Seasons Greetings!

BCTC Holiday Office Hours
Pacific Contact - Registration Now Online
Pre-Conference Day - Professional Development at Pacific Contact
MJ Fox & Shadbolt Stage Showcase - Line-up Now Online
2010 ArtsOnTour Directory - Register Now
Membership Renewal
Job Postings
Member and Industry News
Year-end Thanks

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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 2009. We wish you all the best for 2010.

BCTC Office Holiday Hours
The BC Touring Council office will be closed from Tuesday December 22nd reopening on Tuesday, January 4th, 2010.

Pacific Contact March 26-28, 2010 - Registration Now Online – The first 100 to register for Pacific Contact 2010 will received a gift on arrival to the conference and your name will be entered into a draw for a complimentary registration to the 2011 Pacific Contact March 25-27, 2011. For registration and conference information go to http://www.bctouring.org/pacific-contact/

Pre-Conference Day March 25th - Professional Development at Pacific Contact – We’re putting the finishing touches on what will be a great pre-conference day at Pacific Contact. Look for details on the Pacific Contact page of the BCTC website in the next couple of weeks.

MJ Fox & Shadbolt Stage Showcases - Congratulations and thanks to all those who applied to showcase. Selection for 2010 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 at: http://www.bctouring.org/pacific-contact/

2010 ArtsOnTour Directory – Don’t be left out. Register online now. 2010 directory launches in early January. http://www.artsontour.com/ 

BCTC Membership Renewal – Thanks to everyone who has renewed their membership with BCTC. And 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/

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

Member and Industry News

Talking Stick Festival - A Celebration of Aboriginal Performance & Art - February 21-28, 2010. Lorne Cardinal, Byron Chief Moon, Inuvialuit Drummers and Dancers, Digging Roots, Leanne Goose, Sister Says, The Dancers of Damelahamid, Kaiva, Wonderbolt Circus and many more. Volunteers Needed. http://www.fullcircleperformance.ca/

Khos - The Opera - BC composer Don Macdonald and writer/librettist Nicola Harwood have  been commissioned to write a full length opera called “KHAOS”, a retelling of the Greek myth of Demeter and Persephone set in a contemporary world of climate change and looming environmental catastrophe.  Don Macdonald will be posting audio segments of the new work as he completes them to enable those interested in tracking the opera's development to do so almost in real time.  You can visit the site at  http://www.khaosopera.com  where you can subscribe to the site and receive updates each time new material is posted. 

Make A Case Against Racism – Compilation CD - Music BC is requesting song submissions from music artists from BC. 10 songs will be selected by a peer jury for a compilation, and licensed by Music BC to be made available to the public. Your song, should it be selected, will be included on a CD compilation, limited MP3 download from Music BC, and as part of a streaming ‘Top 10 Countdown’ that will provide background information about the music and how it encourages respect for people and diversity, which will be accessed by Grade 4-7 students and teachers across BC. The countdown will be available streaming on the EmbraceBC webpage in March 2010. It is an opportunity for Aboriginal and World Artists (successful artists will be featured on a compilation CD and given a $500 licensing fee): http://www.musicbc.org/?page_id=1454.

This program is in conjunction with the Attorney General’s office in its fight against racism. It is focused on BC elementary schools – students will be asked to create the CD cover as part of a province wide student workbook project.

Ballet Kelowna – Check out their new website and new E-Newsletter delivering information about what's new at Ballet Kelowna BalletKelowna.ca

CITT'S STAGEWORKS - Enjoy the reading and stay connected! www.citt.org

The BC Arts Council - is pleased to announce a new program: Special Project Assistance – Capacity and Sustainability. This is a pilot program in partnership with the Centre for Sustainability. The program is designed to assist arts and cultural organizations, affected by changes in the economy, that want to undertake specific activities to build capacity leading to future sustainability. The program is open to arts organizations that have received Council funding in the last two fiscal years. For program guidelines and instructions go to:http://www.bcartscouncil.ca/special_programs/capacity_sustainability.htm

Applicants must contact Program Officer Sherry Ewings sherry.ewings@gov.bc.ca or Acting Associate Director Sarah Durno sarah.durno@gov.bc.ca prior to submitting the Letter of Intent.  The deadline for submitting a Letter of Intent is January 15, 2010.

