Manitoba’s Nationally Recognized, Leading Arts and Music Conference Returns In-Person This Year with A Variety of Opportunities to Learn, Network, and Showcase
October 27-30 2022, Portage La Prairie
Conference and Showcase Tickets Available Now!
Winnipeg, MB — The Manitoba Arts Network is pleased to announce the return of the Manitoba Showcase, Manitoba’s leading multidisciplinary arts conference offering a variety of networking, booking, and career growth opportunities for creatives in music, theatre, dance and visual arts. Bringing together booking agents and industry experts with a focus on Manitoban presenters and galleries, the four-day conference and showcase offers workshops, live performances from a jury-curated group of national artists, one-on-one meetings, and networking opportunities.
Returning in-person after being online in 2021, the Manitoba Showcase will take place at Prairie Fusion Arts & Entertainment in Portage La Prairie, and will feature over 150 delegates from across Canada, including a number of participants from rural Manitoba. The program is dedicated to creating future opportunities for artists by offering them an opportunity to showcase in front of Manitoban and national presenters and galleries, connecting them with future opportunities for collaboration.
The Manitoba Showcase will feature multiple workshops on a variety of Indigenous focused topics, including Indigenization & Multiculturalism led by Albert McLeod, and the KAIROS Blanket Exercise (KBE), a program developed in collaboration with Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers and educators that explores the historic and contemporary relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Other workshop and discussion topics include digital marketing, re-engaging audiences, and advertising, alongside the exhibitions of five visual artists including Pepe Hidalgo and Alison Davis, and eight RBC emerging artists including Kwiat and Greg Personius. Pitch artists, a group of hand selected musicians by a jury to offer short, stripped down showcases to presenters, include Doo-Wop group The Bromantics, and Classical artist Sarah Hagen.
“Showcase events across Canada revolve around artist showcasing, networking and professional development to support the growth and challenges of the touring industry,” says Rose-Anne Harder, the Executive Director of Manitoba Arts Network. “For artists, they are a gateway to touring and making your name known. Besides the performance opportunity, the event includes a conference that connects artists and presenters or buyers.”
The Manitoba Arts Network invites non-conference attendees to enjoy one, two, or all three of the musical and performing arts showcases by purchasing tickets to the evening and matinee shows. Showcasing across multiple genres from a jury-selected group of national creatives, the artists showcasing at the 2022 Manitoba Showcase are: Sammy Jackson (Jazz), Obsidiana Duo (Classical), Dizzy & Fay (Jazz), Buzz Brass (Classical), Madeleine Roger (Contemporary Folk), Nelson Little (Contemporary Folk), Beatrice Love (Soul/R&B), Notas de 4 (Latin Folk and Jazz), Rory Gardiner (Comedy and Music), JP Hoe (Jazz/Blues), Candy Bones (Theatre), and Jake Vaadeland & The Sturgeon River Boys.
“MB Showcase is like a variety show where you get to sample 6 different artists at each Showcase. There is something for everyone with theatre, comedy, dance and a wide range of music genres.” says Harder.
On the topic of how valuable the conference can be for artists and presenters, former presenter, Minnedosa Performing Arts Committee, commented “the weekend is very beneficial to our organization. We always find some artists that we wish to book for our next season and enjoy the networking with other presenters.” Of the artist experience, 2019 showcasing artist Trevor Panczak shared “we were able to block book six dates with the help of the Manitoba Arts Network, so I’d say it was a success”. Performing at the Showcase for the first time this year, theatre artist Candy Bones shared “I am the happiest in my element when I am performing! I’m very excited to participate in the Manitoba Showcase to expand my connections and share my artform and inspiration with other professional artists and presenters across Canada.”
An advantageous event for anyone in performing and visual arts, the Manitoba Showcase aims to serve as a platform to create and expand ideas, serve as a catalyst for career growth, and foster booking opportunities across Manitoba for a promising group of artists.
The Manitoba Showcase is supported by Canadian Heritage, the Manitoba Arts Council, FACTOR, and the Government of Canada and will take place from October 27 – 30, 2022 at Prairie Fusion Arts & Entertainment.
About the Manitoba Arts Network:
The Manitoba Arts Network connects, showcases, and promotes visual and performing artists with rural communities across Manitoba. The Network is dedicated to connecting Manitoba’s communities to the arts.
For more information, please visit:
Manitoba Showcase
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