(BlackburnNews.com file photo by Marty Thompson)(BlackburnNews.com file photo by Marty Thompson)
Midwestern

Stratford Festival to get $1.8 million from the province

The province is investing $24 million into 140 arts organizations including $1.8 million for the Stratford Festival.

Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism, and Culture, Lisa MacLeod made the announcement Tuesday, saying the pandemic has hit these organizations particularly hard.

"It has been very difficult," said MacLeod. "So the money that we are investing into these 140 core cultural institutions is absolutely vital to their future operations."

Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece said the money earmarked for the Stratford Festival will help the economic recovery throughout the area.

"It's not just Stratford we're talking about," said Pettapiece. "It's Perth County, it's Southwestern Ontario...it brings economic growth throughout the region, not just Stratford."

The money will flow through the Ontario Arts Council and will be used to keep the organizations solvent so they can reopen once it's safe to do so.

MacLeod also announced one million dollars to directly support artists. Information on eligibility, deadlines, and how to apply will be posted to the Arts Council website "soon."

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