Archived News Releases

October 13, 2004

The province will provide a $45,000 increase in operating funding for the Centre culturel franco-manitoban, Culture, Heritage and Tourism Minister Eric Robinson and Greg Selinger, minister responsible for French language services, announced today.

With the 15 per cent increase, the total provincial operating funding for the cultural centre is set to reach $351,500 in 2004-05.

"The Centre culturel plays an important role in enhancing the cultural richness of Manitoba's francophone communities," said Robinson. "We have been pleased with the work of the centre and we are certain that it will remain a first class cultural establishment for years to come."

Robinson noted that Manitoba has benefited from a growing interest in its Francophone tourism attractions from Quebec and overseas markets. The centre will be actively involved in the development of cultural attractions to address this increasing market demand.

Robinson noted that 63 per cent of government funding to the centre comes from the province.

"This is the first significant increase in government funding to the Centre culturel in many years," said Selinger. "The centre is entering a new phase in its development and growth and, as a show of good faith, the province is delighted to be part of the solution."

Established in 1972, the Centre culturel franco-manitobain is a Crown corporation with a mandate to maintain, encourage, foster and sponsor all types of cultural activities in the French language and to make Franco-Canadian culture available to all residents of the province. It has become the hub for the artistic and cultural life of Manitoba's francophones.

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