OTTAWA, Ontario (CelebrityAccess) — The Major International Festivals and Events Network of Ontario (MIFEN), a coalition of the province’s largest and best-known international tourism festivals and events, has recognized the Ontario Government long-term commitment to the province's festival and events industry.
The move comes after Ontario announced a major investment into the province's festival and events industry. Mark Monahan, Chair of MIFEN and Executive Director of Ottawa’s RBC Bluesfest, said the investment by the province through Celebrate Ontario in 2017 will support over 300 events with a record $21.8 million, including 38 Ottawa region events who will share $4,081,724, MIFEN said in a press statement.
Ontario's latest investment in the live music sector is on top of previous financial support of more than $60 million in the past three years.
In 2016, the Celebrate Ontario investment in Ontario’s 275 large and small annual events was $21.3 million with 29 of Ottawa’s festivals receiving a total of $3,389,554, while in 2015, Celebrate Ontario invested $18.7 million in 230 festivals and events.
"The Province of Ontario’s investments, like the support from Celebrate Ontario and the new Ontario Music Fund, are a major contributing factor in the growth of Bluesfest over the past 10 years. The funding has helped Bluesfest become an internationally recognized music festival with an increasing economic impact,” says Monahan. “This story of economic growth as a result of Ontario’s investment in festivals and events is happening throughout the province because the provincial government recognizes the tourism and job creation potential of Ontario’s festival industry.”
