Allyson Beauregard
MRC PONTIAC – On February 19, some of the Outaouais’ elected officials, including Mathieu Lacombe, Minister responsible for the Outaouais region, announced the province is awarding $1,779,542 in financial assistance for six cultural development agreements for a 3-year period in the Outaouais region. The MRC Pontiac will receive a $91,350 share.
Allyson Beauregard
MRC PONTIAC – On February 19, some of the Outaouais’ elected officials, including Mathieu Lacombe, Minister responsible for the Outaouais region, announced the province is awarding $1,779,542 in financial assistance for six cultural development agreements for a 3-year period in the Outaouais region. The MRC Pontiac will receive a $91,350 share.
This year, the provincial government announced a record number of 184 agreements totalling $22 million with municipalities and MRCs other than Québec City and Montreal. These agreements, adapted to the needs MRCs and cities identify, are intended to enrich the cultural vitality of regions by funding projects that ensure citizens have access to cultural offerings and activities that are in tune with their reality.
The type of projects that are funded must include structured and innovative actions, promoting the development and consolidation of cultural vitality, while respecting local and regional priorities.
“The projects can vary: for example, creating artistic pieces from a variety
of artistic components (such as visual, dramatic, musical, crafts, etc.), educational programming, promoting heritage values, etc. This year, the MRC Pontiac received specific funding to put towards activities for seniors, cultural leisure, as well as
historical and heritage projects. This is in addition to our usual funding for other community cultural projects for families, youths, aboriginal communities and the general population (literature, theater, music, visual arts, digital creations, videography, photography, etc.),” said Cyndy Phillips, MRC director of economic development.
“These funds will help promote Québec culture throughout [our regions],” said Lacombe. “In the current context of the pandemic, it’s even more important to continue our efforts to contribute to individual and collective development through culture, to shape an environment conducive to the creation of arts and
culture and, finally, to increase the contribution of culture to the economy and development of Québec,” added Robert Bussière, Gatineau MNA.
Municipalities and MRCs must match the amounts granted under the cultural development agreements.