ARTS COUNCIL UNVEILS STRATEGIC PLAN - The BC Arts Council released its 2009-2013 Strategic Plan outlining its vision for supporting artists and arts organizations across the province.The plan outlines four primary goals designed to help the Council support its mission over the coming years.  The goals include:

• Fostering artistic excellence.
• Strengthening community engagement.
• Supporting the unique role of Aboriginal artists and communities.
• Enhancing financial and other services.

“The plan is a road map for the future of arts in this province,” said Jane Danzo, Chair of the BC Arts Council. “Our mission is to engage British Columbians in a healthy arts community that is recognized for excellence. These are turbulent times for the arts and the plan outlines a strong course of action that will help the Council fulfill its mandate over the long term.” Council is currently developing an implementation schedule for the plan.  A full copy is available on the BC Arts Council website at http://www.bcartscouncil.ca/ For further information, contact Chris Gudgeon, Communications Manager, BC Arts Council, at chris.gudgeon@gov.bc.ca.

Hills Strategies - Impacts of the Recession on the Cultural Sector - A number of recent reports, using quite different methodologies and with different timing, have examined the effects of the recession on the cultural sector in Canada and elsewhere. The main consensus of these reports appears to be that endowments, foundations and business-related funding sources are probably the hardest hit by the recession. http://www.HillStrategies.com
http://www.ArtsResearchMonitor.com

The Effect of the Global Economic Recession on Canada's Creative Economy in 2009 - "The global recession is expected to reduce revenues for cultural enterprises by approximately $3.1 billion in 2009 ". This is one of the findings of "The Effect of the Global Economic Recession on Canada's Creative Economy in 2009", a report prepared by The Conference Board of Canada for the Cultural Human Resources Council (CHRC) that measures the impact of the current recession on the cultural sector. http://www.culturalhrc.ca/

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

Telus Community Fund - Darren Bond donor		Hilton ( Vancouver ) Metrotown

Pacific Contact Sponsors

Pre-Conference: Leading & Managing In Turbulent Times: Port Theatre
Pre-Conference: Facility/Theatre Managers Meeting: CITT
Opening Reception: Caline Artists International
Shadbolt Centre Lunch: Association of Cultural Executives
Shadbolt Stage Showcase Break: North Vancouver Office of Cultural Affairs
Friday Night Hospitality Suite: theater simple
Saturday Night Hospitality Suite: Ballet Jörgen Canada
Block Booking Meeting: Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre Society
Networking Coffee Break: Andrew Kwan Artists Management Inc.
Coffee Break: Gryphon Trio
Coffee Break: The Schumann Letters
Coffee Break: Chan Centre for The Performing Arts
Closing Night Party: Magnum Opus Management

Awards Dinner Sponsors:
ArtSpring	Capilano University
Capitol Theatre	Centennial Theatre
Cowichan Theatre	Harrison Festival Society
Kay Meek Centre	Max Cameron Theatre
North Peace Cultural Centre	Prince Rupert Concert Society
Sid Williams Theatre Society	Surrey Arts Centre
Vancouver Civic Theatres

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/.

The BC Touring Council (BCTC) was established as a non-profit society in 1976 to serve presenters and touring professional artists in British Columbia. Its goals are to expand touring opportunities, promote audience development and be an advocate for artists and presenters.

Have a very merry Holiday Season and Happy New Year!

Joanna Maratta, Executive Director
BC Touring Council
PO Box 547
Nelson, B.C. V1L 5R3
T. 250-352-0021  F. 250-352-0027
www.bctouring.org
Pacific Contact 2010 - March 26-28