TORONTO, March 9 The McGuinty government is helping to revitalize Toronto’s tourism industry and attract visitors by investing in seven cultural organizations, Minister of Culture Madeleine Meilleur announced today. “Cultural tourism plays a vital role in the province’s tourism industry, which generates almost $20 billion in annual revenues,” said Meilleur. “Our investment will help increase marketing efforts and attract visitors from across Canada and the United States. By re building audiences, it will strengthen these organizations, and display Ontario’s vibrant cultural sector to a wider public.” The government is investing $580,000 in: The Canadian Stage Company ($160,000), Harbourfront Centre ($140,000), Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall ($138,000), Casa Loma ($57,000), North By Northeast Music Festival ($40,000), Textile Museum ($38,000) and Toronto Blues Society ($7,000). These projects are part of a cultural marketing program which recognizes the unique challenges faced by cultural agencies, attractions and events in carrying out the increased marketing efforts necessary to rebuild lost tourism and revitalize the industry. “As we well know, 2003 was a challenging year for the culture and tourism sectors,” said Meilleur. “Investing in cultural tourism today is an investment in the prosperity of the province, and will provide a high quality of life for all Ontarians.” Last month, the McGuinty government announced $30 million in new funding to promote tourism and economic growth in Ontario. Backgrounder Ministry of Culture March 9, 2004 REVITALIZING TORONTO TOURISM Cultural Tourism Marketing Fund Administered by the Ministry of Culture, this fund assists Ontario’s cultural attractions, events and festivals with marketing efforts to rebuild audiences and regain lost markets. Originally a $5 million program, the fund has received an additional $2.5 million to continue through 2004. The Canadian Stage Company The Cultural Tourism Marketing Fund is providing $160,000 to the “Come Out and Play” promotion. It features hotel, restaurant and media partners, discount packages and prize draws. border states. The Canadian Stage Company is a community supported, not for profit theatre created from Air Jordan 12s the 1987 merger of Toronto Free Theatre and CentreStage two theatres with more than 40 years of history behind them. The Canadian Stage Company is a leader in developing and producing the best in Canadian Air Jordan 5s and international contemporary theatre. Harbourfront Centre The Cultural Tourism Marketing Fund is providing $140,000 to promote Harbourfront Centre as a cultural destination to the out of town visitor. Its marketing strategy features an expanded media buy and new partnerships with the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel, VIA Rail and a wide range of media. Harbourfront Centre was formed on January 1, 1991, as a non profit charitable organization with a mandate to organize and present public activities and events and to operate a 10 acre site on Toronto’s waterfront. The centre has a mandate to nurture and support educational and recreational activity, including contemporary artistic creation, through showcasing Canadian and international talent. The Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall The Cultural Tourism Marketing Fund is providing $138,000 for a strategy to rebuild the two halls’ audience base this season. It includes: a marketing campaign for the 2004 season; the launch of a sales and marketing initiative in partnership with the Toronto Convention and Visitor Association to attract new business, meeting and convention visitors from Chicago, Atlanta and Montreal; and redesigned web based ticketing to enable instant, on line purchases. The Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall is a not for profit organization operating two of Canada’s premier concert halls. Showcasing the world’s greatest performers in all disciplines, the halls are also prominent venues for diverse activities in the business and entertainment district of downtown Toronto. The halls stage more than 400 events a year. Massey Hall opened in 1894 and has a seating capacity of 2,672. Roy Thomson Hall opened in 1982 and has a seating capacity of 2,630. Casa Loma The Cultural Tourism Marketing Fund is providing $57,000 for a joint product package tour called “Castle, Chateau and Culture.” It combines a visit to Casa Loma with an overnight stay and brunch at the Royal York Hotel and a visit to the historic Distillery District. markets. Casa Loma is the former residence of Canadian financier and industrialist Sir Henry Pellatt. Built between 1911 and 1913, it is Canada’s foremost castle, complete with decorated suites, secret passages, an 800 foot tunnel, towers, stables and a five acre estate garden. The Kiwanis Club of Toronto took over operation of Casa Loma and has run it as a tourist attraction since 1937. North by Northeast Festival The Cultural Tourism Marketing Fund is providing $40,000 to redesign and implement a recruitment/promotional plan to rebuild attendance of international industry delegates and artists for the festival and conference. North by Northeast is Canada’s largest music festival and industry conference. It takes place this year from June 10 to 12. Now in its tenth year, it has a worldwide reputation for exposing new and emerging talent to music fans and industry professionals. and around the world. Running in conjunction with the Air Jordan 17s music festival, the industry conference features: two days of panels, roundtables, demo listening sessions, legal clinics and one on one mentor sessions. Textile Museum of Canada The Cultural Tourism Marketing Fund is providing $38,000 for special marketing and packaging for two exhibitions this year. In partnership with the Metropolitan Hotel, the Textile Museum of Canada has created visitors’ packages for the first six months of 2004. The promotional campaign targets visitors outside the GTA and in Detroit, Buffalo and Montreal. The two shows are: Marion Tuu’luq, featuring nearly a century of this vibrant Inuit textile artist’s work, from February to April; and All the Beauty of the World: Rugs of the Caucasus, featuring rugs from the collections of the Textile Museum and private collectors, from January to June. Incorporated in 1975, the Textile Museum of Canada is one of eight Air Jordan 1s museums in the world, and the only one in Canada, solely dedicated to the Air Jordan Fusion 4 collection, exhibition and documentation of textiles. Its collection includes more than 10,000 pieces from more than 190 countries and regions. Toronto Blues Society The Cultural Tourism Marketing Fund is providing $7,000 for the Maple Blues Awards (held January 19, 2004), as well as for the Blues Summit in January 2005. Formed in 1985, the Toronto Blues Society is an arts service organization dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of North American blues music. Its activities include: workshops, a Blues in the Schools program, an annual Women’s Blues Revue, concerts, a monthly newsletter, consultation to musicians and the music industry, and advocacy on behalf of the blues community.