Foster Festival gets $95,000 from province

JOHN LAW

A pair of provincial grants totalling $95,000 will help The Foster Festival market itself across Canada and the U.S.

On Friday the St. Catharines company, starting its second season in June, received $50,000 as part of the Celebrate Ontario initiative and $45,000 from the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund.

“Funding from both programs is earmarked for marketing the theatre festival to a broader audience,” said Foster Festival executive director Emily Oriold, adding it will give the company more “flexibility” to work with local businesses and partners.

“This is an extraordinary investment in The Foster Festival’s future by the province of Ontario.”

Devoted solely to the work of prolific Canadian playwright Norm Foster, the company debuted at FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre last summer with three shows, one premiere.

Three more shows will comprise the second season, this time with two world premieres,

(June 21 to July 7) and (Aug. 2 to 18). In between will be Foster’s 2008 romantic comedy July 12 to 28.

All three shows will be directed by the company’s artistic director, of them a world Patricia Vanstone.

Oriold was told of the grants over the phone from St. Catharines MPP Jim Bradley, who said the “significant investments” should “greatly enhance” the culture of downtown St. Catharines.

Tickets for the Foster Festival’s second season are available at www.fosterfestival.com or by calling 905-688-0722. jlaw@postmedia.com

BOB TYMCZYSZYN/POSTMEDIA NETWORK The cast of Halfway to the North Pole, one of the plays during the Foster Festival's first season in St. Catharines last year, is shown. On Friday, the company devoted to the work of playwright Norm Foster received $95,000 in provincial grants.