It is with great delight that, on behalf of Friends of Writers at Woody Point, we welcome you to Contact East 2023, which next year runs from September 21st to 24th, 2023.
A note for our friends, especially those making their first trip to Woody Point.
While you work to finalize travel and accommodation details, we want to give you a bit of information about the area that may be helpful. Woody Point is home to our festival in the heart of Gros Morne National Park, on the shores of Bonne Bay. The community is a fishing village with a thriving tourism industry, but the town does have limited amenities.
The town is very compact, and you will find the venues are a short walk or drive from the accommodations and restaurants. When you arrive in Newfoundland, the airport in Deer Lake, Woody Point is a forty-five-minute drive. There are rental vehicles available at the airport, but we will also be assisting with transportation between Deer Lake and Woody Point. If you prefer to use the transportation provided, we will need flight arrival and departure information from you preferably by the end of August.
While there are a variety of accommodations, they can book up quickly, so we have reserved/held several rooms with accommodation providers in the area. These rooms will be held until the end of July 2023 at which time they will be released to the public. We encourage you to book sooner rather than later and will provide our contact information if you have any specific needs, we are happy to help suggest options that will suit you best. Whether you are renting a car or are on foot there are local taxi services and shuttle buses to help get you where you need to be without any stress – but if you do plan to rent a car choosing accommodations a little further from town centre would be helpful for those who do not.
We have a few small general stores and there is no pharmacy. You may want to stop at a supermarket or pharmacy in Deer Lake before heading to Woody Point, should you have any last-minute needs. For those we are assisting with transportation to and from Woody Point, the drivers of the local transportation companies are happy to stop at a grocery store or pharmacy and will answer any questions you may have.
As hosts, we will do our best to assist and ensure that your time in Woody Point is enjoyable. Diana can be reached if you have questions, by email at diana@writersatwoodypoint.com or by telephone at 306.308.0036 (C).
Once again, we look forward to seeing you in Woody Point and hope you love it as much as we do.
Friends of Writers at Woody Point 2023
List of Accommodations
The following accommodation providers have rooms reserved for Contact East 2023 and these reservations will be held until the end of July 2023. There are a variety of accommodations which include single rooms, double occupancy, and multi-room/full house options. When calling to book your reservation the rooms are held under the name Writers at Woody Point or Diana Chisholm. It is important to note that this list is not inclusive of all accommodations or Air B and B options in the area.
- Blanchard House
- Bonne Bay Inn
- Curzon Chalets – curzonchalets@gmail.com
- George’s
- Curzon Chalet
- Galliott House B & B – (709) 453-2212
- L’il Red Inn – (709) 458-7923 (ask for Denise)
- Middle Brook Cabins
- Seaside Suites
- The Rooms at Woody Point
- Victorian Manor Heritage Properties
- Aunt Jane’s
- Uncle Steve’s
- Efficiency Units
- Water’s Edge
Schedule
Subject to Change
Thursday, September 22
12:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Hotel Halifax, Empress Room Lobby
Registration Desk Open
3:30 pm - 4:15 pm
Hotel Halifax, Baronet Rooms
AASPAA Meeting
4:15 pm - 5:00 pm
Hotel Halifax, MacDonald & MacNabb Rooms
First Timers Orientation
Start your conference off right! If you’re new to Contact East (or just need a little refresher), make sure to join us at our First Timers Orientation. Meet the APA board and staff, learn what to expect for the next few days, and hear a few tips and tricks to make the most out of the conference. We look forward to meeting you and making meaningful connections at Contact East 2022!
5:15 pm - 6:30 pm
Hotel Halifax, Bluenose Room
Welcome Reception / APA award
Start the first day of Contact East off with a bang (and some yummy food!) before heading to Showcase #1 at our Opening Reception and APA Achievement Award Presentation! There will be plenty of tasty treats on offer, a full cash bar, and some time for mingling. We will also be handing out this year’s APA Award, an honour presented annually to a deserving individual who has made a significant contribution to the performing arts touring sector in Atlantic Canada. Food, drinks, and friends—the perfect way to start a conference!
7:15 pm - 9:50 pm
Neptune Theatre, Scotiabank Stage
Showcase #1
Sponsored by Neptune Theatre
- Mocean Dance
- Élage Diouf
- Basset
- Liliona Quarmyne
- Winnie Churchill
- Huu Bac Quintet
10:15 pm - 12:00 am
Hotel Halifax, Bluenose Room
Contact East 2023 announcement & reception
Sponsored by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and Writer’s at Woody Point
The first showcase may be over, but that doesn’t mean the fun is! Stick around for an evening reception at Hotel Halifax where we will be announcing the location for Contact East 2023! Enjoy some complimentary food and beverages and a few surprises! Don’t miss this!
