BCTC | Newsletter

Seasons Greetings! From everyone at the BC Touring Council we wish you a peaceful and joyful time during the holiday season. Congratulations on your accomplishments in 2007. We wish you all the best for 2008.

BCTC Office Holiday Hours
The BC Touring Council office will be closed from Friday, December 21st and reopening on Monday, January 7th, 2008.

Pacific Contact 2008 - Now Online – Special Early Bird Draw! – There are a few changes to the conference this year. The main activities (showcase, contact room, workshops/networking) will run three full days, from Friday March 28th to Sunday, March 30th instead of four days. Thursday, March 27th will be a professional development day with international presenters (see next item). Register before January 31st and you could win two free nights at the conference hotel, The Hilton Metrotown. Online Registration and other conference information is now available at http://www.bctouring.org/pacific-contact/index.html

Pre-Conference - International Presenters Network Day - It is with great pleasure that the BC Touring Council announces a pre-conference day on Thursday, March 27th with distinguished international presenters from Australia, the UK and the United States in a day long event that is focused on bridging gaps, broadening opportunities and building relationships in International performing arts touring. Made possible through the generous support of the Canadian Heritage Trade Routes Program this day-long networking event will be of benefit to all Pacific Contact delegates whether you are an artist, agent, manager or presenter. The expertise and knowledge of our guests from away are diverse. They book Canadian artists in their seasons and series, are engaged in successful and innovative booking and touring programs and are active change agents in their respective communities. See more details and registration at http://www.bctouring.org/pacific-contact/2008/pdi-detailed.html

Mainstage & Studio Stage Showcases - Congratulations and thanks to all those who applied to showcase. Selection for 2008 showcases at Pacific Contact is now complete and can be found on the BCTC website. Check out the great line-up of music, dance, theatre, variety and family showcases scheduled for Pacific Contact 2008.

2008 ArtsOnTour Directory - Register before January 18th and win a business card size ad in the ArtsOnTour section of the print publication (companion piece) to the website. Registration for the 2008 ArtsOnTour Directory is available now. Current BCTC members - register online at http://www.artsontour.com/apply.html

For others who may not have been a member of BCTC in the past or have let your membership lapse, we invite you to take advantage of this great benefit. (see membership renewal below).

BCTC Membership Renewal - For those who have renewed membership or if you are a new member, welcome. For those of you who have allowed your membership to lapse, please consider the benefits and support the BC Touring Council. For full information please visit http://www.bctouring.org/membership/index.html

Congratulations to BCTC Board Member and Shameless Hussy member Renee Iaci on the birth of her daughter Sofia Caterina. The latest hussy arrived on Friday, November 9th weighing in at a hefty 8 pounds 11 oz. All our best to the whole family!

Another Congrats is in order to Kicking Horse Culture’s Executive Director, Bill Usher who has recently been appointed to a two year term on the British Columbia Arts Council. The appointment was made in October by Premier Gordon Campbell and Stan Hagen, Minister of Tourism, Sport and the Arts. The British Columbia Arts Council is the agency of the government of the Province of British Columbia committed to ensuring that all British Columbians are able to participate in a healthy arts and cultural community recognized for its excellence. The Council consists of 15 members who are broadly representative of the regions, cultural diversity, and artistic communities of British Columbia.

Congrats! Pied Pumkin's first children's recording PUMKIDS, won Best Children's Album at the 2007 Canadian Folk Music Awards announced in Ottawa Dec 1. This is the third kudo for PUMKIDS, who previously won Outstanding Children's Release in the Western Canadian Music Awards, and Parents' Choice Silver and North American Parenting Publications (NAPPA) Honor Awards in the U.S. Pied Pumkin is currently booking shows for May-August 2008. The tour will include both PUMKIDS one hour family matinees and two hour PUMKIN concert dances. Contact Valley Hennell 250-740-0047 info@rickscott.ca.

FACTOR launches a new Emerging Artist Program. This program has been developed to support grassroots artists whose careers have started to emerge at both the national and/or international level. Additional information, as well as the application forms can be found on the FACTOR website at www.factor.ca.

PACT - The Theatre Listing is the annual directory of professional Canadian theatres and a unique tool for the theatre community. As of spring 2008, the Theatre Listing will be available in a free electronic version, now as a searchable and printable pdf. More information including the exact date of release will be posted on www.pact.ca during the first trimester of 2008.

SPECIAL THANKS - to the funding partners and sponsors of the BC Touring Council

Funding Partners
* British Columbia Arts Council	* Canadian Heritage	* Canada Council for the Arts

Sponsors
ExpressWeb

*Pacific Contact 2007 Sponsors*
Ballet Jörgen Canada	Clockwork	Caline Artists International
Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre Society


Centennial Theatre	Mary Winspear Centre at Sanscha
Chan Centre for the Performing Arts	Maurice Young Millennium Place
Cowichan Theatre	North Peace Cultural Centre
Clarke Foundation Theatre	Prince Rupert Concert Society
Evergreen Cultural Centre	Royal and McPherson Theatres
Harrison Festival Society	Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival
Kay Meek Centre	Shadbolt Centre For The Arts
Kelowna Community Theatre	Vancouver Civic Theatres
Maple Ridge Arts Centre and Theatre

To the Board of Directors and Staff of the BC Touring Council thanks for your guidance, hard work and good humour. To find out more about us please go to: www.bctouring.org/about-us/ .