CHURCH POINT, Nova Scotia, May 11, 2012 – On behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, Greg Kerr, Member of Parliament (West Nova), today announced funding for the Festival acadien de Clare as well as the Société acadienne de Clare.

The funding will assist the Festival acadien de Clare to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the acadien community through the events planned during the festival from July 28- August 15, 2012. The Festival acadien de Clare offers varied programming, including concerts by Acadians, Francophones, and international performers as well as parades, craft shows and fireworks.

Funding for the Société acadienne de Clare will assist in a project to help youth compose and interpret French music for young people in the area. The first part of the project is for a group of local youth to write record and present their music. The second part of the project will be a music camp for local youth to experience the arts and present on stage during the Festival acadien de Clare.

“I am honoured to see the Government of Canada continue to support the vibrant culture in the Francophone and Acadian community of Baie Sainte-Marie,” said Mr. Kerr. “The Festival acadien de Clare and the project through Société acadienne de Clare will continue to engage the local community and attract tourism to the area.”

“The Board of Directors and the members of the Festival acadien de Clare are very pleased for the ongoing support provided by the Federal Government and our Member of Parliament Greg Kerr in our ongoing efforts to help preserve and promote our Acadian language and culture,” said Ghislaine Comeau, President of the Festival acadien de Clare.

“La Société acadienne de Clare appreciates the federal government’s continued support in our efforts to help develop our Acadian and Francophone community, said Diane Besner, President of the Société.”
The Government of Canada has provided funding of $25,000 to Festival acadien de Clare through the Canada Arts Presentation Fund. This fund through Heritage Canada, gives Canadians access to a variety of professional artistic experiences in their communities. The CAPF recognizes that arts presenters are key partners in achieving this objective by providing financial assistance to organizations that professionally present arts festivals or performing arts series, as well as their support organizations.
The Government of Canada has also provided funding of $15,000 to the Société acadienne de Clare through the Development of Official-Language Communities Program. This program is designed to foster the vitality of Canada’s French and English-speaking minority communities and enable them to participate fully in all aspects of Canadian life. Through partnerships and agreements with community organizations, provinces, territories, municipalities and federal departments and agencies, this program enhances the capacity of official-language minority communities to have a greater access to quality education and different programs and services in their language in their communities.