WINNIPEG - Steven Fletcher, Member of Parliament for Charleswood–St. James–Assiniboia and Parliamentary Secretary for Health today attended the ceremonies to open the 35th Winnipeg Folk Festival.

“The Winnipeg Folk Festival is an outstanding example of what Winnipeg and Manitoba offers the nation and the world and demonstrates the strength of our arts and cultural community” said Fletcher. “Our government is proud of the ongoing partnership we have with the Winnipeg Folk Festival, including the $125,000 in funding announced this morning by Minister Toews.”

Fletcher went on to add, “On a personal note, I have been regularly attending the Winnipeg Folk Festival, rain or shine, since the 1980’s. I look forward to it each and every year. It is a unique honour and special pleasure to be here today with my former MBA classmate and Festival Executive Director, Trudy Schroeder, to open the Festival’s 35th year.”

The $125,000 in funding will enable the organization to offer a distinctive and vibrant program in order to highlight the 35th anniversary of the Winnipeg Folk Festival,, which takes place from July 10-13. The Festival presents a wide range of artistic programming, featuring folk music in all its diversity. Up to 250 performers are slated to participate this year.

This funding also supports year-round folk concerts in Winnipeg and community engagement activities such as the Young Performers' Program and Folk School workshops which complement the Festival's professional programming and provide unique artistic experiences for its audiences.

"The funding provided by Arts Presentation Canada is important to the ongoing health and vitality of the Winnipeg Folk Festival," said Trudy Schroeder, Executive Director of the Winnipeg Folk Festival. "Over four days, this event attracts more than 60 000 people, including musicians from all around the world, and engages the services of more than 2 000 volunteers. This funding will also help to support our outreach programs to diverse communities and broaden their scope in order to reach a wider audience."

The Government of Canada has provided this funding through the Arts Presentation Canada program of the Department of Canadian Heritage. This program gives Canadians increased access to the diversity and richness of Canada's culture through professional arts festivals, presentations of live professional performances, and other artistic experiences.