MEDIA RELEASE
$92,100 OTF Grant Supports New Ways of Bringing Opera to Haliburton County
Haliburton, ON (January 5, 2023) - On Thursday, MPP LAURIE SCOTT met with the team at Highlands Opera Studio (HOS) to hear more about how their two-year, $92,100 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) will make a difference. Awarded this past summer, the grant will support new and creative ways to learn about, and experience, opera.
"This investment, provided by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, is creating more opportunities for our community to get involved with the Arts", said MPP Laurie Scott, Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock. "These funds will ensure that the Highlands Opera Studio is able to share the gift of experience and creativity, in person and virtually."
Funds from the grant will support the purchase of sophisticated digital equipment for use inside and outside the theatre along with the hiring of specialized personnel to operate the equipment and train HOS staff in its use, these new resources will streamline operations and give people in the community improved access to programs and events offered by Highlands Opera Studio for years to come.
"The impact of this Ontario Trillium Foundation grant cannot be overstated," said Valerie Kuinka, General and Co-Artistic Director of Highlands Opera Studio. "For some people, the pandemic has created a lasting apprehension to return to live events in confined spaces, and has also resulted in a serious lack of qualified professional theatre technical personnel, impacting the ability to prepare and present live staged events. Through the purchase of strategic digital equipment, this grant will enable HOS to streamline and upgrade all our activities and re-connect to our community not only through the unequalled experience of live performance in indoor venues, but also online, or even outside, therefore serving our community better."
Information about the Highland Opera Society's 2023 digital viewing options and special free, unlimited online streaming of past events for summer season ticket holders, online Pay-What-You-Can singing lessons, Highlands Opera Club, and other upcoming special community events will be available in the coming weeks. Please be sure to check out its website at: www.highlandsoperastudio.com
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations celebrates 40 years of grantmaking in Ontario and making a lasting impact in communities. Last year, OTF invested nearly $209M into 2,042 community projects and partnerships, which included funding for the Government of Ontario’s Community Building Fund. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
Press contact: Corina Mansfield
info@highlandsoperastudio.com
Toll-free: 1-855-455-5533
www.HighlandsOperaStudio.com