Friday September 23
8:00 am - 7:00 pm
Hotel Halifax, Empress Room Lobby
Registration Desk Open
8:30 am - 10:45 am
Buses leave from Hotel Halifax Lobby at 8:30 and 9:00 am
Breakfast on the Go & Visit to Africville Museum
Sponsored by Capitol Theatre
Sign up for this activity at registration!
Grab some breakfast to go and join us for a trip to the Africville Museum, located across from the former neighbourhood that hundreds of Black Nova Scotians called home before being forcibly removed in the 60s to make way for industrial development. The exhibits tell the story of a community that met the indignities of racism with grace and faith, and is an important place to remember the story of Africville and to recognize its contribution to Canadian and specifically, African diasporic history. We will be joined by former Africville residents Beatrice Wilkins (nee West) and Bernice Arsenault (nee Byers), who have agreed to share stories and memories about their childhoods.
11:00 am - 12:20 pm
Hotel Halifax, Baronet Rooms
One-to-One Speed Meetings
Time to get down to business. One-to-ones are a networking opportunity designed specifically for delegates to engage in business discussions. This is your opportunity to connect and meet with artists, agents, managers, and presenters to discuss bookings, availability, seasons, markets, etc. This industry is all about connections, and these meetings offer time and space to create new relationships and nurture existing ones. If you are looking to talk shop at Contact East, this is your chance!
12:30 pm - 1:45 pm
Hotel Halifax, Bluenose Room
AGM Lunch
Sponsored by King’s Theatre Annapolis Royal
APA members are invited to join us for our 2022 AGM Lunch, where we vote on any organizational changes and nominate the new slate of Board of Directors.
2:15 pm - 3:40 pm
Neptune Theatre, Scotiabank Stage
Showcase #2
Sponsored by Pinwheel Design
- Keonte
- Zuppa Theatre – At This Hour
- janoah…anygoodjokes?
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
St. Matthew’s Church, 1479 Barrington St
Keynote: Vu Le
Presented in partnership with IONS (Impact Organizations of Nova Scotia) and Theatre Nova Scotia
A Time for Boldness: Let’s Unleash Our Full Potential to Create a Just and Equitable World
The pandemic and society’s reckoning with systemic racism affirm the critical role that nonprofits play in our community. At the same time, we also have tons of challenges holding us back. The Hunger Games we play with one another. The scarcity and martyrdom mindset. The general public’s lack of knowledge of our work. Our strained relationships with funders and for-profits. The fear of advocacy work. Really crappy chairs we’ve been duct-taping together. We are at an inflection point. We cannot return to the past. We must examine the harmful philosophies and practices we’ve internalized, own our full power, genuinely engage with race and equity, and flip some tables over.
Vu Le (“voo lay”) writes the blog NonprofitAF.com. He is the former executive director of RVC, a nonprofit in Seattle that promotes social justice by supporting leaders of color, strengthening organizations led by communities of color, and fostering collaboration between diverse communities. Vu is a founding board member of Community-Centric Fundraising, a movement that aims to ground fundraising practices in racial equity and social justice. Vu was born in Vietnam. He and his family came to the US when Vu was eight. He spent several years in Seattle, attending elementary and middle school, before moving to Memphis, Tennessee for high school and St. Louis for college and graduate school. He has a BA in Psychology and a Master in Social work. He is a vegan, a father of two kids (ages nine and six), and a staunch defender of the Oxford Comma.
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Dinner on Your Own
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Neptune Theatre, Scotiabank Stage
Showcase #3
- Noël Wan – Debut Atlantic
- Zay Nova
- Tio Chorinho with Flavia Nascimento
- Inn Echo
- Piano Heist
10:15 pm - 12:00 am
Hotel Halifax, Bluenose Room
End of Day Wind Down
Sponsored by Side Door
Relax and unwind after a long day of Contact East-ing at the Hotel Halifax. We know that conferences can be a little hectic, so take this time to enjoy a beverage and a salty snack, chat with friends (or make new ones!), and look forward to another exciting day of programming ahead.
Saturday, September 24
8:00 am - 2:00 pm
Hotel Halifax, Empress Room Lobby
Registration Desk Open
8:15 am - 9:15 am
Hotel Halifax, Bluenose Room
Breakfast with Vu: Thoughts from the Keynote
Sponsored by Imperial Theatre
Now that you’ve had some time to digest yesterday’s keynote presentation, join Vu once again for an open discussion over a hot breakfast.
