Orchestras Canada

We’ve got two recommendations this week (one of which is actually MULTIPLE recommendations) – and they’re all about audiences.

Last Saturday’s Globe and Mail included an interesting article by Kate Taylor that contrasted the expectations of contemporary audiences with the formal rituals associated with attendance at a traditional performing arts event. You can read it here.

Early last week, Orchestras Canada – along with the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts, CCI – Ontario Presenting Network, and the Arts Service Organization Learning Network – presented a workshop by Clayton Lord, Director of Communications and Audience Development at San Francisco’s Theatre Bay Area. Entitled “Counting New Beans”, the workshop focused on the learnings from two years of audience impact research done by Theatre Bay Area and eight participating theatres in consultation with arts researcher Alan S. Brown. It was fascinating! We’ve posted the PowerPoint slides from the presentation and a bibliography of related resources here.

We’re issuing “hold the date” advisories for three upcoming Orchestras Canada learning and networking activities:

1. Webinar on Audiences, Markets and Engagement
Canada’s Performing Arts Alliance is presenting a webinar for performing arts managers and marketers.

Audiences, Markets and Engagement in the Performing Arts
Presenter: Kelly Hill, President, Hill Strategies Research

This webinar will highlight key information on performing arts audiences, marketing and engagement, with an emphasis on research findings that performing arts managers and marketers can apply to their day-to-day work in the sector. The presentation will include information about performing arts attendance, consumer spending, audience motivations and audience engagement. The goal of the session is to leave participants with relevant data that can help them increase the efficiency of their marketing, fundraising and communication endeavours, as well as inspiring participants to find new ways of reaching audiences and sponsors.

The webinar will be delivered three times in English and French:
Thursday, February 2, 13:00 (ET) – English -  Register
Monday, February 6, 13:00 (ET) – French -  Register
Tuesday, February 7, 14:00 (ET) – English -  Register

Cost:
• Registration is free for members of a Performing Arts Alliance association (Canadian Dance Assembly, CAPACOA, Opera.ca, Orchestras Canada, PACT).
• Registration is $25.00 + HST for all other participants.

Kelly Hill’s presentation is funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council in conjunction with their funding of the Statistical Insights on the Arts series.

2. Workshop on Promotion, Marketing and Audience Development

When? Friday, March 2 (evening) to Sunday, March 4 (noon).

Where? Toronto

What? A workshop designed to help Ontario’s small budget orchestras and volunteer classical music presenters
• diversify and engage audiences
• program with confidence
• sell more tickets

Who’s Putting It On? The workshop is a partnership between Orchestras Canada and CCI – Ontario Presenting Network, with support from the Ontario Arts Investment Fund. Lead presenters are Lendre Kearns, Judy Harquail and Cheryl Ewing – and there will be special guests as well.

Who’s It For? Volunteers and staff from Ontario’s small budget orchestras and volunteer classical music presenting groups. Enrollment will be capped at 50 people, and we’d encourage you to sign up two people from your organization to maximize your learnings!

How Much? Pricing and registration details are TBA, but we’ll keep it reasonable. We’re also working on accessing travel subsidies and great hotel prices for out-of-towners.

How Do I Register? Watch Orchestras Canada’s newsletter & website AND your email for updates.

3. Orchestras Canada National Orchestra Meetings
The program is being planned and logistical details are being sorted out – and we’re getting ever more excited about OC’s National Meetings 2012. They’re in Montreal this year, co-hosted by the Orchestre symphonique de Montreal, and they run from May 27 (mid-day) to May 29 (mid-day). More details will be available by the end of January – watch this space!

CCI – Ontario Presenting Network is presenting a Touring Workshop at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto, September 20-22, with Canadian touring mavens and workshop facilitators extraordinaire Judy Harquail and Lendre Kearns. Here’s how CCI describes the event: “This three-day intensive will provide practical tools and strategies for touring performance in the current context. With participants and guest presenters from across the country, the outcome will not only be increased knowledge for those involved but a new network of colleagues who will no doubt collaborate and support each other in the future.” Registration is $100 per person and includes 3 lunches; accommodation and travel costs must be covered by the applicant. Applications are due September 7, and space is limited to 30 participants. For more information, please contact Judy Harquail by phone at 416-949-7312.

Technology in the Arts is presenting a webinar entitled “The Quick & Dirty: Making A Video”, on September 2 from 2:00pm-3:30pm Eastern, and registration is only $25 US. Here’s how they describe the session: “Video technology is a cost-effective way to promote your work and engage your current (and potential) audience through channels that are widely accessed and have a broad reach. Arts organizations can effectively harness this technology to improve their visibility, attract new audiences, and find exciting ways to tell their story. This webinar will help you identify ways in which a video might best be used by your organization and discuss the tools you will need to physically produce and promote your video.”
For more information, or to register, please visit here.

The Charity Law Information Program (or CLIP) is offering a series of low-cost, high-value seminars in locations across the country on effective compliance with Canada Revenue Agency regulations affecting registered charities. Topics include

Understanding CRA’s Fundraising Guidance and More
The Dos and Don’ts of Charitable Receipting
Applying CRA’s Fundraising Guidance and Best Practices

For dates and locations – and for more information, please visit CLIP’s website here.