By Andrea Nicholl
Federal funding will help the Vic Juba Community Theatre continue to bring the diversity of dance, drama and performance to its stage through its annual Dr. H.A. McDonald Series.
On behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, Leon Benoit presented the Community Theatre with $18,000 of funding in support of the theatre’s annual Series.
“I know it’s not a lot of money, though this program is meant to fund the arts at the community level and I think it is certainly meeting its objective here,” said Benoit. “The arts enrich all of our lives. Life would truly be so much less exciting, less interesting and less fun if it weren’t for the arts.”
“The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of supporting arts and culture at the community level,” said Minister Moore in a release. “The Vic Juba Community Theatre is an important presenter of professional theatre in Lloydminster.”
Vic Juba’s Dr. H.A. McDonald Series features 15 acts from six Canadian provinces representing a diverse cross-section of artistic expression including ballet, opera, theatre, cabaret dance, comedy, jazz, folk, country rock and children’s entertainers. The season runs from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2010.
“We use this grant to help bring in diversity and, of course, it helps us expand that diversity in the series,” said Vic Juba, former chairperson of the Theatre’s board.
“It’s extremely important,” Juba said of the grant. “It allows us to do things we may not otherwise be able to do and bring in performers we may not otherwise have.”
The theatre is managed by a non-profit organization and hosts over 160 events every year. Since its establishment in 2002, the theatre has grown within the community and has diversified its programming while promoting an array arts and culture.
The Government of Canada has provided $18,000 through the Canada Arts Presentation Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage. The program gives communities increased access to the variety of arts through professionals festivals, presentations, performances and other artistic expressions.