9:45 am - 10:45 am
Light House Arts Centre, 1800 Argyle St
Pitches
Sponsored by First Light Centre for Art and Creativity, St. John’s
- Bboyizm
- Productions Onishka
- The Villains Theatre – A Beginners Guide to the Night Sky
- Scott Parsons Trio
- Rhodnie Desir Creations
- Apkik Theatre
- Fay and Fluffy’s Storytime
- Hilary Ladd
- Breaking Circus
11:15 am - 12:35 pm
Hotel Halifax, Baronet Rooms
One-to-One Speed Meetings
Time to get down to business. One-to-ones are a networking opportunity designed specifically for delegates to engage in business discussions. This is your opportunity to connect and meet with artists, agents, managers, and presenters to discuss bookings, availability, seasons, markets, etc. This industry is all about connections, and these meetings offer time and space to create new relationships and nurture existing ones. If you are looking to talk shop at Contact East, this is your chance!
12:45 pm - 2:00 pm
Hotel Halifax, Bluenose Room
Lunch & Learn
Sponsored by Fredericton Playhouse
Join Errin Williams (she/her) of Errin Williams Counseling and Consulting as she presents an overview of how venue and festival presenters can make their venues healthier workspaces for artists.
A combination of mental health and music industry experience, Master’s level clinical social worker, Errin Williams, has over 13 years of experience as a mental health therapist, and partners with the East Coast Music Association’s Wellness Initiative as the clinical lead. ECMA is a Mental Health leader in the Canadian Music Industry. Errin has been imperative to the development of ECMA’s mental health initiative.
2:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Neptune Theatre, Scotiabank Stage
Showcase #4
Sponsored by Prismatic Arts Festival
- Altar – Santiago Guzman
- MARIAN
- Les Chanterelles
- EBNFLOH
- Wesli
7:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Waegwoltic Club, buses leave from Halifax Hotel at 6:30 pm
Final Party
Sponsored by Confederation Centre
Shindig, soiree, get-together, bash—whatever you want to call it, there’s nothing quite like a party! Join us on Saturday night for a closing celebration at the beautiful Waegwoltic Club on the shores of the Northwest Arm. Cap off the conference with some delicious food, cold beverages and dancing to the funk/disco/soul stylings of DJ Century Samuel as we bid farewell to another great year of showcases, learning, and gathering with industry friends new and old.
Sunday, September 25
9:00 am - 10:00 am
Hotel Halifax, Bluenose Room
Breakfast
Sponsored by Jack Byrne Regional Sports and Entertainment Centre
9:15 am - 10:00 am
Hotel Halifax, Empress Room
Atlantic Moves Meeting
Atlantic Moves members will have a chance to connect with their colleagues across the Atlantic dance community and discuss future initiatives and programming at this meeting. Movers, please grab your plates and head over to the Empress Room for a working breakfast session!
10:15 am - 12:00 pm
Hotel Halifax, Bluenose Room
Member Meeting
That’s a wrap! Connect and regroup with other members and APA staff after a whirlwind three days of conferencing. We’ll have a demonstration of the Arts Touring Connector with developer Ross Paton. This is a brand spanking new block booking tool being launched this Fall! And as always we will discuss programming, and have a chance to share our plans for the rest of the season before we head our separate ways.
Artists
Showcasing
Basset
Basset bring a deep love of the natural world to their gorgeously meditative and assured debut album, In The Clay, set to release on September 30th, 2022. Produced by Joshua Van Tassel (Sarah Slean, David Myles), the ten songs on In The Clay explore various themes of life in change, Shelton and Clark’s travels around Northern Ontario, the Canadian and American prairies, their lives in Toronto, and the many characters who have crossed their paths. With comparisons to The Milk Carton Kids, Hozier, and Bon Iver, their inventiveness shines on fiddle and intricate harmonies, with Shelton and Clark’s voices wrapping around each other like twin flames in a warm fire.
In Spring/Summer 2022, Basset performed at NXNE in Toronto, and as Official Showcase Artists at Folk Alliance International. They took part in a 15-stop Canadian East coast tour and performed at the Winnipeg Folk Festival Youth Stage. In 2021 they performed at Boston-based Club Passim’s virtual Campfire Festival, as well as the Honey Jam developing artist showcase (Nelly Furtado, Jully Black, Haviah Mighty) in Toronto. They’ve performed across Ontario and Quebec promoting their self-titled EP and are looking forward to touring their Debut Album, In the Clay, in the Northeastern USA in Fall/Winter 2022.
