The P.E.I. Small Halls Festival received nearly $120,000 in funding to increase its ability to attract visitors to the province.
The federal government provided $58,000 in non-repayable assistance for the 2018 event, while the provincial government is kicking in $60,000.
Now in its 10th year, the event is one of the longest running annual festivals in the region, and is used to promote P.E.I.’s Irish, Scottish, Acadian and Indigenous cultural music, dance, storytelling, workshops and children’s shows.
“This support makes the 10th anniversary of Small Halls the best yet, helping to present exceptional music, dance and storytelling from local and world-renowned artists,” said Small Halls board chair Chad Stretch. “We encourage Islanders and visitors alike to seek out a local hall and join in the festivities.”
The festival began in 2008 by hosting 13 events over nine days. By 2017, it offered 55 events in 40 community halls over 13 days with 5,709 ticket holders in attendance. More than 500 volunteers support the festival.
The festival’s mandate is to support Island talent and host a schedule of 60 per cent Island artists along with world-renowned talent in the province’s most rural community hall settings.
