WORKSHOPS

Friday, April 1, 2005

3:30 PM - 4:45 PM
New Colleague Orientation - An important session for first-timers at Pacific Contact. New delegates at Pacific Contact team up with experienced agent and presenter Debbie Peters of Magnum Opus Management and artist and presenter Bill Usher who will share their experiences, give some helpful hints and offer their support so you can get the most out of the conference experience. There will also be a short preview tour of the contact (tradeshow) room.

Saturday, April 2, 2005

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Opening Doors & Raising Curtains - Youth & The Future Of Performing Arts Touring.
BCTC welcomes a new voice and official presence of youth participation at Pacific Contact. To welcome them and kick off a discussion we hope will continue throughout the conference, a panel of performing arts students, faculty, agents and managers will share their dreams, inspire us with their vision for the future and discuss the perceived and real barriers they currently see for youth in the performing arts touring sector.

Sunday, April 3. 2005

9:00 AM - 10:45 AM
Realities Of Community Presenting - How To Plan In a Changing Landscape. Part I
This workshop is for community presenters, school presenters, artists and venue managers in small communities throughout the province. There will be opportunities to identify and explore
the "winds of change" affecting professional arts touring and presenting in small communities, and the resulting opportunities and challenges. This will be a lead into designing local planning processes to build community, organizational, and personal strategic directions, that fit local and changing realities, and that build over time more sustainable approaches to professional arts touring and presenting. Bring your issues, whether they are about volunteers, fund-raising, audience development, local competition etc.
This workshop is a key first step for BCTC in implementing a longer-term direction to promote and facilitate collaborative community planning focusing on professional arts touring and presenting.

Gavin Perryman has considerable experience in non-profit organizations, small communities around the province, and arts related strategic planning. (Part two resumes after BCTC AGM and Brunch)

12:45 PM - 2:45 PM - Workshops
Best Practices In Cultural Diversity - Phyllis Stenson, Harrison Festival
The Harrison Festival has been presenting the music and art of diverse cultures and doing community outreach work for much of its 26 year history. Through a special project, the organization has developed a Best Practices Guide for other arts groups interested in doing this type of work. The guide has been created in consultation with diverse communities and includes eight case studies from festivals, performers and arts groups that have had successful outreach partnerships. Join Harrison Festival Artistic Director, Phyllis Stenson, Roopchand Seebaran, project consultant and Dugg Simpson, Artistic Director Vancouver Folk Music Festival along to share some of the stories, lessons learned, and find out what makes for a successful partnership. We'd also like to hear your stories.

Phyllis Stenson has been the Artistic Director of the Harrison Festival of the Arts for twenty-one years. The ten-day event has featured minority cultures in the small town of Harrison Hot Springs since its inception, and has addressed human rights issues such as racism, the disappeared, women's issues, genocide and gay rights. The event features music, dance, theatre, visual arts, lectures and workshops with many events free to the public. The organization also presents 15 - 20 concerts and theatre productions during the year. She is a co-founder of the Western Artistic Directors of Roots Music Festivals (WRAD) and is a board member of the B.C. Touring Council.

Grant Writing - What's Changed, What's New in 2005.
Brush up on grant writing and learn some new skills and gather ideas about how to put your best forward when writing that all important proposal.

Heather Redfern is the current Executive Director of the Greater Vancouver Alliance for Arts and Culture. She is also the past chair of the Magnetic North Theatre Festival, of which she was a founding member. Before coming to Vancouver to serve with the Alliance Heather worked as the Artistic Producer for Catalyst Theatre in Edmonton where she presented a season of theatre and toured Catalyst's original productions nationally and internationally. She has served on a variety of volunteer boards and arts service organizations, including the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT) and the Edmonton Arts Council. In 2000, Ms. Redfern won the City of Edmonton, Business and the Arts Award for Excellence in Arts Management. Ms. Redfern is a native of Vancouver, and has mentored several Vancouver theatre groups through the Canada Council's Flying Squad program.

Realities Of Community Presenting - How To Plan In A Changing Landscape. Part II

Risky Business? - Presenting Classical Music and Dance
Hear from experienced, presenters how their passion for these disciplines and commitment to the bottom line keep them going.
Stephen White - Victoria Dance Series
Michael Cade - Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre
Michele Emslie - Whitehorse Concerts Society
Scott Wilson - Jazz Society of Yukon

The Right Time for a Relationship - Finding Artists & Agents
Join this diverse panel as they shed light; give valuable insight and ideas on this sensitive topic of career development and management.
Gary Cristall - Gary Cristall Artist Management
Dana Kirby - LiveTourArtists
Njo Kong Kie - Day OFF

Monday, April 4. 2005

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
The Community Presenters Assistance Program (CPAP)
The objective of this program is to assist BC non-profit arts organizations that present professional Canadian performing arts. This information session will cover guidelines and eligibility criteria; discuss the amount of awards, application form, adjudication process, timelines/deadlines and changes to the program.
Presented by Sheryl McGraw, Program Co-ordinator, CPAP and Jeremy Long, Associate Director, BC Arts Council.

MEETINGS

Friday, April 1, 2005

10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Front Of House (FOH) Theatre Workshop Meeting
This workshop meeting and workshop will explore the many areas of Front Of House theatre operations (FOH). Specific areas such as concession, bar operating procedures, pricing, accounting, FOH staffing, usher procedures, customer service areas surrounding the many problems relating to seating issues and Lobby sales will be addressed. Bring your FOH information such as procedures and policies, Concession and bar reports, post-event forms, usher procedures, staffing requirements, recognition, scheduling etc.
Presenter: Audrey Kraushar has worked in all facets of audience service areas from box-office, concession and bar, ushering, House Supervisor and has been the Front of House Theatre Manger for the theatres at the Surrey Arts Centre for nine years.