Yasmine Shelton (she/her) - lead vocalist
Sam Clark (he/him) - violinist, vocalist
Peter Klaassen (he/him) - bassist
Joseph Martel (he/him) - guitarist
Inn Echo
Inn Echo weave hundreds of years of traditional tunes with contemporary originals and arrangements that both soar and make you catch your breath simultaneously. With technical precision, their mastery of instruments is the talk in the national and international folk music scene. From Music PEI awards to tours of Austria and Ireland, Inn Echo is bar none the traditional band to watch as they emerge as Prince Edwards Islands greatest Celtic fusion exports in years to come.
Karson McKeown (he/him) - fiddle
Tuli Porch (she/her) – 5 string fiddle & cello
Tom Gammons (he/him) - guitar
Liliona Quarmyne
Based in Kjipuktuk (Halifax), on the powerful, unceded and unsurrendered ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq people, Liliona is a dancer, choreographer, actor, singer, and community facilitator. From Ghana and the Philippines, she has an eclectic background that has taken her through many performance styles on four different continents. Liliona performs across the country and internationally, creates original works as an independent artist, facilitates community programming, and is the Artistic Director of Kinetic. The scope of Liliona’s artistic work is broad, but is particularly focused on the relationship between art and social justice, on the body’s ability to carry ancestral memory, and on the role the performing arts can play in creating change. Liliona loves to work in collaboration and community, and is mom to two wonderful kids.
Piano Heist
Lifelong friends, and colleagues, Nico Rhodes (he/him), and Patrick Courtin (he/him), shocked and appalled by the realization that piano just isn’t cool anymore, set off on a divine quest to redeem the keyboard and reinstate its reputation as the greatest instrument of ALL TIME! Armed with the music of the greatest composers, songwriters and performers of the past 400 years, and the technology of the 21st century - their virtual orchestra (Bob), Nico and Patrick deliver everything from classical piano raptures to bombastic boogie woogie, from romantic piano ballads to 80’s keyboard synth battles in their show Piano Heist! What ensues is a mishmash of theatrical wonder, comedy, audience participation, heartfelt stories, a pinch of history, and a world of musical madness.
Winnie Churchill
Winnie Churchill is a Toronto born, Newfoundland-based songwriter/musician. As a multidisciplinary creative Winnie has collaborated with The National Arts Centre of Canada, Neighbourhood Dance Works of St. John’s, Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC), Rogers Canada, MusicNL and Playbill Broadway. He has been a supporting act for such artists as Fetty Wap, Machine Gun Kelly, A$AP Ferg, Madchild, Preme, Royce da 5’9”, and Jazz Cartier. In 2019, Winnie released his debut album titled ‘i’, and in 2020 he released his sophomore album ‘Us’. His musical style lends itself to Neo-Soul, R&B, and Hip-hop influences. Winnie’s music is a no holds barred expression of his vulnerability and character, readily reflecting on the multiplicity of his identity and creative expression. Presently, Winnie is working on his latest album, Mansion in the Woods, concurrently with its ArtsNL-funded multidisciplinary production.
Winnie Churchill (he/him) - vocalist
Richard Sepkya (he/him) - guitarist
Janoah…anygoodjokes? with Janoah Bailin
Janoah Bailin learned to unicycle in the empty after-hour corridors of his middle school. He grew up juggling with the Suspenders Juggling Troupe in Falmouth (MA) then traveled New England with the Circus Smirkus Big Top Tour. He graduated in 2014 from College of the Atlantic, focusing in performance and movement. Janoah now coaches the Gym Dandies Children’s Circus of Scarborough (ME), as well as the Children’s Circus of Middletown (CT). In 2016 he helped form the Living Room Dance Collective in Portland (ME), a space devoted to contemporary movement and performance. Janoah has trained contemporary dance through the Lion’s Jaw, Bates Dance and Fresh Festivals. In the summer of 2019 he toured SpinS, a full-length solo circus-puppetry performance, across the Canadian Fringe Festival circuit, including Montreal, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Vancouver, winning “Best Variety” in London. Janoah premiered meSSeS, a second full-length show in which the audience learns to juggle during the performance, in May of 2019 with funding from the Maine Arts Commission (MAC) and NEFA. He has brought the show to BarnFest in NYC, the Dance Complex in Boston, SCDT in North Hampton (MA), Redfern in Keene (NH), as well as SPACE Gallery in Portland (ME). Janoah was recently awarded the 2020 MAC Fellowship in the Performing Arts, as well as NEFA’s Public Art Learning Fund 2022. He is currently creating film projects with funding from MAC and NEFA, and performing for New England festivals, stages and parades, leaving behind a wake of tumbled juggling props.
