Good news for the Winnipeg Folk Festival as it wrapped up its 39th annual event this past weekend. Two substantial contributions to its Staging the Future Capital Campaign have been announced.
The first comes from the Province of Manitoba as a $650,000 donation which will provide improvements to the festival campground, including shade structures, lighting and electricity upgrades, increased water access, tree planting and improvements to pathways.
The second comes from The Winnipeg Foundation, providing an additional $100,000 in funding support, bringing their total contribution to the project to $200,000.
Megan Tate of The Winnipeg Foundation and MLA Rob Altemeyer adding to the Winnipeg Folk Festival’s Staging the Future Capital Campaign Banjo-meter
With these contributions, the total raised so far in the campaign is $4,262,506. The Winnipeg Folk Festival hopes to meet the $6 million fundraising goal by December 2012.
Campaign Chair, Chris Couture and Board Chair, Gerry Couture extended their thanks to all the donors and funders who have supported the campaign.
“We are so appreciative of the supporters who have shared in our vision to ensure that the Winnipeg Folk Festival continues to be one of Manitoba’s best summer attractions. We believe in the importance of this event in our community and in our province, and we are grateful to The Winnipeg Foundation and the Province of Manitoba for supporting it.”
From left, Campaign Chair, Chris Couture, Megan Tate of The Winnipeg Foundation, Board Chair Gerry Couture and MLA Rob Altemeyer.
The Staging the Future Capital Campaign supports a project that will make significant improvments to the festival site at Birds Hill Provincial Park. Phase One of the project was a $2.7 million investment in the backstage area. The next phase of the projcet focuses on the front of the house area of the festival site and campground, including a new festival village, entrance and egress infrastructure, new forest stages, as well as shade, water and electrical upgrades throughout the site.
Musicians Leonard Podolak and Abigail Washburn were on hand to play some music during the funding announcement on Saturday, July 7 at the Winnipeg Folk Festival.
