40 traditional and contemporary folk artists from 11 provinces and territories and the United States. In addition, about 40 audience development activities are planned, such as music and dance workshops, artists' talks, songwriters' circles, and the one-day Folk Steps Music Conference, a public event that takes place during the festival.

Quick Facts

• The Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival brings the best in traditional and contemporary folk music, dance and oral history to the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lunenburg.
• Known as Nova Scotia's longest-running folk festival, it has showcased great Nova Scotian, Canadian and international talent over the past 28 years.
• Nearly 250 years after the first streets were laid in Lunenburg, the original plans, architecture, and uses for common spaces remain intact. In 1992, Old Town Lunenburg was first designated as a National Historic District by the federal government. In 1995, Old Town Lunenburg was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Quotes

"The importance of supporting the arts and culture in our communities is an ongoing commitment for our Government. This sector is an economic driver in communities across Canada, including Lunenburg."

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

"Our Government recognizes that culture plays an important role in our communities, and we are committed to giving Canadians increased access to the diversity and richness of Canada's culture. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the many dedicated staff and volunteers who make the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival such a high-quality event. Thanks to your efforts, it has become a renowned festival that continues to attract larger crowds to the Town of Lunenburg every year."

-Gerald Keddy, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue and for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Member of Parliament (South Shore-St. Margaret's)

"The Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society is extremely grateful for the support it gets from three levels of government-support that enables us to provide work for local, regional, provincial, and extra-provincial artists, writers, poets, and technicians while providing top-level entertainment to residents and visitors to Lunenburg and area."

-David Friendly, President of the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society

Associated Links

Canada Arts Presentation Fund

Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society

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