Marian
Marian is a music lover’s band. Guided by their collective love for lush harmonies, big riffs, and unforgettable hooks, their debut album, Hit Record, blends the best of rock music’s heyday with a fearless appreciation for the here and now. Whether you’re into the classics or keep your ear to the ground for the next big sound - you need to hear the latest from Marian. Rock and roll hasn’t sounded this sweet in too long.
Dylan Ward (he/him) - vocalist & guitar
Jerry-Faye Flatt (she/her) - vocalist & bass
Tim Everett (he/him) lead guitar
Stefan Westner (he/him) - drums
RCA Theatre Company presents ALTAR by Santiago Guzmán
Synopsis: Eugenio is a queer young immigrant living in St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador. Since moving from Mexico less than a year ago, he has experienced deep love and even deeper heartbreak when Benjamin, his new boyfriend, inexplicably “ghosts” him. Looking at Día de Muertos and his father’s previous experience with paranormal activities, Eugenio decides to build an altar in the hopes that he will be able to summon his boyfriend’s ‘ghost’ and gain the closure he desperately desires. Through the altar, Eugenio realizes that he has been something of a ghost himself to those left behind in Mexico.
Santiago Guzmán (PLAYWRIGHT/PERFORMER) (he/him) is a writer, performer, director and producer for theatre and film originally from Metepec, Mexico, now based in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. He is the Artistic Director of TODOS Productions (NL), the Artistic Associate for Playwrights Atlantic Resource Centre (NS) and General Manager for Neighbourhood Dance Works (NL). He is a proud member of The Quilted Collective. His work as a writer aims to put local, under-represented narratives and characters on the frontlines, whilst inviting audiences to appreciate the vibrancy of Newfoundland and Labrador from a diverse perspective. His plays have been supported, developed and/or produced by theatre companies and festivals across the country, like TODOS Productions (NL), Resource Centre for the Arts Theatre Company (NL), Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland (NL), Rising Tide Theatre (NL), Neighbourhood Dance Works (NL), Eastern Front Theatre (NS), Playwrights Atlantic Resource Centre (NS), Ship’s Theatre Company (NS), Boca Del Lupo (BC), Paprika Festival (ON), and the National Theatre School of Canada’s Art Apart Program (QC).
Santiago Guzmán (he/him) - creator/performer
Stage Manager TBD
Nicole Rousseau (she/her) - Artistic Animateur, RCA Theatre Company
Suzanne Mullett (she/her) - General Manager, Resource Centre for The Arts
Zay Nova
Zay Nova (he/him) is a new Canadian country singer-songwriter and radio producer based in St. John’s, NL. He was born in a small village called Sempan on Bangka Island, Indonesia. He was introduced to country music while Shania Twain was very popular in country music around the world. He started to learn and memorize some lyrics from the cover of her album and taught himself more English by listening to western country music. After finishing school in 2002, Zay moved again to the Special Region of Yogyakarta close to central Java to study Arabic Literature. Shortly thereafter, he moved to the Communication and Broadcast faculty at the State Islamic University, Sunan Kalijaga, in Yogyakarta. In that city, Zay discovered western country music which was broadcast by a local Christian radio station. He fell in love right away with the music and started to teach himself to be a radio announcer and scriptwriter. When he felt confident enough, he applied for a job at the same radio station that played western country music. He was successful in his job application. From the very first day he was hired, he improved his English by bringing a dictionary to the station and practicing how to pronounce each word from many country songs on the daily radio playlist. In 2005, while attending university, he kept working at the radio station as a means to pay his university tuition. At the same time, he started a band and wrote many songs. After the band broke up in 2010, he played solo at some local events and then moved to Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital, in 2014. Zay started a new career in TV and as a radio producer, audio commercial production, and video producer. He also worked as a host for a Jakarta TV program. He decided to move to Canada in 2017 to start a new life and adventure. He chose St. John’s, Newfoundland, as his home. His three singles “Locked in All Night Long,” “The Lighthouse” and “Don’t Tell Me Mudder” are now available online.
Élage Diouf
Élage Diouf is a Senegalese-born singer-songwriter and master percussionist who has been living in Canada for 25 years now. His career took a major turn when he released his first solo album in 2010. Since then, he has received many awards and has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the music and art scene, including Cirque du Soleil and Johnny Reid.
His shows are a source of joy and emotion. His unique voice and incredible stage presence immerse the audience in a festive universe, but also very introspective. He is usually accompanied on stage by four musicians, but smaller versions of his show can also be offered depending on the context.
