The Festival of Small Halls will capture Island culture, talent and tradition through the music, dance and storytelling of talented Island artists, says Minister of Tourism and Culture Robert Vessey.
“Through the Department of Tourism and Culture Signature Event initiative, we are very proud to support this wonderful cultural festival,” said Minister Vessey. “The list of performers is quite impressive and I encourage all Islanders to get out and see one or more of these entertaining performances.”
With more than 50 performances to be held June 11 to June 20, in 27 rural community halls, the Festival of Small Halls is a critically acclaimed traditional music and dance festival.
The festival includes internationally acclaimed Island artists such as Vishten, Richard Wood and Catherine MacLellan, and notable international performers such as the Oisin McAuley Trio and Frank Ferrel.
“The importance of a strong, long-term return of the Festival of Small Halls is highlighted in the Rural Action Plan,” said Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development Neil LeClair. “Not only does the festival highlight and promote our Island communities, halls and musicians, it will play an anchor role in the province-wide Cultural Festival that will kick off in the spring and summer of 2011. This festival will be one of our key efforts to expand tourism in rural Prince Edward Island.”
The Government of Prince Edward Island has announced a three-year, $300,000 commitment to the Festival of Small Halls through its Signature Events initiative. Recognized in 2009 as an East Coast Music Award nominee for “Event of the Year,” the festival mixes music and dance from the Island’s rich Irish, Scottish and Acadian cultures with the proud tradition of singer-songwriters in the popular genres, bluegrass and old-time country. A wonderful medley of roots and old time music will take place in ancestral rural halls of all shapes and sizes.
“We are very pleased with the support from the Province towards the Festival of Small Halls. Last summer’s commitment to fund planning and a strategy helped lead to this three-year confirmation,” said Ray Brow, Chair of the Festival of Small Halls. “This funding now removes uncertainty and provides stability to develop the festival in a professional manner, leverage new community and corporate sponsors, and build a firm structure and festival model that will spread benefits in every corner of the province, especially rural PEI.”
For more information, please contact the Festival of Small Halls at www.smallhalls.com.