May 2, 2023
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
In September 2022, we announced that Contact ONtour would be taking a planned hiatus in 2023 to ensure that our ongoing work reflects and responds to the changes that have taken place across our industry throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, while also re-examining ways to critically interweave Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity, Accessibility, and Decolonization (EDIAD) lenses into all of our work.
Since last year’s Contact ONtour in Orillia, the Board and Staff of Ontario Presents has directed its focus to measuring and listening to what has been happening in the performing arts sector, across the province and nationally, in order to better serve our community.
In that vein, Ontario Presents has struck an advisory committee to hold conversations to help guide the development of future community gatherings in the interim. This committee is chaired by Ontario Presents Board member Danny Harvey (Performing Arts Brampton), and includes Glenn Brown (Sanderson Centre), Danielle Lefebvre (Agence Danielle Lefebvre), Alyson Martin, (Sioux Hudson Entertainment Series), Nicole Rochefort (AIM: Artists In Motion) and Yvon “Crazy Smooth” Soglo (BBoyizm).
We understand the pivotal role that Contact ONtour played in providing a gathering space for artists, agents, arts workers, and presenters across Ontario. Contact ONtour created a space for performing arts professionals to meet new and familiar colleagues, to build transformative long-term connections and partnerships.
Therefore, we are proud to say that planning is underway for a Virtual Networking Series in the Fall of 2023. This series will include activities such as Agent Pitches, Virtual Showcase/Pitches by Artists, and One-on-One meetings. Full details will be announced within the coming weeks.
Although we acknowledge that a disruption to our annual showcase event is not ideal, we are very much committed to providing ongoing opportunities to ensure that your needs are met and that there are ample opportunities for networking and engagement across the province.
We look forward to meeting with you virtually in the fall. Please stay tuned to the Ontario Presents Newsletter and follow us on Social Media for more information.
We also invite you to join us for our Annual Spring Retreat that will be taking place from May 31st - June 2nd, 2023, at the Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ontario. Please register here before May 19th, 2023. All are welcome!