Élage Diouf (he/him) - lead vocalist and musician
Nadia Baldé (she/her) - musician and chorist (TBC)
Emmanuel Lessou Pelé (he/him) musician (TBC)
Thomas Sauvé-Lafrance (he/him) musician (TBC)
Keonté
Keonté Beals is an accomplished singer, songwriter, piano player, dancer and author. Keonté triumphs among the East Coast music scene as a multi-talented, award-winning R&B/Pop artist. Born and raised in North Preston. In 2016, Keonté released “Man Down” from his self-titled EP, followed by a second single “4 Ever” in 2017. Keonté, is a natural-born entertainer who has collected many accolades. In 2020, CBC produced a special “Keonte Beals: Christmas in North Preston” and was rated number one story in Canada and featured in “Being Black in Canada”. 2020 saw the birth of Keonte Beals Entertainment; (Kebe.ca) where Keonte launched his first book under his label. Keonte is the co- author and illustrator of his first children’s book with his younger brother Antonio, “I am Perfectly Me”. This book expresses historical pride within the African Nova Scotian community and celebrates diversity. Keonte propelled project ‘King’ in 2020 under his own company name, which, received ANSMA song of the year 2021. Keonte received acclaimed ECMA status in 2021 for R&B album of the year for ‘King’, and also collected three Music Nova Scotia awards: R&B solo recording, African Nova Scotian Artist of the Year & Inspirational recording of the year.
Mocean Dance
Committed to its home base in Kjipuktuk/Halifax in Nova Scotia, Mocean provides fertile ground for exciting artistic endeavours and cultivates potential in the field of dance for the region. Through our work, Mocean aims to support the region as a hotspot for creation, research, experimentation, collaboration, and performance, as well as nurturing community vitality through education and outreach programs that celebrate dance as a vehicle for transformation. Our activities range from professional opportunities for local dance artists to community-based classes for youth and senior citizens.
Led by Co-Artistic Directors Susanne Chui (she/her) and Sara Coffin (she/her), Mocean is an award-winning contemporary dance company that commissions Canadian and international choreographers to create dance that is highly physical, collaborative, and technically and emotionally rich. Founded in 2001, Mocean is recognized nationally as a leading dance company from the Atlantic Region. The company was honoured with The Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia Masterworks Art Award in 2016 for Canvas 5 x 5, which was the first and only time this esteemed provincial award was given to a Nova Scotia dance work.
Sara Coffin (she/her) is an award-winning dance artist, choreographer, dance educator and Co-Artistic Director of Mocean Dance. Coffin has been teaching and creating interdisciplinary contemporary dance work for twenty years. She received the NS Established Artist Award in 2018, her MFA in Choreography (Smith College), BFA in Dance (Simon Fraser) University and BSc Kinesiology Science (Dalhousie).
Coffin has created over 30 dance works, her choreographic work has been presented in many prominent Canadian dance festivals and in the United States. Her research interests include interdisciplinary collaboration, technology as an extension of the body, contact improvisation, and the poetic junction between vulnerability, resiliency, and courage.
As a dance educator, Coffin teaches at Halifax Dance and has taught as adjunct faculty at Smith College and Hampshire College in Massachusetts, as visiting artist at Universidad Rafael Landívar (Guatemala City), Earth Dance, and as a guest artist at Holland College School of Performing Arts (Charlottetown,PEI), NSCAD (Halifax) and University of Alberta (Edmonton). www.saracoffin.ca
Sarah Prosper (she/her) Dancer & Artistic Director of Samqwan, Sarah Prosper, 22 year old L’nu woman she/her, has a B.Sc Therapeutic Recreation & ADAPT Certified. From Mi’kmaq First Nation community Eskasoni (Wekwistoqnik ~ land of the fir trees). An accomplished creator and leader in arts dance and culture, Sarah has performed, collaborated, co-created, co-produced, consulted, in Indigenous inspired multi-disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and intergenerational productions, most recently: Koqm (shalan joudry), Nutuwiek? (NS Choral Federation), Alan Sylliboy & The Thundermakers (Co presented with Symphony NS), Fluid Forms ~ Utawtiwow Kijinaq (Mocean Dance & Sara Coffin), Ki’kwa’ju Reimagining Prokofiev’s Peter & the Wolf (FSPA, Christina Murray & Shelly MacDonald) & Lost Soul (George Woodhouse & the Public Service). Sarah creates and moves through topics of intergenerational healing, history, health, wellness, and truth, through these elements and stories of our history and the land, uplifting contemporary Indigenous artistry with an approach that is guided by Mi’kmaq spirituality. Sarah hopes to incorporate Indigenous creativeness in movement of all forms and help others find their inherent ability to move freely with Ms~t No’kmaq (All My Relations).
