Contact Room busy-ness!

Each year OC provides educational workshops, informative roundtables, inspirational guest speakers, and the best performances by talented Canadian artists.

CCI is thrilled to be producing this province-wide event. Every fall excitement fills the air as presenters, artists, agents and managers share the stage and the Contact Room in the pursuit of excellence - bringing performers and audiences together in all of the theatres, venues, halls and stages across Ontario.

ONTARIO CONTACT is now in its 37th year. It was a major program of the Ontario Arts Council for 30 years and is now presented under the auspices of CCI, Ontario's Presenting Network. It is CCI's hope that this annual event continues to address the on-going needs of the province's presenters and establishes itself as a showcase destination for presenters from other countries.

Annual conference attendance includes approximately 350 presenters and exhibitors, some 150 artists, workshop leaders, and representatives from various government and arts service agencies, all on hand to provide information, professional development, showcases and networking opportunities.

The presenting community involved in the conference is made up of 30% professional programmers and 70% volunteer programmers, primarily from Ontario, and with some representation from across the country and the United States.

Each year at ONTARIO CONTACT, presenters experience a wide range of showcases of professional Canadian artists who will be touring. Artist Managers display information about all artists in their rosters (representing over 2000 Canadian artists), and they assist presenters with all necessary information about planning and finalizing tours.

A number of professional development workshops are held as part of the conference with professional experts and panels to ensure the latest in trends and successes.