Detailed Information

Now in it's second year, the Professional Development Intensive (PDI) at Pacific Contact is designed to offer participants practical and inspirational workshops with industry professionals in a short yet intensive format.

This year the focus is on practical knowledge, shared experiences and inspiration. There are fewer and slightly longer sessions in the morning followed by one really BIG facilitated panel discussion in the afternoon that we feel confident no one will want to miss.

All PDI Sessions will be held at the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown.

Register online until March 19, 2004: Pacific Contact 2004

Pacific Contact 2004 – Friday, March 26th, 2004

9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Dancing As Fast As We Can
Human resource planning and accountability in Arts and Culture
Waterford Room 1, Level 3

The workshop:
In 2004, the recommendations of two major reports* on Human Resource Issues in the cultural sector will be implemented.

"Recommendation 1: In providing operating grants to not-for-profit cultural organizations, Canada's public sector funding bodies should make the development of healthy and humane human resource policies and practices an important criterion in grant decisions." (Creative Management in the Arts and Heritage: A Proposed Action Plan for Creating Winning Conditions, Canadian Conference of the Arts and the Cultural Human Resources Council, 2003)

Is your organization ready for the future?

What will be the impact of this recommendation and others on arts and culture organizations? How can we prepare for what may be required, given the many challenges the sector already faces? Find out in this 5-hour session that will combine an interactive forum within a workshop format.

The results:
At the end of this forum participants will be able to:

• Assess the current status of an organization's human resource 'culture'
• Identify key areas to develop or improve human resource policies and practices
• Determine how to integrate professional human resource management and planning in a time of cutbacks, deficits and burnout
• Identify learning needs
• Engage in an ongoing process of development through the support of a network of human resource professionals
• Identify resources that can assist in building capacity to meet the expectations of funders and stakeholders

* These reports are Face of the Future: A Study of Human Resource Issues in Canada's Cultural Sector, Findings and Recommendations. Mercadex International, CHRC, Dec. 2002; and Creative Management in the Arts and Heritage: Sustaining and Renewing Professional Management for the 21st Century. A Proposed Action Plan for Creating Winning Conditions. Jocelyn Harvey, CCA and CHRC, May 2003. Both are available online.

Facilitator:
Judi Piggott is the Director of Training & Human Resource Development with The Alliance for Arts and Culture, based in Vancouver. She is the Chair of the Sectoral Cultural Interprovincial Network, a group of arts and culture professionals from each Canadian province and territory who are concerned with building human resource capacity and compliance with national standards at the regional level. She participated in the development of two national initiatives: The National Study of HR Issues in the Cultural Sector (CHRC) and the Creative Management in the Arts and Heritage project (CCA) and is currently on the National Advisory Committee of the Voluntary Sector Human Resource Council Feasibility Study.

Cost: Includes Box Lunch
$100.00 - Members
$125.00 - Non-members (GST will be added to registration fee)

10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Ready, Aim, Fire - Keys to Unlocking Your Marketing Success
Waterford Room 2, Level 3

Understanding the true nature of creativity and how it works can help you and your organization:

- Manifest what you want
- Save time
- Prevent wasted efforts
- Make money
- Reduce frustration
- Create what you envision

This workshop will examine a three-part equation for marketing the arts - a triad called Ready, Aim, Fire. We will look at different marketing styles, their strengths and weaknesses and show you how to emerge from marketing and creative flatlands. Finally, we will apply this process to your marketing programs and develop action plans for greater success.

Diane Lund
Community-based, socially conscious and passionately creative describes both Diane Lund and her agency - Creative Wonders Communications. With over 20 years of experience in the advertising business, Diane delights in taking clients from "where they are to where they want to be." She has written and produced award-winning integrated ad campaigns for Safeway, Whitespot, and RE/MAX, and television programs which have aired across the United States and Canada. Among her long list of clients --BC Women's Hospital, Pharmasave, TransLink, Public Dreams, and The Arts and Culture Commission of North Vancouver.

Cost:
$50.00 - Members
$60.00 - Non-members (GST will be added to registration fee)

10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Back to Basics: Fundraising in Good Times and Bad… with Sandra Thomson
Lalique Room, Level 2

Designed for volunteers with small to mid-size community presenting organizations. Also of interest to emerging arts organizations or one person shops where fundraising is just one of the many things you do!

This three hour session will focus on very practical methods that work for those with little or no fundraising experience.

Topics covered will include:

• grant writing,
• sponsorships,
• advertising sales,
• memberships,
• donations,
• gifts in kind
• and partnership survival techniques!

