For Immediate Release: Celtic Colours International Festival recognized by business community

[Celtic Colours International Festival]

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – NOVEMBER 6, 2009*

*Celtic Colours International Festival recognized by business community*

(Sydney, NS) Celtic Colours International Festival wrapped up its thirteenth
year with recognition from the local business community. A week after the
Cape Breton Island-wide festival’s closing show on October 17, Business
Manager Mary Pat Mombourquette and Jacke Scott, Chair of the Celtic Colours
Festival Society, accepted the Sydney and area Chamber of Commerce Business
Excellence Award in the Tourism category during an awards ceremony at the
Membertou Trade and Convention Centre.

“Getting an award like this from the Chamber of Commerce is nice because it
reinforces the role Celtic Colours plays in the economy of Cape Breton
Island,” says Mombourquette. “It proves that tourism, based on the island’s
unique culture, is still a driving force despite the economic down-turn. It
attracts visitors to Cape Breton and makes a positive economic impact on the
island’s communities. And it shows that the investment of sponsors and
government partners pays off in a big way.”

Although the final numbers are still being crunched, the Festival typically
generates an annual impact of around $5 million on the economy of Cape
Breton Island with about half of the audience coming from off-island. With
the numbers that have been calculated so far, it looks like the festival is
on track to maintain that level.

Despite having three fewer shows in 2009 than 2008, the total number of
tickets sold for the nine-day event is up from last year. Twenty-five of the
44 shows sold out and 85.6% of all tickets available were sold (up from 82%
in 2008).

The Irish theme of the Festival this year marked a departure from other
years when artists came from a more diverse variety of backgrounds. This
allowed for a chance to fully engage in one specific aspect of influence on
Cape Breton’s traditional culture and music, and also to re-connect with
ties between local and visiting artists established over 15 years ago.
Two-dozen Irish artists were featured at Celtic Colours, and although few of
their names were recognizable to many, they represented the top players in
the tradition. This attention to detail, according to Artistic Director
Joella Foulds, is what continues to draw crowds to the Celtic Colours
International Festival.

“Excellence has always been the most important criteria in programming
Celtic Colours,” says Foulds. “This year we worked closely with Irish
fiddler Liz Doherty and local Artist in Residence Paul Cranford to explore
the ties between the Irish influence and local tradition. And audiences
responded. The priority we have put on excellence over the years has helped
establish the Festival’s reputation for presenting top-notch entertainment,
and Festival patrons have come to trust the Festival’s choices, whether they
recognize the names of the performers or not.”

Now Festival organizers turn their attention to next year’s event, scheduled
for October 8-16, 2010. For those who missed Celtic Colours this year, a
number of video clip highlights and media coverage is available at
www.celtic-colours.com.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Joella Foulds or Mary Pat Mombourquette
902-562-6700

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Dave Mahalik - Information Officer
Celtic Colours International Festival
850 Grand Lake Road, Suite 8
Sydney, NS
B1P 5T9
902 562 6700
www.celtic-colours.com
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