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Whistler to invest $2.685 million in Festivals, Events and Animation in 2012

Children's Festival, Wanderlust among several groups to receive funding
rmow_whistlerolympic_plazas_kidstheatre_credit_sarahbourne
Photo courtesy of the RMOW. By Sarah Bourne

Plans for the 2012 Festivals, Events and Animation (FE&A) program were presented to council last night (Tuesday) and include a program of street entertainment, concerts and festivals.

"The FE&A program is an investment in Whistler's future with the goal to grow room nights and help enhance the visitor experience through an exciting program of arts, culture, sport and entertainment," said Roger McCarthy, Whistler councillor and member of the FE&A Oversight Committee.

"This program helps to position Whistler as the leading four season mountain resort."

Visitor groups are being targeted as part of the $2.685 million invested in the program the Oversight Committee told council during its presentation.

The primary target markets in the first year include British Columbia and Washington State, with a focus on bringing visitors to the resort on Friday and Saturday nights in June and September, as well as the busy summer period.

The program will launch with street entertainment on the May long weekend and feature a summer concert series including the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, a new festival in September (yet to be developed), as well as animation such as artisan markets, film nights, Fire & Ice and Olympic programming to mark the 2012 Summer Games in London. It will also include the return of Canada Day, with an extended program, Whistler Holiday Experience and New Year's Eve programming.

The program will invest in eight external events to extend their core programs toward achieving FE&A goals: Inter-cultural Festival (June); Children's Art Festival (July); Crankworx (August); Wanderlust Festival (August); GranFondo (September); First Nations festival (September); Cornucopia (November); and Whistler Film Festival (November-December).

For more on this story read Pique this week and go to www.piquenewsmagazine.com