October 2007 - Newsletter

IN THIS ISSUE
B News - Message from the Chair
Showcase Application Deadline – October 1^st
Membership - BC Touring Council
ArtsOnTour - 2008 Directory registration begins November 1st
BCTC Website Update
Pacific Contact
Job Postings
Member News
Industry News
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BCTC Board News - Message from the Chair. The BCTC Board travelled to the Okanagan September 20 - 23. The purpose of the trip was to meet with local presenters, artists and arts and culture workers to gain a sense of the issues around performing arts and touring in the region. It was a great time, very productive and BCTC board and staff felt very welcomed.

Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre was the beautiful location for the meeting in the North Okanagan. What a spectacular facility. Thanks to Michael Cade and staff for organizing the meeting and providing lunch. Conversation was very lively and of particular interest was the discussion about engaging more youth in arts and programming for new and younger audiences. There were great ideas shared about experiences of co-production and specific marketing and audience development.
The Board toured the Cultural District in Kelowna, a very lively area of the city for arts, culture, work and living. Included was a tour of the very active Rotary Centre For The Arts, an outdoor walkbout  boasting Kelowna's fabulous public art program and a visit to the  Kelowna Community Theatre where Ballet Kelowna was in their final rehearsal preparing for Opening Night. Thanks to Tracie Ward of the Rotary Centre, Sheila Olcen and Lorna Gunn of the City of Kelowna, and Randy Zahara of Kelowna Community Theatre.
The final stop of the weekend was in Naramata to meet with people in the south Okanagan and Penticton area. It was great to hear about the many festivals, presenter activities gearing up, artists in the region and the plans for the community as they embark on a cultural tourism strategy and plan for facility development. Special thanks to Prima Harris for her help in getting people out for this meeting.
It was a great weekend to be in the Okanagan. We were left with the impression of a region rich in bounty -  in the orchards and vineyards and especially in the arts where the community generously supports live performance.
Phyllis Stenson,
BCTC Board Chair

Showcase Application Deadline – October 1 –  is the last chance to get your showcase application for the 2008 Pacific Contact. All applications post-marked October 1^st will be accepted. Register online at http://www.bctouring.org/pacific-contact/2008/showcase-app.html

Membership Renewal - We want to thank you for your ongoing support of the BC Touring Council. By supporting the BC Touring Council through membership, you ensure a strong voice for professional performing arts touring in British Columbia.  2007 membership with the BC Touring Council expires October 31st. Renew before October 20^th and your organization will be entered in a draw to win a free registration to Pacific Contact 2008. The BC Touring Council was established as a not-for-profit organization in 1976 to serve presenters and professional performing arts touring artists in British Columbia. Its goals are to expand touring opportunities, provide professional development and conference services, promote audience development and advocate for artists and presenters. Your BCTC membership benefits include discounts to Pacific Contact and Professional Development, member communications, venue, presenter and artist listings, job postings and networking with you peers for advice and support. As of October 2^nd, we will be accepting payment online using PayPal. You can also  renew by sending registration form and  cheque in the mail. Membership forms are online at www.bctouring.org/membership/index.html

ArtsOnTour - is a comprehensive web and print performing artist and agency directory. It is a member benefit of the BC Touring Council for artist and Agents and includes two free listings with membership. Registration for the 2008 directory begins November 1st. Full details about ArtsOnTour can be found at www.artsontour.com.

BCTC Website Update – BCTC is in the process of a change to a content management website. This change will allow for more self management of the venue, facility and artist ArtsOnTour directories and will be have more interactive elements. BCTC also moves to using the PayPal service for payments beginning October 2^nd. This will allow for a variety of credit cards to be used for payments.

Pacific Contact - Early Bird Registration begins December 3rd. For general information about Pacific Contact please see the FAQ on the website at www.bctouring.org/pacific-contact/. Stay tuned for schedule and updates on the website.

Job Postings - can be found on the BCTC website at www.bctouring.org/job-opportunities/. Submit postings to the office by emailing fyi@bctouring.org

Member News

Chan Centre Turns 10 – congratulations to BCTC member Chan Centre who celebrate a decade in performance.  The celebration performance line-up is stellar! Visit their website at http://www.chancentre.com/

Industry News:

ArtStarts Showcase 2008 - Do you have a children's show? Are you interested in touring BC schools? Then apply to the ArtStarts Showcase and perform an excerpt of your school show. This three-day showcase attracts over 100 arts programmers from across BC (and beyond) interested in booking artistic and educational performances for their schools and communities for the 2008/09 school year.  It all takes place at the Roundhouse in downtown Vancouver this April and features over 40, 12-minute mini-performances. Application Deadline:October 12, 2007. Showcase : April 2,3,4, 2008

Music BC is proud to announce the Demo Program as part of Music BC's Music Assistance Program (MAP). The Demo Program assists new BC artists with the production of a high quality demo recording used to present to key music industry professionals to secure recording, publishing and live performance agreements. Applications must be received by November 16th, 2007. www.musicbc.org. info@musicbc.org | 604.873.1914 | Toll-free: 1.888.866.8570

International Symposium  - The Creative Construct: Building for Culture and Creativity - April 28 - May 1, 2008 symposium brings  together participants from around the world to exchange the latest ideas and practices on the development of cultural and creative spaces; planning and investment strategies for cultural infrastructure and cultural districts; and collaborative approaches to enhancing the cultural vitality, creative potential, and competitiveness of cities and communities. Call for Papers and Presentations- Deadline for proposals: September 30, 2007. CFP@symposium2008.ca. www.symposium2008.ca

The WCMA conference October 18 – 21 Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan - The 5th WCMA's award ceremony will be held on Sunday October 21, 2007.The Western Canadian Music Alliance Inc. (January 2003) was formed in late 2002 when the Prairie Music Alliance expanded, inviting the Music Industry Associations of BC and the Yukon to join forces in creating a new entity. While the Western Canada Music Awards, Conference and Festival is a new event, there is a strong sense of history, a legacy of the successes of both Prairie Music Week and the West Coast Music Awards. The vision of developing the infrastructure of a regional music industry is intact and now shared across western Canada. The five participating members of the Western Canadian Music Alliance are the Manitoba Audio Recording Industry Association (MARIA), Saskatchewan Recording Industry Association (SaskMusic), Alberta Recording Industry Association (ARIA), Music BC – The Pacific Music Industry Association, and Music Yukon. For more information visit online at www.westerncanadianmusicawards.ca

Making A Scene - The Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance hosts Making a Scene, conference for theatre professionals November 22-25 on Granville Island, Vancouver.  Keynote speaker Blake Brooker of One Yellow Rabbit plus many sessions and workshops on new works, new ideas and new creative spaces.  Sessions of interest to facility managers/presenters:  Building Creativity - Cultural space and the future of the theatrical imagination, Breaking he Audience Mold, Fire and Life Safety for Theatres (free session co-presented with SHAPE), and Marketing: It's All About the Art. Workshops specially for artists:  Creating theatre with music with James Fagan Tait and Joelysa Pankanea, Flash Directing with Blake Brooker, dancing for actors with Jennifer Bishop and The Playwright's Gym with Eric Rhys Miller and Tanya Marquardt. Note early bird registration deadline Oct 22. Further information at www.gvpta.ca or info@gvpta.ca.

Canadian Contact & Conference Events – season is upon us. Check out the complete list of Canadian Contact Events on the BCTC website at www.bctouring.org/helpful-links/contact-events.html