MPP Rickford Announces Investments in Local Performing Arts Workshops and Concert Series in Dryden

Ontario providing funding for high quality art and cultural performances in the Northwest

DRYDEN – The Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport has invested $12,500 through the Ontario Arts Council’s Artist Presenter Projects program grant for two local performing arts organizations in Dryden.

“Our government continues to make strategic investments to ensure community members of all ages have the ability to enjoy high-quality performing arts here in Dryden and beyond,” said Greg Rickford, Member of Provincial Parliament for Kenora – Rainy River. “We recognize the positive impact that the Dryden Entertainment Series has had in our community and are proud to support them in their 50th year.”

This funding includes:

  • $7,500 for the Dryden Youth Entertainment Series for school workshops and high-quality performing arts shows for audiences aged toddlers to teenagers.
  • $5,000 for the Dryden Entertainment Series’ 2023 to 2024 season to stage nine concert events featuring professional Canadian performing artists in music, drama, and dance.

“Ontario’s arts and culture organizations enrich our lives and boost economic activity,” said Neil Lumsden, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “I’m pleased that the Dryden Entertainment Series and the Dryden Youth Entertainment Series are being provided with the funding they require to continue their great work in the region.”

“The Ontario Arts Council funding makes it possible for the Dryden Youth Entertainment Series to showcase high quality performances for babies, children, and youth,” said Jill Wilkinson, Representative of Dryden Youth Entertainment Series. “We are deeply appreciative of the funding from the province as it helps us to reach more children in Dryden and the surrounding area, offer some performances and school workshops for no cost to audiences and keep our admission costs low so that more families can experience live arts.”

“The Dryden Entertainment Series appreciates the financial support our series has received from the Ontario Arts Council for the past many years,” said Wendy Parkin, Chair of the Dryden Entertainment Series. “This funding assists us in bringing top notch professional artists to Dryden providing concerts at an affordable cost featuring a variety of musical genres, drama, and dance. We look forward to continuing this valuable partnership in bringing the arts to our community as Dryden Entertainment Series celebrates our 50th anniversary as a performing arts series during our 2024 to 2025 season.”

QUICK FACTS

  • The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) is an agency of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. It provides grants to Ontario-based individual artists and arts professionals, ad hoc groups, collectives and organizations, supporting a range of arts activities and disciplines.
  • The OAC invested $57.1 million in 224 communities across Ontario in 2022-23. 2,344 grants were provided to individual artists and 1,042 grants to arts organizations.