Encouraging Private Donations: Government of Canada Leverages Donations to the Shaw Festival Theatre Foundation

April 21, 2010

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, Ontario – On behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, the Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C. Member of Parliament for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice, and Attorney General of Canada, today announced that the Government of Canada would provide an amount proportional to donations by individuals, businesses, and community groups to the Shaw Festival Theatre Foundation.

“Arts and culture are important for our national identity and economic vitality,” said Minister Moore. “This is why the Government is supporting the arts community in various ways, particularly through incentives that encourage the private sector to provide funding.”

“The Government of Canada is committed to supporting arts organizations in the long-term planning of their activities,” said Minister Nicholson. “I want to congratulate the Shaw Festival Theatre Foundation on its ongoing efforts to attract private-sector donors, and I thank the donors for their generous gesture towards culture.”

 “Since 2004, the Shaw Festival has raised $4.7 million to build our endowment fund and has received $3.98 million in matching funds from the Canadian Heritage Endowment Incentives Program. In total, this accounts for almost 50 percent of The Shaw’s endowment – a clear testament to the vital impact of the Endowment Incentives Program in building sustainability for the arts in Canada,” said Colleen Blake, Executive Director of the Shaw Festival.

The Government of Canada will provide $404,457 to the Shaw Festival Theatre Foundation. This funding will be in addition to what is received from private-sector donors for the Foundation’s endowment fund.

The Government of Canada is providing the funding under the Endowment Incentives component of the Canada Cultural Investment Fund (formerly the Canadian Arts and Heritage Sustainability Program). This fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage seeks to foster modern management and increased financial stability in arts and heritage organizations.

This year, the Government of Canada is providing 71 cents for every dollar received from private-sector donors. Since 2006, the Government has provided $59.5 million to different endowment funds, while private-sector donations have reached $93.5 million, making a total of over $153 million.