January 07, 2010

SPRUCE GROVE, ALBERTA - On behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Status of Women and  Member of Parliament for Edmonton-Spruce Grove, announced funding for the Horizon Stage Performing Arts Centre in Spruce Grove.

This funding will allow the Horizon Stage to purchase specialized lighting and equipment as part of a technical upgrade to modernize the equipment, meeting the needs of today's artists and productions performing in the theatre. The project will improve the standards of the facility and enhance the technical capacity of Horizon Stage to present artistic and cultural performances.

"Our Government is stimulating the economy by investing in a number of key sectors, including arts and culture," said Minister Moore. "By supporting this important facility's technical equipment upgrade, we are helping to ensure that Canadians have access to exceptional artistic experiences in their communities."
"I am very pleased to announce funding under Canada's Economic Action Plan for upgrades to Spruce Grove's Horizon Stage," said Minister Ambrose. "This funding will create jobs in our area, help the local economy and make this wonderful cultural institution even more enjoyable for current and future patrons of theatre and music."

"This grant will help to support our ongoing commitment to culture and the arts in our community," said Spruce Grove Mayor Stuart Houston. "This new lighting system will be the finishing touch that ensures Horizon Stage remains a first-class venue for entertainment here in our region."

The Horizon Stage Performing Arts Centre is owned by the City of Spruce Grove and Parkland County. The 318-seat theatre serves the cultural and recreational needs of the community and provides a variety of performing and visual arts experiences to citizens of Spruce Grove. Horizon Stage presents an annual multidisciplinary series, which provides Canadians direct access to a diversity of quality cultural presentations featuring theatre and music.

The Government of Canada has provided funding of $125,100 under the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage. This program seeks to improve physical conditions for artistic creativity and arts presentations or exhibitions. It is also designed to increase access for Canadians to performing arts, visual arts, media arts, museum collections, and heritage displays.

The Government of Canada is investing $540 million in the arts and culture sector to stimulate the economy as part of Canada's Economic Action Plan. It also recently renewed funding for federal arts programs totaling $1.51 billion over the next five years.