November 18, 2015
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This year, Ontario Contact, Ontario Presents’ annual performing arts conference, had over 250 delegates attending showcases, professional development workshops and conducting business during the three-day conference. Over fifty showcase and pitch artists, presented their work during Ontario Contact in London. About eighty exhibiting delegates, including agents and artist management companies and other industry delegates exhibited at Contact Room.
The conference had a really positive buzz surrounding it. Our showcases were outstanding with three of them receiving standing ovations. We tried a few new things that worked really well and we identified a few that will require some rethinking. So, if you wish to contribute to the improvements, please take a moment to respond to our evaluation survey.
Professional development workshops provided participants with opportunities to improve skills and competencies needed to continue to serve their communities by providing outstanding performing arts programming and engagement. Our keynote speakers, David Hogan and David Rogers of Victoria Playhouse Petrolia, kept us laughing while they made us think about how we view our audiences. Are they a mass or are we considering them one person at a time?
Ontario Contact handed out the Ontario Presents four Awards of Excellence to recognize contributions to the performing arts touring and presenting sector in Ontario. Congratulations to all!
- Agent of the Year - Cheryle Hansen of Kids Entertainment
- Artist of the Year - Kaha:wi Dance Theatre
- Presenter of the Year - Ronnie Brown of the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts
- Award of Excellence - Brian McCurdy has recently retired from his position at the The Burlington Performing Arts Centre
Ontario Presents has announced Peterborough as the host city for Ontario Contact 2016 and will take place November 3rd – 5th with November 2nd pre-conference day.
The 2015 Closing Party, organized by Showplace Performance Centre (Peterborough), kicked off Ontario Contact 2016 edition.
Submissions for showcasing artists will open in February of 2016 and more information will be released as it becomes available.
The Ontario Contact team extends its sincerest thanks to all our funders, sponsors, donators, hosting venues, volunteers & tech crew for making #OntarioContact2015 in London a great success!