BC Scene Festival Wraps-up

BC Scene Festival Wraps-up

Next up: Prairie Scene in 2011

OTTAWA (Canada) ’Äî BC Scene, the largest gathering of British Columbia artists ever presented outside the province, culminates this weekend with two sold-out shows by Diana Krall, Canada's internationally acclaimed queen of jazz.

BC Scene, the National Arts Centre's dazzling multi-disciplinary arts festival, began April 21 and ends today. The festival featured 600 artists from disciplines as varied as music, theatre, dance, visual and media arts, literature and culinary arts, in more than 30 venues around the National Capital Region.

Ms. Krall was not the only B.C. artist to perform to capacity audiences over the last two weeks. Others included dance sensations Crystal Pite and Wen Wei Dance; classical music performers Borealis String Quartet, musica intima, Francois Houle, Hard Rubber Orchestra and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra; rockers Hey Ocean!, Said the Whale and Black Mountain; world beat master Celso Machado, jazz saxophonist Seamus Blake and Celtic-Punjabi electronica band Delhi 2 Dublin. Also playing to full houses were theatre productions such as BIOBOXES, Moms the Word 2: Unhinged and the children's opera Jack Pine. Culinary events were also a big hit, notably the cooking demonstration by renowned B.C. chef Robert Clark and National Arts Centre chef Michael Blackie.

British Columbia artists have been creating a buzz in the Nation's Capital since the festival's opening night event called SWARM, a unique and mind-opening tour of visual and media art installations at 11 local galleries that culminated in a massive party in the National Arts Centre lobby.

It's no wonder Heather Moore, BC Scene's Producer and Executive Director, calls this latest edition of the festival "the best ever".

The National Arts Centre created the Scene concept back in 2003 with Atlantic Scene, followed by Alberta Scene in 2005 and Quebec Scene in 2007. In addition to providing a national showcase for artists from the different regions of Canada, these festivals are designed to help emerging and established artists further their careers thanks to an innovative presenters' program. For example, about 60 presenters ’Äì producers, buyers, or talent scouts ’Äì from 17 countries (including Canada) were invited to BC Scene. The initial reaction by participating presenters has been very positive. Discussions are underway that will likely soon culminate in invitations to dozens of B.C. artists to perform across Canada and abroad.

Since 2003, hundreds of Canadian artists have benefited from being a part of the Scene festivals. For instance, after Alberta Scene, Alberta artists received 150 new bookings. A survey done six months after the 2007 Quebec Scene found that performing arts groups had already received 51 bookings that represented more than $500,000 in revenue.

Ms. Moore and her team of organizers are already working on the next edition of the festival, the Prairie Scene, which will showcase the artists of Saskatchewan and Manitoba in the Nation's Capital in the spring of 2011.

Partners

BC Scene would like to thank the Government of Canada, the Government of British Columbia, Western Economic Diversification Canada and the Canada Council for the Arts for their generous support of this event.

The National Arts Centre and National Arts Centre Foundation gratefully acknowledges the support of Presenting Partner Plasco Energy Group, Special Partners The Radcliffe Foundation, The Audain Foundation, Martha Lou Henley, Milton and Fei Wong and Dr. Donald B. Rix. Acknowledgment is also extended to Major Partners Enbridge Inc. and Hy's Steakhouse and Cockail Bar, as well as Supporting Partners Anndraya T. Luui, Canwest, HSBC Bank Canada, Holiday Inn and Screen Siren Pictures. BC Scene Media Partners include CBC/Radio-Canada, National Post, Vancouver Magazine and Western Living, Ottawa Citizen, LeDroit, and the Vancouver Sun.

The NAC Foundation also extends a warm thank you to the B.C. Strategy Council and Friends, a committed group of individuals whose leadership, support and guidance have been key to the success of BC Scene. The B.C. Strategy Council and Friends is led by Honorary Chairs Milton and Fei Wong, Chair Donald B. Rix and includes David Aisenstat, Michael Audain Foundation, Shirley Barnett, Peter Bentley, Eric Charman, Robert Fairweather, Moh and Yulanda Faris, Martha Lou Henley, Joanne Louie Mah, Anndraya T. Luui, Radcliffe Foundation, Scott Shepherd, Donald Shumka, Kathleen Speakman.

For more details about BC Scene or to view event photos, visit bcscene.ca.

HSBC Bank Canada Joins the National Arts Centre as a Supporting Partner of BC Scene

HSBC Bank Canada Joins the National Arts Centre as a Supporting Partner of BC Scene

OTTAWA ’Äì The National Arts Centre today announced that HSBC Bank Canada has become a sponsor of BC Scene, the largest gathering of British Columbian artists ever assembled outside the province. HSBC Bank Canada is contributing $25,000 to support the event.

The NAC’Äôs regional festival is taking place in the nation’Äôs capital from April 21-May 3 and will showcase 600 BC artists from disciplines as varied as music, theatre, dance, visual and media arts, literature and culinary arts in more than 30 venues around the National Capital Region.

’ÄúWe are thrilled to partner once again with HSBC Bank Canada, a company with a tremendous commitment to and understanding of the importance of supporting Canadian arts and culture,’Äù said Jane Moore, Interim CEO of the NAC Foundation. ’ÄúIt is truly wonderful that HSBC Bank Canada is supporting B.C. artists as they prepare to step on a national stage.’Äù

’ÄúHSBC is proud to be sponsoring BC Scene, an exciting cultural festival that will showcase some of British Columbia’Äôs most talented artists,’Äù said Matt Bosrock, Deputy CEO, HSBC Bank Canada. ’ÄúAs our Canadian headquarters is in Vancouver we are especially delighted that our support will help artists from B.C. gain national and international profile.’Äù

A ceremony held at HSBC Bank Canada’Äôs Vancouver offices marked the occasion when Mr. Bosrock presented a cheque in the amount of $25,000 to Ms. Moore.