Tio Chorinho with Flavia Nascimento
Tio Chorinho is the first ensemble in Canada dedicated to performing choro music, the “New Orleans jazz of Brazil.” Exciting, intimate, nostalgic and virtuosic, choro is an infectious urban-folk style whose universal appeal belies its musical complexity. Tio Chorinho embraces the authentic spirit of choro and extends it, thrilling audiences of all backgrounds with astonishing musicianship and easy-going charm on stage.
They perform frequently with the amazing Brazilian-born, Quebec-based vocalist Flavia Nascimento, with whom they will soon be making a full-length collaborative recording.
My body is a conduit, a link to past and to future generations.
It takes me back, it takes me forward, it carries the present.
My body is story.
The group features Eric Stein (mandolin), Andre Valerio (7-string guitar), Maninho Costa (percussion), Carlinhos Cardoso (cavaquinho), and Milos Popovic (accordion). They perform frequently with the amazing Brazilian-born, Quebec-based vocalist Flavia Nascimento, with whom they will soon be making a full-length collaborative recording.
Featuring:
Eric Stein (he/him) - mandolin
Andre Valerio (he/him) - 7-string guitar
Maninho Costa (he/him) - percussion
Carlinhos Cardoso (he/him) - cavaquinho
Milos Popovic (he/him) - accordion
Zuppa Theatre presents At This Hour
Founded in 1998, Zuppa is a Halifax-based, artist-led ensemble creating original works that experiment with form and provoke the consideration of new perspectives and ideas.
Zuppa has been touring since 2004 and has an excellent reputation locally, nationally and internationally. Nationally we have been presented at: Groundswell (Toronto), Tremors (Vancouver), FTA (Montreal), In the Soil (St. Catharines), The Shadbolt Centre (Burnaby) and The Magnetic North Theatre Festival (Ottawa, Halifax and Whitehorse). Internationally we have performed in the UK at Chapter Arts (Cardiff), Mayfest (Bristol), and Derelict (Preston, Lancaster, Manchester) and in the U.S. (Charlestown Working Theatre (Boston), Cleveland Playhouse Square (Cleveland), NaCl (The Catskills). Locally: Sydney (Boardmore), Antigonish (Bauer), Saint John (BMO Studio), Moncton (Capitol), Chester Playhouse, Liverpool (Astor), Annapolis Royal (King’s), Fredericton (STU Black Box) and The Ross Creek Centre for the Arts.
We are supported by Halifax Culture and Events, Arts Nova Scotia, The Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage, and the Canada Council for the Arts. Zuppa is a member of Theatre Nova Scotia and an affiliate member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres. March 17, 2022 marked our 24th anniversary.
Jim McDermott (he/him) - deaf actor
Sharleen Kalayil (she/her) - hearing actor
Phillipa Colman (she/her) - partially sighted actor
Alan Williams (he/him) - deaf actor
Maja Packer (she/her) - sound operator
Christian Ludwig Hansen (he/him) - surtitles operator
Carolyn Carter (she/her) - ASL interpreter/performer
Ben Stone (he/him) - director/performer
Huu Bac Quach
Composer and multi-instrumentalist, Huu Bac Quach founded his quintet in Montreal, skillfully combining his vietnamese and chinese heritages to Jazz music.
Backed by a solid team of some of the most prominent musicians the Montreal jazz scene, Huu Bac performs his compositions inspired by his numerous travels in Asia, Europe and South America.
In concert, he charms a large public through the beauty and intensity of his musical pieces as well as through his playing of the dan bau (vietnamese monochord), the erhu (chinese fiddle), the quena (andean flute) and the jazz guitar.
The Huu Bac Quintet delivers a true dialogue between Asian, North and South American cultures in a contemporary, original and unique way!
Huu Bac Quach (he/him), composer/instrumentalist : dan bau, erhu, quena, quitar
Etienne Mason (he/him), drummer
Sébastien Pellerin (he/him), upright bass player
Gentiane Michaud-Gagnon (she/her), pianist
Vanessa Marcoux (she/her), violinist
Les Chanterelles
It’s been an exciting year for Fredericton’s Les Chanterelles. A superb Harvest Music Festival debut, a fantastic CBC recording, and an exciting new EP released on May 5th are just a few of the many recent achievements that have landed them on the east coast map.
