Government of Canada Supports Manitoba Music Industry Growth

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Over the past few years, Manitoba Music has been working hard through industry consultations, external research, and liaising with our government partners to craft a strategy for providing support to key areas of need in our dynamic industry. The result is a multi-year strategy that implements an exciting slate of programs to grow the Manitoba music industry: the Manitoba Music Industry Trade and Business Development Project. Officially announced on June 25, this new project is funded in part by the Government of Canada through Western Economic Diversification Canada. Click here to read the official media release.

The music industry plays a key role in the economic, cultural, and social life of our province. Musicians, artist managers, producers, agents, labels, publicists, promoters, and everyone working in our industry contribute tremendously to the quality of life in our communities; providing a vibrant social environment, a considerable employment base, economic returns, and an honest reflection of our regional and cultural identity. Our federal government has shown great understanding of the importance of the creative industries with this investment and its ongoing commitment to our sector. We sincerely thank the Government of Canada for making these innovative programs possible.

The goals of the Trade and Business Development Project are multi-faceted, and include both trade development and business productivity, in order to continue to bolster the growth of this sector. Bringing Manitoba music to new geographic areas and finding new markets to intensify trade activity in existing markets is a key component of the project, as is increasing the productivity and capacity of our province’s music businesses.

Throughout the project is a strong mandate for multi-regional partnership and development; working with our counterparts on the prairies to strengthen our combined exporting power. 

Manitoba Music will also launch a new program focused on Western Canadian Francophone music development, in order to meet the needs of this significant demographic, which operates in a minority context in a music market that has specific challenges and opportunities in capacity development and exporting to national and international markets. 

“Manitoba is known internationally for producing ground-breaking artists and music companies," said Sara Stasiuk, Executive Director, Manitoba Music. "We would like to thank the Government of Canada for recognizing the value and impact of our province’s music industry and working with us to build a strong future. This investment will allow us to offer new and innovative programming to bolster the activity of our industry, increase the business capacity of our companies, work more closely with our Francophone community and the Prairie provinces, and ensure that Manitoba music continues to reach beyond our borders.”

These new programs offered through the Trade and Business Development Project have been carefully designed to complement the existing programs and services offered by Manitoba Music. From the Aboriginal Music Program, to MusicWorks, Songwriters in Residence, the Resource Centre and Youth Mentorship to all the resources available on our website, our monthly Open Mic Nights at The Folk Exchange, New Music Wednesdays, and everything else Manitoba Music offers, we strive to serve and support artists and industry at all levels of their development.

We would like to thank the project's steering committee for their vision, insight, hard work, and dedication not only to this project but to Manitoba's music industry: Kevin Walters, Paul Jordan, Stephen Carroll, Nicky Mehta, Rick Fenton, Sean McManus, Jason Smith, Carole Vivier, and John Kendle; as well as the many members of the Manitoba music industry who contributed their time and expertise.

More details about the new programs are available on the Manitoba Music website with additional program details becoming available in the following months. 

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