In celebration of the Year of the Arts, today the Honourable Steve Crocker, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation, announced an additional $3 million in 2024 for ArtsNL, along with the Year of the Arts lineup for Arts and Culture Centres across Newfoundland and Labrador.
Since 2023, ArtsNL has received historic support from the Provincial Government, totaling $15 million. The majority of this investment has been distributed directly to artists and arts organizations through ArtsNL funding programs in support of their creative endeavors.
With this special Year of the Arts funding, Arts NL will support professional artists through an augmentation of existing grant programs and a second offering of the Senior Arts program. Funds will also be allocated specifically to support Indigenous artists. The enhanced programming will support more professional artists to focus on their artistic practice and create works during Year of the Arts.
Details about ArtsNL Year of the Arts funding can be found here: Year of the Arts Programming.
As part of Year of the Arts, the Arts and Culture Centres will feature an exciting lineup of performances that showcase Newfoundland and Labrador artists, including provincial tours. More information on the Arts and Culture Centre lineup can be found in the backgrounder below.
Quotes
“ArtsNL plays an important role in our province’s arts and cultural sector and providing them with an additional $3 million during the Year of the Arts acknowledges their role, as well as the significance of the arts on our province’s culture. Through today’s funding and programming announcements, this government is ensuring comprehensive support for the arts, highlighting their vital role in our communities province wide.”
Honourable Steve Crocker
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation
“As Chair of Arts NL, I’m thrilled and grateful we’ve received this additional $3 million investment from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador as part of the Year of Arts initiative. This additional money empowers us to further support our professional artists and professional arts organizations, fostering creation and cultural enrichment across our province.”
David Brown
Chair, ArtsNL
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BACKGROUNDER
Arts and Culture Centre Year of the Arts Programming 2024-25
Rum Ragged Provincial tour. Newfoundland and Labrador’s own Juno nominees Rum Ragged take a bold approach to the distinct folk music of their home. With a reverence for their roots and a creative, contemporary edge, Rum Ragged has quickly become known as the finest performers of their great, living, musical tradition.
Kelly Russell Provincial tour. Who Knit Ya? As Newfoundland’s leading traditional music performer, Kelly has been a member of Figgy Duff, The Wonderful Grand Band, and The Irish Descendants and now shares yarns of his travels and influencers through songs and stories including his father, Ted Russell, and his mentors – fiddler Émile Benoît and fiddler/accordionist/composer Rufus Guinchard.
Andy Jones “Don’t Give Up On Me Dad” Provincial tour. In “Don’t Give Up on Me, Dad,” veteran playwright Andy Jones pays tribute to his late son, Louis, who died by suicide in 2014. Through this deeply personal production, Andy explores Louis’ struggles with mental health and shares his own journey of grief and healing.
The Rowdymen Provincial tour. What do you get when you combine two in demand NL musicians with one Come From Away? You get the Rowdymen: Gerry Finn, Greg Hawco and George Masswohl, a band dedicated to sharing the music of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Rod Jackson Newfoundland and Labrador’s own Rod Jackson is ready to hit the road once again with his crowd-pleasing Christmas Tour. After taking a year off, he and his band are ready to spread the Christmas spirit across the island.
Songbird Tour Mallory Johnson and Carolynn Dawn Johnson. Newfoundland and Labrador meets Canada as NL’s own songbird Mallory Johnson teams up with Canadian country award winning singer /songwriter Carolyn Dawn Johnson for an acoustic evening of their songs and their stories like you have never heard them before.
Atlantic Jazz Nights 1, 2, 3, and Provincial Tour Atlantic Jazz Nights, is an international jazz series presented by the Arts and Culture Centre and is hosted and curated by celebrated St. John’s-based Juno Award winning pianist Florian Hoefner and bassist, Jim Vivian.
Mic Davis Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor, Corner Brook, Stephenville and Labrador West. Bob Dylan Tribute. One of Newfoundland and Labrador’s greatest rock musicians take on one of the world’s greatest songwriters. Finding international fame as part of the group The Novak’s, Mic Davis has shared the stage with a who’s who of musicians but now takes the stage solo to perform a tribute to the music of Bob Dylan
Grace St. John’s. At the heart of everything is the question of behaving with grace. It is a Newfoundland wedding full of love and rackets. From Megan Gail Coles comes a new play adapted from Lisa Moore’s novella of the same name, Grace is equal parts guts and grit. Sometimes it is okay to be messy, sometimes it’s not.
Tamasha O’ Tamasha St. John’s. In Partnership with RCA Theatre and This Might be Satire Productions, Tamasha O’ Tamasha is a political satire focused on the struggles of the everyday person under the thumb of unsympathetic leaders, told through eccentric humour and absurd situations. A new work aimed at redefining and reengaging in political theatre for today, the narrative of this piece is formed through new translations of the short plays of much lauded playwright Gursharan Singh Bhaji, with a brand-new connective story by playwright, director, and principal adapter Azal Dosanjh.
Off Balance St. John’s. Off Balance is a dazzling contemporary circus show, with a boisterous cabaret vibe. The show features funny and deeply personal anecdotes and inspiring circus acts as we follow the struggles and triumphs of a diverse cast of characters as they strive for inner growth and real connections in an increasingly isolating world. It was created by St. John’s own Anahareo Doelle of Wonderbolt Circus.
Drive Gander and St. John’s. Inspired by life during the pandemic, Drive tells the story or a parent’s journey across the country in isolation while dealing with a child’s decisions and identity. Written and performed by Broadway actor and Original Come From Away cast member Sharon Wheatley and featuring both Broadway and Gander Come from Away Actress Astrid Van Weiren, this story of love, crisis, and acceptance is what family is all about.