February Newsletter

IN THIS ISSUE
Pacific Contact - Online – Register Now!
Dates for Pacific Contact 2010 Announced
Pre-Conference Professional Development
Showcase Schedule
In-Conference Workshops, Meetings & Networking
Hilton Hotel at Metrotown - Official Hotel & Conference Centre
Advertising and Sponsorship Opportunities
2009 Arts On Tour Website Directory Launched
Job Postings
Member News
Industry News

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Pacific Contact 2009 – Register Now! – just a little more than a month from now we’re back for the 33rd annual Pacific Contact from Friday March 27^th to Sunday, March 29^th in Vancouver.

Early Bird Discount until February 16^th - Register before February 16^th and receive a 20% discount off regular conference registration. In addition there will be an Early Bird draw for one free night accommodation at the conference hotel. Online registration, showcase line-up, schedules and other conference information is now available at http://www.bctouring.org/pacific-contact/. Don’t delay, register today!

Dates for 2010 Pacific Contact will be March 26-28th, 2010 at the Hilton Metrotown, Shadbolt Centre For The Arts and Michael J Fox Theatre. Showcase Applications will be available online beginning June 1^st, 2009 with a July 31^st, 2009 deadline.

Professional Development Intensive - Thursday, March 26^thwill be a professional development day.
Thursday, March 26^thLeading & Managing In Turbulent Times - Facilitated by Jerry Yoshitomi, colleagues will participate face-to-face in an intense and high-level conversation about serious global and local issues facing arts senior leadership in today's uncertain times. In times of uncertainty leaders tend to communicate less often when their organizations are in crisis at a time when they need to communicate more frequently and with clarity about their strategic navigation.  This Professional Development colloquium includes an online webinar session a week prior to the four-hour face-to-face workshop on Thursday, March 26, just preceding Pacific Contact. http://www.bctouring.org/pacific-contact/2009/turbulent_times.html

Cultural Tour Of Vancouver - Get On The Bus, Gus! And join colleagues and special guests on a tour to some of Vancouver ’s best loved venues. Beginning with The Cultch! http://www.thecultch.com/. Participants get a tour (and stories too I am sure) about the renovations and building of their facility and about the programming and community profile of this historic and much loved venue. Back on the bus and sit back and enjoy the sights and sounds of Gastown, Stanley Park enroute to Granville Island where the Arts Club Theatre http://www.artsclub.com/ hosts a little lunch and tour of the Granville Island theatre and Stanley Theatres. Final stop is the UBC Campus and tour of the magnificent Chan Centre for the Performing Arts. Marvel at the design of Bing Thom Architects amazing centre on the UBC campus. http://www.chancentre.com/ Enjoy a glass of wine in the Chan Centre’s amazing atrium before returning to the Hilton. Hey, what a day! Apply early as space will be limited. http://www.bctouring.org/pacific-contact/2009/cultural_tour.html

Showcase Schedules – and fabulous line-up at Pacific Contact can be found at:
http://www.bctouring.org/pacific-contact/2009/mjfox-schedule.html
http://www.bctouring.org/pacific-contact/2009/studio-schedule.html

In-Conference Workshops, Meetings & Networking – Whether it’s meeting with others from your region, sharing your success stories, gathering information and knowledge in Real Time Conversations or staying up way too late having fun in the hospitality suite, there’s hardly a dull moment at Pacific Contact. Check into the Schedule At A Glance for regular updates at http://www.bctouring.org/pacific-contact/2009/pre_schedule.html

Real-Time – Conversations Saturday March 28th, 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
In 2008 BCTC introduced a shorter more intensive conference. As part of that we experimented with a new format for delivery of workshops/professional development and networking in a session called Real-Time Conversations – 20 simultaneous conversations over 1.5 hours repeated in short ½ hour increments. As we continue to innovate and improve on this idea it’s important for conference participants to tell us what they want to talk about. We need your wisdom and advice. We need to know what you want to hear and/or talk about and ask that you take a few minutes to answer our survey at the following link: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB228NQLNLQB9. We hope to have your responses by the end of the day February 23rd, so that we can begin our work to design these sessions to meet your needs.

Hilton Vancouver (Metrotown) Conference Hotel:
The Vancouver (Metrotown) Hilton is the location for all conference activities except showcases. If you plan to stay at the conference hotel you need to call and book your reservation as soon as possible. A block of rooms have been reserved for March 24, 2009 - March 31, 2009. The special room rate will be available until February 22nd or until the group block is sold-out, whichever comes first. Guests wishing to arrive early and/or leave late and take advantage of our good hotel rates for an extra stay may do so. For full details including online booking go to: http://www.bctouring.org/pacific-contact/2009/hotel.html

Program Guide Advertising is a great way to increase exposure for you or your organization during Pacific Contact. Final Deadline for advertising copy is March 3rd. http://www.bctouring.org/pacific-contact/2009/advertising.html

Sponsorship Opportunities also shows your strong support for the BC Touring Council, our programs and services and helps offset the cost of many aspects of Pacific Contact. Opportunities are online at: http://www.bctouring.org/pacific-contact/2009/sponsorship.html

2009 Arts On Tour Directory - is launched! www.artsontour.com
See the amazing variety of Artists and Agents from across North America who are interested in touring in B.C., Alberta and the Pacific North West. NEW - BCTC has launched a weekly E-Blast feature artist from the ArtsOnTour directory. Over the course of the year every artist listed will be featured in the E-Blast.

Jobs - Check the BCTC website for new job postings http://www.bctouring.org/job-opportunities/index.html

MEMBER NEWS

Bobs & Lolo – receive International award for children's DVD: Popular Vancouver-based music duo celebrates start of new year with children’s music web award
Critically acclaimed children's performers, Bobs & Lolo are hitting all the right notes. The Children's Music Web Award is the second international award acknowledging the high production value and educational merit of Bobs & Lolo's debut DVD, On Your Feet.   www.bobsandlolo.com

INDUSTRY NEWS

Arts Research Monitor - Facilities and Cultural infrastructure a focus on cultural facilities in Canada, based on a series of reports from the now-defunct Centre of Expertise on Culture and Communities. http://www.HillStrategies.com / http://www.ArtsResearchMonitor.com

Arts Partners in Creative Development (APCD) - 2009 Program Guidelines, Letter of Intent and FAQs. Visit http://www.artspartners.ca/ to view the updated Program Guidelines, Letter of Intent and Frequently Asked Questions for Arts Partners in Creative Development. The next deadline for Letters of Intent is 5 p.m. March 2nd, 2009.

Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils – (OSAC) Board of Directors is thrilled to announce the hiring of a new Executive Director. Colleen Ostoforoff is returning to her home province to lead the organization as OSAC continues the 40-year tradition of bringing high quality visual and performing arts experiences to the people of Saskatchewan. Welcome Colleen! www.osac.sk.ca

Calling all Artists!! On October 1st – October 4th, Contact East 2009 will be staged in Moncton, New Brunswick. Contact East is currently looking for artists to showcase for provincial, national, and international presenters and buyers of talent. We want to give you the chance to show your talent. Log onto www.contacteast.ca and download the artist submission form and send it in. MARCH 15th, 2009 is the deadline for submissions
www.contacteast.ca 

Check out the list of contact event dates and deadlines on the BCTC website at http://www.bctouring.org/helpful-links/contact-events.html

Joanna Maratta, Executive Director
BC Touring Council
PO Box 547
Nelson, BC V1L 5R3
T. 250-352-0021 F. 250-352-0027
www.bctouring.org
Pacific Contact 2009 - March 27-29