Minister Shelly Glover Announces Support for Victoria Jazz Society

VICTORIA, Nov. 14, 2013 /CNW/ - The Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, today announced funding for the Victoria Jazz Society to present the 30^th and 31^st editions of the TD Victoria International JazzFest, as well as its 2014 and 2015 concert presentation series.

"The Victoria Jazz Society is a mainstay of Victoria's cultural scene and has dedicated itself to bringing together music lovers of all stripes to enjoy high-quality performances by Canadian and international artists," said Minister Glover. "Today's announcement demonstrates our commitment to strengthening Canada's economy and to supporting arts, culture, and heritage in British Columbia."

With this funding, the Victoria Jazz Society will present the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 seasons of the TD Victoria International JazzFest. One of the city's most popular festivals, JazzFest showcases all styles of jazz, including blues and roots, and features a wide array of emerging and established artists. Throughout 2014 and 2015, the Society will also present a series of concerts of jazz, blues, world beat, and improvised music by musicians from Canada and abroad. An extensive program of community engagement activities will be offered in conjunction with the Society's programming, including outreach to youth and young music students.

"The Victoria Jazz Society, its Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers extend their gratitude to the Department of Canadian Heritage for its continued funding support," said Darryl Mar, Executive and Artistic Director, Victoria Jazz Society. "This will ensure that the Society will continue to play a significant role in keeping live jazz music alive in our community."

The Victoria Jazz Society is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to present high-quality jazz performances by acclaimed musicians to the community. In addition to the TD Victoria International JazzFest and its mid-September to April concert season, the Society also produces another major multi-day music festival, the Vancouver Island Blues Bash.

The Government of Canada is providing total funding of $200,000 over two years ($100,000 in 2014-2015 and $100,000 in 2015-2016) through the Canada Arts Presentation Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage. This program gives Canadians increased access to the variety and richness of Canada's culture through professional arts festivals, presentations of live professional performances, and other artistic experiences.

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SOURCE: Canadian Heritage