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Dear Sheila Fouger and respectfully Mr. Peter Kelly,

My name is Rebecca _______. I am writing to express my heartfelt support for the Halifax Pop Explosion Festival as I have recently been made aware of the current position of the Special Events Advisory Committee to reject their funding application. I am a local filmmaker and music enthusiast. I am currently working on a Documentary about the Halifax Pop Explosion and it's impact on the local music scene over the past 15 years. I have attached my one page treatment and synopsis so you may fully appreciate what this festival means to me and why I would decide to devote time, effort, and money to tell its story. I have received funding support for my project from the National Film Board and the Linda Joy Media Arts Society. The arts community supports this festival wholeheartedly! I therefore cannot understand why the city continues to fail to provide the funding it so absolutely deserves.

It is exactly festivals such as the Halifax Pop Explosion that provide a unique opportunity for musicians to showcase their talent, gain exposure, and network with other professionals and executives in the industry. Why is a internationally recognized festival that has jump started so many successful Canadian acts not receiving local support in the manner of additional funding? If the city wishes to sell itself as a diverse and unique place to visit I do not understand why it would not provide assistance to one of the only music events on the east coast of Canada to showcase independent music whose fan base and demographic is as diverse as its talent.

Thank you for your time and I trust you will take my words into consideration.

Rebecca


(Fuck got to get this fucking thing edited and done and finish my interviews eeeeeekkkkkkkk)

EEE!

As soon as I'm done work this morning, I will begin writing a letter as well.

Look at your avatar! Your cat swooned with joy at receiving mail from Peter Kelly!

Peter has always been good about responding quickly.

This just in - the Province has officially doubled their funding from $10K to $20K this year.
Thank you province!

That's fantastic news, folks! But it still doesn't address the HRM Council's unwillingness to step up to the plate.

Let's keep the pressure on!

I heard Fougere on the radio this morning on my way into work explaining why the Pop Explosion was denied funding - apparently it's because the hallmark money comes from the "hotel lobby", and you know, the festival does nothing at all for them.

I've heard of backroom deals before, but handing out bags of cash right out there in a hotel lobby? That seems a little shameless ...

Tell me about it. Haven't we learned anything from Karlheinz?

25% of our advance tickets are sold outside of HRM, 18% outside of Nova Scotia. Where do they stay? We put 100 rooms in the Lord Nelson alone. Not that I have any issue with them getting funding, but does the Atlantic Jazz Fest bring in more people from outside the region that HPX? I doubt it.

An encouraging response from Ms. Fougere...

Peter Kelly responded to my letter as well. Thank you Peter. Any chance you guys want to fund my movie so I can finish it?

I'll chip in $3 if you buy me a beer.

Plan A: I get sponsored by a beer company and then I will be up $3.00
Plan B: Kick Crowley in the nads.
Plan C: Get drunk and think this is a wicked deal.