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.

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.