CULTURAL INDUSTRIES GET FINANCIAL BOOST

The Government of Saskatchewan has allocated $300,000 to support cultural industries in the province.

The money will go to the Cultural Industries Development Council (CIDC), the stewards of the Cultural Industry Development Fund (CIDF). The CIDC supports the publishing, sound recording and visual art and craft sectors in Saskatchewan.

"The cultural industries represent an opportunity for economic diversification in Saskatchewan," Culture, Youth and Recreation Minister Joan Beatty said. "The cultural industries sector is still a young sector in this province, and the purpose of this money is to invest in that sector, and to help it develop and grow.

"We have seen the benefits the film industry has brought to Saskatchewan, and we want to pursue that success in other cultural industries."

The CIDF was established by the government in 1999 in order to address the pressing financial needs of the sound recording, book publishing and commercial visual arts and crafts industries.

"Investing in these industries is important," Beatty said. "As I have said many times before, we have many talented people in Saskatchewan who need an outlet for their creativity and who can, if we lend our support now, make a living doing what they love to do.

"As we celebrate our centennial year, we are celebrating the things that make Saskatchewan such a wonderful place to live, and the contributions of the people working in our cultural industries are a key reason Saskatchewan is so vibrant."

The Government of Saskatchewan's contribution was provided for in the 2005-2006 Provincial Budget.

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For More Information, Contact:

Janet Peters Culture, Youth and Recreation Regina Phone: (306) 787-4967