10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Ticket Centre Managers Meeting
This workshop meeting for ticket centre managers and senior ticket staff will focus on set-up, software, internet sales and growing trends. Bring information from your ticketing operations to share with group.
Presenter: Bonnie Hamilton began working as the Port Theatre shortly after the theatre opened in 1998 and is currently the Acting Ticket Centre Manager for the Port Theatre.

3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Facility/Theatre Managers Meeting - This peer networking and get-together for theatre and arts facility managers is a regular feature at Pacific Contact. It is an opportunity to update each other on activities, share experiences, ask questions, and talk about trends and issues.
Sponsored by CAPACOA

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Meet Agencies and Funding Partner - Officers from Canadian Heritage, BC Arts Council, SOCAN and other agencies will be on-hand to make your acquaintance, set up one-on-one or group meetings, direct your inquiries and answer questions. Come put names to faces!

Saturday, April 2, 2005

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Presenters - Block Booking - Meeting One
This very short meeting is to give presenters interested in co-ordinating booking a chance to meet each other, hear about general booking interests and to identify any issues and concerns before going into the heart of the conference.
The final block booking meeting to discuss details of interests takes place on Tuesday morning April 5th.

Sunday, April 3, 2005

9:00 AM - 10:45 AM
Peer Networking Meetings:
Share best practices, tips, and information and discuss issues
— Business Managers & Agents
— Arts Service Organizations
— Artists and Arts Companies

Monday, April 4, 2005

8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Advocacy Sessions
- Organize and Get Your Message Out

10:30 AM - 11:45 AM
Discipline Round Table Meetings
- Theatre, Dance, Contemporary Music and Classical Music
Moderated discussions by artistic discipline. Some subjects discussed at last year's Pacific Contact will be followed up as well as new subjects introduced. Bring ideas for discussion.

Tuesday, April 5, 2005

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Presenters Block Booking Meeting
Specific booking interests regarding 2005 showcasing artists will be discussed as well as general discussion about other artists touring, upcoming seasons, series and about co-ordinated booking in general. Forms will be handed out to fill in re specific booking interests.

NETWORKING

Friday, April 1, 2005

5:00 PM - 6:45 PM
Opening Reception & Welcome - Crystal Ballroom Foyer, Level 3
Meet and mingle with old friends and make new ones at this Complimentary Buffet reception.
Sponsored by Caline Artists International

Hospitality Suite
Late Night at the Hilton - Penthouse Suite
BCTC is pleased to offer late-night hospitality each evening compliments of the Metrotown Hilton. This is a private suite for delegates of Pacific Contact. As a courtesy to other hotel guests on this floor, BCTC asks all delegates to be aware to keep voice and noise levels to a minimum as they come and go.
Sponsored by Pacific Music, The Canadian Tenors

Saturday, April 2, 2005

10:30 AM - 10:45 AM
Networking Coffee Break - Prizes! Bring your business cards.
Sponsored by Finance For The Arts In Canada

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Discovery Sessions - New Networking Session at Pacific Contact 2005
The saying goes "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery". The idea and name for this session was inspired from the Western Arts Alliance Conference Discovery Sessions and content for Pacific Contact is in follow up to BCTC's current strategic renewal in which members suggested that there should be more opportunities for showcasing (beyond performances) to introduce and discover what people do. Come hear and be heard in 5 minutes or less as artists, agents, presenters and facility manager's pitch projects, tours, artist rosters, co-productions, series, seasons and festivals.
If interested in "pitching" sign up at the registration desk on Friday, April 1st. Please note that the Discovery Sessions replace the 2-minute Sales Spotlights.

Topic areas are:
— New presenters in BC/Venues with new program
— Classical Music Performers
— Dance Companies/Performers
— Artists & Managers New to Pacific Contact

11:45 AM - 1:00 PM
Getting To Know You Lunch - Crystal Ballroom 1
Sit with someone you don't know. Invite someone new to join you and your friends. Mix it up!

6:00 PM - 7:45 PM
BCTC Awards Dinner - Crystal Ballroom 1
Please join us as we honour our colleagues. Awards go to Presenter, Artist and Agent of the year.

Hospitality Suite
Late Night at the Hilton - Penthouse Suite

Monday, April 4, 2005

6:45 PM - 8:00 PM
Closing Reception - Shadbolt Centre For The Arts
One last get- together with a little food, something to drink and good company. The last Independent showcase follows the reception.

Hospitality Suite
Late Night at the Hilton - Penthouse Suite

ABOUT….

Buses
Buses will take delegates to and from Mainstage and Independent showcases. Buses leave the conference hotel outside the lobby area. Please check the schedule for exact times. Please note that buses will leave on time.

Hospitality Suite - Late Night at the Hilton - Penthouse Suite
BCTC is pleased to offer late-night hospitality each evening compliments of the Metrotown Hilton. This is a private suite for delegates of Pacific Contact. As a courtesy to other hotel guests on this floor, BCTC asks all delegates to be aware to keep voice and noise levels to a minimum as they come and go.

Exhibitor Set-up and Strike of the Contact Room
- Crystal Ballroom 2 & 3, Level 3
Please note the changes in set-up and strike of the Contact Room and a new late-night evening contact on Friday, April 1st. If you anticipate any difficulties with regard to this schedule, please contact the BCTC office.