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New funding for the 4th Line Theatre will contribute to the development of more off-season productions.
Opening night for the 4th Line Theatre’s premiere performance of their August production of Carmel was more exciting than usual; the local theatrical non-profit organization announced that they had received more than $410,000 in provincial funding.
The funds flow from two sources. The Ontario Trillium Foundation has provided $34,200 to renovate audience seating and rebuild the on-site box office building, as well as $241,700 to develop three holiday-themed plays showcasing Millbrook’s stories and history. Assisting with marketing for attraction and growth, Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund has put forth $40,000 and Celebrate Ontario has granted $94,139 for the 2019 Season.
MPP Laurie Scott was among the audience members that evening and offered her congratulations to the organization for promoting regional culture and bringing local history to life.
4th Line Theatre has been a staple in the community for arts, culture and history for over 25 seasons. This funding will provide the infrastructure to make sure this continues and ensure community-based arts creation engages the community for years to come.
“Without the commitment and vision of the Provincial government, we simply could not provide our audiences with the artistic excellence they have come to expect at the 4th Line Theatre, while keeping ticket prices affordable,” explained 4th Line’s Managing Artistic Director Kim Blackwell. “We are also able to continue to provide amazing summer experiences and employment for many regional young people.”
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations. OTF awarded more than $108 million to 629 projects last year to build healthy and vibrant communities in Ontario. For more information, please visit www.otf.ca. KG
