People come from far and wide to attend the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival, and with a little help from the federal government, festival organizers are hoping to get a few more people from even further away.
On Wednesday, Ottawa-Orleans MP Royal Galipeau announced more than $210,000 in funding to expand festival marketing, introduce new programming and to improve the presentation.
The increased marketing, said Galipeau, will be targeted at major cities in Canada, the United States, Great Britain and Europe.
“These efforts will help increase tourism and benefit the hotels and business of Ottawa and its surrounding areas,” said Galipeau.
The additional funding is already having an impact. Ottawa Chamber Music Festival executive director Glen Hodgins said Wednesday that Gypsy violinist Roby Lakatos, from Hungary, will make his Ottawa debut July 29.
Hodgins said festivalgoers will notice improved projection and lighting at the St. Brigid’s performances. The festival will have a greater presence in Ottawa from improved signage, and an expanded box office system should make it easier to people to purchase tickets.
“This is an amazing announcement,” said Hodgins. “There is a perception that chamber music is just classical and romantic, but in fact it is a growing, dynamic, evolving, exciting art form and our goal is to let people experience the variety.”