Sandra Thomson is the General Manager of the Port Theatre Society in Nanaimo, B.C. She has worked in the performing arts industry for over twenty-five years specializing in marketing, public relations, volunteer management and fundraising.

Over the years she has worked at The Banff School of Fine Arts and the Vancouver East Cultural Centre, operated an artist management company and consulted for Alberta Culture.
She moved to Nanaimo in 1990 to become the Development Officer for the non-profit society that was formed by the City of Nanaimo to raise $13.1 million and build the 800-seat theatre on the waterfront in downtown Nanaimo.
Sandra was responsible for creating and implementing the strategic plan to accomplish this major community development project. The Port Theatre presents 18-20 events each season and hosts another 200+ rental events each year.

Sandra conducts workshops in fundraising and strategic planning for the Arts Partners in Organizational Development Program, Malaspina University-College and non-profit organizations throughout B.C.
In 2001 Sandra was awarded The Advocate For the Arts Award by the CIBC Nanaimo Centre For The Arts. Sandra was elected to the board of the Canadian Association of Arts Presents (CAPACOA) in the fall of 2002 and was appointed Treasurer/Chair of the Development Committee in the fall of 2003.

Cost:
$50.00 - Members
$60.00 - Non-members (GST will be added to registration fee)

10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Have it Your Way - Effective Media Relations
Baccarat Room, Level 2

"A cornerstone for every successful business and non-profit organization is a sustainable positive relationship with the media," so says Martin Truax, founder of Synapse Media Relations.

Have it Your Way - Effective Media Relations is a three-hour energetic and interactive workshop that teaches the principles and tactics of accurately getting your message out through the media.
Firstly, a platform of knowledge is developed as Martin elaborates upon the delicate relationship between advertising, public relations, media relations and the media release.
With these tools in hand, you will create your own public relations event, guaranteed to get that all important media attention. Next, Martin dissects a classic media release, explaining the purpose and value of each part. You will then write a media release promoting your event. Finally, you'll learn insider tips and techniques on sending the release and media follow up. Other subjects covered include using fact sheets, photos, photo captions, and attention-grabbers.

Martin Truax is owner of Synapse Media Relations. His company specializes in media training and strategic consultation. It is situated in Coquitlam, BC.

Upon graduation from B.C.I.T., Martin immediately put to use his broadcast television knowledge and unbridled enthusiasm to establish in Vancouver the first cable TV Community Channel in Western Canada. He remained in the Vancouver cable TV industry for the next twenty-seven years. Most of those years were spent in a variety of management positions in Community TV and Public Relations with Vancouver Cablevision and Rogers Cablesystems.

Since leaving Rogers, Martin has worked with the BC's Children's Hospital Foundation as a Community Outreach Coordinator. Other diverse contracts have included: development of the business plan for an Extreme Sports Channel for Whistler Cable TV; serving as Associate Producer on the broadcast television series Career Options for Women (in Trades and Technologies); and providing consultation to the state-run Polish telephone company on marketing cable TV services in their country.

Martin is Chair of the BCIT Broadcast and Media Communications - TV Option, Industry Advisory Board. As well, he is a business advisor with New Directions Business Retraining Association Successful Contracting and Consulting Programme. For many years he served on the Board of the BC Chapter of Skills Canada, a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting careers in trades and technologies as the first choice option for Canada's youth.

Cost:
$50.00 - Members
$60.00 - Non-members(GST will be added to registration fee)

2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Programming Successful Events, Seasons and Series - Panel
A panel discussion with people who do festivals, classical music series, co-productions, family programming, culturally diverse and multi-discipline events.
Crystal Ballroom 1, Level 3

Maybe you run a state of the art theatre, a small community theatre/venue or an outdoor site. Maybe you're a director of a community arts council; a programming committee of a concert society or you're a local performing arts promoter.
Whatever the title or job description your job is to provide artistic direction and programming. Whether it's your first time out or you've been doing it for years, a time comes when you're just not sure what you want to do or what will work. You're not alone.

Join a distinguished panel that will talk about their greatest challenges and most surprising successes. In this three-hour session they will share their experiences, give practical advice and inspire us to keep doing it! Plenty of time for interaction and questions and answers.

Panel: Phyllis Stenson – Harrison Festival, Margo Gram – Centennial Theatre, Wilson Durward – Evergreen Theatre, Deb Renz – Sid Williams Theatre and more.

Cost:
$25.00 - Members
$30.00 - Non-members
(GST will be added to registration fee)

– Register Online –

Register online until March 19, 2004: Pacific Contact 2004