Touring Workshop

For Dance, Theatre and Performing Artists
With Judy Harquail and Jim Smith
Co-presented by Springboard Performance, Alberta Dance Alliance, CanDance Network, and the Canada Council for the Arts

Wednesday October 12, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM with lunch
Thursday October 13, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM with lunch
Friday October 14, 10:00 AM–2:00 PM with lunch
Thursday October 20, 4:00 PM–6:00 PM

EPCOR Centre
Friday October 21, 3:00 PM–-5:00 PM
Hotel Arts

In today’s ever changing market it can be challenging to launch a tour career; there are many questions and few obvious answers. Explore the ins and outs of touring with Judy Harquail and Jim Smith, two of our very best Canadian touring professionals and co-authors (with Lendre earns) of www.artsontour.ca who have over 40 years in the touring business between them.

This multi-level workshop is designed for the touring novice as well as those with years of experience who want a refresher and some up to date ideas. The answers that you provide in this application will help us to formulate the specifics of the workshop, but areas that will be covered include the impetus and rationale for touring, funding and budgeting, itinerary development, negotiating, talking to presenters, tour readiness, technical concerns and contracts. Judy and Jim will address specific challenges in certain regions of the country and the world; as much as possible the workshop will be tailored to address the needs and interests of the participants.

Sessions will tae place with the full group and in smaller teams, and there will be some time for individual consultation. While there will be a lot of information imparted it will also be fun and engaging. TO compliment Judy and Jim’s wisdom and experience, some sessions will feature presenters and other industry guests.

Judy Harquail has over 25 years of experience working in the performing arts. Her previous accomplishments include directing and executing touring activity for some of Canada’s most highly respected dance and opera companies, developing and executing strategic marketing campaigns and working in collaboration with an extensive range of arts organizations and arts professionals across Canada, the United States, and throughout the world.

Among the many projects she is working on, she is Program Manager for CCI – the Ontario Presenters Network where she is responsible for the Ontario Dances program, the biannual Ontario Dances Platform, the Fresh Start program and CCI’s block booking program. She also has extensive experience dealing with all levels of government funding agencies having worked on contract for the Canada Council and the Department of Canadian Heritage assisting in the launch of the Arts Presentation Canada Program in Ontario. Judy is the 2007 recipient of the National Arts Centre award for distinguished contribution to touring.

Jim Smith has been an active member of the arts community for over 20 years. He began his arts career in Montreal in 1990 at La La La Human Steps (Edouard Lock). After moving to Vancouver in 1992, Jim co-founded Eponymous and was producer for Animals of Distinction (Dana Gingras), Compagnie Vision Selective (Noam Gagnon), The Holy Body Tattoo (Gagnon and Gingras) and Kidd Pivot (Crystal Pite), to name a few.

As producer, Jim has developed projects involving the Beijing Modern Dance Company, Owen Belton, Warren Ellis, Godspeed You! Black Emperor and William Gibson, among others. He has secured co-producers for many of these projects and has orchestrated national and international tours. He has also produced several short films, providing him insight into film production, distribution and broadcasting.

Jim has also presented many artists in Vancouver, including Laurie Anderson, Philippe Decouflé, Diamanda Galas, Kodo Drummers of Japan, Ex Machina (Robert Lepage) and Pan Sonic.
Jim has travelled extensively nationally and internationally, touring with productions and attending festivals, special events and conferences, allowing him to develop a far-reaching network of colleagues, associates and connections in the performing arts milieu.

He is Past President of the Canadian Dance Assembly and has served on the boards of The Dance Centre and the Alliance for Arts and Culture. He has participated on advisory committees for the British Columbia Arts Council and The Canada Council for the Arts. He regularly shares his expertise of the arts as a consultant and a mentor.
Jim’s formal education includes studies in music performance and commerce.

Details

Admission: A fee of $100 includes snacks and refreshments, lunch all three days; travel and accommodation costs must be covered by the applicant.

Space is limited to 30 participants. The workshop is open to all dance, theatre and performing arts professionals.

Please submit a completed registration form by September 30 to Kealy at the Alberta Dance Alliance via email (as an attachment please) to info@abdancealliance.ab.ca
Alberta Dance Alliance is offering a workshop subsidy to dance artists participating in the Touring Workshop. This subsidy will cover the $100 workshop fee and $40 Fluent fee. As well, a $100 travel subsidy will be given to any artist traveling from outside Calgary and surrounding area (30 km). Please include in your application a short (200 word) paragraph outlining why you believe this workshop would be beneficial to you. Please send this along with you name, address and contact information to info@abdancealliance.ab.ca.

Workshop subsidy available to dance artists only. Subsidies will be awarded on a first come, first served basis. For questions, please contact the Alberta Dance Alliance at 780.422.8107

August 9th, 2011 by admin