BC Scene is the fourth in a series of national festivals produced by the NAC that began with Atlantic Scene (2003), Alberta Scene (2005) and Quebec Scene (2007). All three Scenes were major successes that exposed artists to new audiences, national and international presenters, and drew unprecedented media coverage for the participating artists and arts organizations.

The NAC is Canada’Äôs leading centre for performance, creation and learning. Today, the NAC works with thousands of artists from across Canada and around the world and collaborates with dozens of arts organizations across the country. The NAC is strongly committed to being a leader and innovator in each of the performing arts fields in which it works’Äîclassical music, English theatre, French theatre, dance, variety and community programming. It is also at the forefront of youth and education activities, supporting programs for young and emerging artists, presenting programs for young audiences, and producing resources and study materials for teachers and students. The NAC is the only multidisciplinary, bilingual performing arts centre in North America and one of the largest in the world.

For more information about BC Scene, please visit www.bcscene.ca.

B.C. Music Legends to perform at BC Scene on May 1, 2009

B.C. Music Legends to perform
at BC Scene on May 1, 2009

Tickets on sale January 29

OTTAWA ’Äì Some of British Columbia’Äôs most beloved musicians will come together on stage for a unique evening of great music and memory making as part of BC Scene, the largest gathering of British Columbia artists ever presented outside of the province.
B.C. Music Legends will be hosted by Valdy, who, with his two Juno Awards for Folk Singer of the Year and Folk Entertainer of the Year, seven additional Juno nominations, four gold albums and countless dedicated fans across the country, can truly be called a Canadian folk music icon. Joining him on stage will be lyrical singer-songwriter Barney Bentall of Legendary Hearts fame; the remarkable 87-year-old veteran blues singer Leon Bibb; folk legend Ferron; much loved singer-songwriter Roy Forbes; Will Millar, lead singer of the popular Irish Rovers; and Shari Ulrich of the celebrated 1970s band, Pied Pumkin.

B.C. Music Legends will take place at Centrepointe Theatre at 8 p.m. on May 1, 2009. Tickets for the show go on sale on January 29 through the Centrepointe Theatre website at www.centrepointetheatre.com, by telephone at (613) 580-2700, or in person at the Centrepointe Theatre Box Office at Ben Franklin Place, 101 Centrepointe Drive in Ottawa.

This is a rare chance to catch some amazing music heroes together on the same stage for one night only. Rejuvenate your musical soul with an evening of great songs, great performers, and a couple of trips down memory lane with some of the West Coast’Äôs greatest musical performers ’Äì you’Äôll be happy and humming all the way home.

The full roster of BC Scene programming will be announced at the Festival launch on Tuesday, Februrary 24 at 11:00 a.m. in the Fourth Stage at the National Arts Centre, 53 Elgin Street. To confirm your attendance or to request an invitation, please call (613) 947-7000, ext 343.

BC Scene

The National Arts Centre’Äôs BC Scene will take place from April 21 to May 3, 2009. Part of a series of biennial national festivals exploring Canada’Äôs cultural panorama, BC Scene will celebrate a dynamic culture that is a fusion of traditional and contemporary, East and West, and established and emerging artists.

BC Scene will feature 600 artists from disciplines as varied as music, theatre, dance, visual and media arts, literature and culinary arts in more than 90 events over 13 days, at venues around the National Capital Region. Among those in attendance for this unique showcase of B.C. artists will be more than 60 Canadian and international presenters ’Äì producers, buyers, or talent scouts ’Äì discovering B.C. talent and bringing it to their own audiences.

For more information about BC Scene, visit www.bcscene.ca.

Partners

A multitude of public and private organizations have come together to make BC Scene a reality. BC Scene would like to thank the Government of Canada, the Government of British Columbia and Western Economic Diversification Canada for their generous support of this event.

The National Arts Centre and National Arts Centre Foundation also extend warm thank you to the B.C. Strategy Council, a group of committed individuals whose leadership, support and guidance are key to the success of BC Scene. The B.C. Strategy Council is led by Honorary Chairs Milton and Fei Wong, and Chair Donald B. Rix.

The NAC Foundation also gratefully acknowledges the support of Presenting Partner Plasco Energy Group, Special Partners The Radcliffe Foundation, The Audain Foundation, Martha Lou Henley, Milton and Fei Wong and Dr. Donald B. Rix. Acknowledgment is also extended to Major Partner Enbridge Inc. and Supporting Partners Canwest, HSBC Bank Canada, the Holiday Inn and Screen Siren Pictures. For their commitment and support of B.C. arts and artists, we give special thanks to the NAC Friends ’Äì B.C.. BC Scene Media Partners include CBC/Radio-Canada, The National Post, Vancouver Magazine and Western Living, The Ottawa Citizen, LeDroit, and The Vancouver Sun.

BC Scene would also like to thank the First Peoples’Äô Heritage, Language and Culture Council for their valuable assistance.

To register to receive programming updates about BC Scene, please subscribe to the
BC Scene email list at www.bcscene.ca.