FAME IN A FEW WORDS
FAME aims to increase political awareness of the importance of festivals and events in Canada as an economic driver, key export industry, and a sector of future growth and development.
MISSION
FAME provides leadership in advancing the economic and societal importance of Canada’s major international festivals and events sector to government, media and the public.
HISTORY OF FUNDING DECLINE
The 1997 ban on tobacco product advertising, while a well-intentioned piece of legislation, had a detrimental impact on festivals and major events. Instantly, more than $50 million vanished from private sector sponsorship funding. The sector suffered a second blow during the so-called Sponsorship Scandal. Although caused by the wrongdoing of intermediaries, the scandal resulted in the cancellation of $30-$50 million per year in federal support. In 2009 the federal government introduced the Marquee Tourism Events Program (MTEP), a successful but short-lived stimulus fund which ended in March 2011.
As governments around the world increase spending on cultural programs and tourism marketing, Canada is falling behind. Our goal is to create a stable operating environment for festivals and major events by working collaboratively with the federal government.
GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT
FAME is advocating for stable investment programs to compensate for this precipitous decline in core sector funding.
Government investment will help our sector reach its full potential, resulting in significant economic impact at both the regional and national levels.
OBJECTIVES
FAME aims to increase political awareness of the importance of festivals and events in Canada as an economic driver, key export industry, and a sector of future growth and development.
- Speak as the recognized federal voice of the Canadian festivals and events sector and be the benchmark of operational excellence and product quality for our industry.
- Publish economic data and research that underscores the importance of the Canadian festivals and events industry and provide comparative analysis of Canada’s global competitiveness in this growing sector.
- Advocate for ever-improved federal policies and funding for the festivals and events industry.
- Work collaboratively with governments and other industry organizations to improve Canada’s economic prosperity.