The air tight, 3 part harmonies of Sylvia Reentovich, Juanita Bourque and Justine Everett have converted many fans, while the entire band balances originality, an Acadian heritage and a faithfulness to some of their own heroes to make up an exciting music experience you won’t soon forget.
Justine Everett (she/her) – vocalist
Juanita Bourque (she/her – vocalist
Sylvia Reentovich (she/her) – vocalist
Tim Everett (he/him) - guitarist
Jamie Guitar (he/him) – bassist
Krista Touesnard (she/her) – fiddler
Karl Gans (he/him) - drummer
Noël Wan
In the words of lecturer and pianist Bart van Oort, Noël Wan is “a huge talent [with] hidden power and amazing maturity.” An international prize-winning harpist, Taiwanese-American harpist Dr. Noël Wan (1994) made her international debut in 2010, performing Alberto Ginastera’s Harp Concerto with the Utrecht Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Wan is the youngest First Prize winner in the history of the Dutch Harp Festival Competition (now World Harp Competition), and has concertized across North America, Europe, and Asia as a soloist at Carnegie Hall, Eslite Hall, the Muziekgebouw, the Yellow Barn Summer Music Festival, and on NPO Radio 4’s Spiegelzaal. Dr. Wan explores imaginative intersections between the harp, identity, and spaces. A boundary-pushing artist, her recent projects include new materialism and feminist phenomenology in Georges Aperghis’ Fidélité, and affect and the environment in the music of Toru Takemitsu and Zhou Long. She seeks to advocate the solo harp through programming repertoire that illuminates the diverse traditions of the instrument – such as classical, jazz, and folk music – and fostering inclusivity and mutual understanding within musical spaces.
Wesli
Wesli’s musical journey has gone from stringing up an oil can with nylon fishing string to winning a JUNO for World Music Album of the Year.
Born Wesley Louissaint in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, he has grown into his role as a prolific songwriter, guitarist, and producer. Uniting a large cross-section of Montreal talent, his music links Haitian voudou and rara with roots, Afrobeat and hip-hop
Since being crowned the Revelation Radio-Canada for 2009–2010, Wesli has gone on to win the Babel Med Music Prize (2010), SOCAN’s Hagood Hardy Award (2016), an award from the Académie Charles CROS (2019), a Juno for World Music (2019), a Félix for Album of the Year in World Music (2019), and a CFMA for World Solo Artist of the Year (2020). He has toured across North America, Haiti, Colombia, Brazil, and Europe, and participated in WOMEX, Mundial Montréal and Cape Verde’s Atlantic Music Expo.
In July 2022, Wesli will launch “Tradisyon”, his sixth album. As its name suggests, Tradisyon is an opus exploring authentic and modern approaches to Haitian roots music.
Wesli (he/him) - band leader, guitar, vocals and percussion
Michel Medrano-Brindis (he/him) - drums
Watson Joseph (he/him) - bass
Martine Labbé (she/her) - trumpet
André Désilets (he/him) - saxophone
David Mobio (he/him) - keyboard
Cindy Belotte (she/her) - dancer, vocalist
Pitching
Breaking Circus Collective
Breaking Circus Collective (BCC) is a collection of contemporary circus arts working out of Kjipuktuk (Halifax, NS). Breaking Circus sets and breaks their own rules in order to create, explore and engage with the full spectrum of our human experience. The company reaches into the unknown and finds new ways to weave stories through cross-discipline experiments and integration of technology. The current collective includes the original 6 members plus a small roster of talented new recruits/ interns. BCC is Black-led with at least half of its members being IBPOC-identified since its inception in 2016. The BCC is deeply committed to inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility and was formed out of the desire to create a supportive ecosystem for IBPOC artists and artists from other underrepresented groups.
Dawn Shepherd (she/her/any)
Ryan Gray (he/him)
Aiyana Graham (she/her)
Jayden Gigliotti (he/him)
Ross Burns (he/him)
Kura Broadnax (he/him)
Adrian Bah (he/him)
Contact East is the Atlantic Presenters Association’s hallmark event and Atlantic Canada’s performing arts booking conference. The annual event provides an essential and inspiring experience for delegates bringing together regional, national, and international performing arts presenters, managers, and agents, to see performances which showcase a diverse range of artistic genres, including but not limited to music, cabaret, dance, disability arts, circus arts, comedy, youth-oriented programming, and cultural performances.
Contact East is a four-day showcase and professional development conference complete with approximately 30 artist performances, showcase and pitch sessions, as well as an unprecedented opportunity for presenters to network and learn from some of the best in the business from the Atlantic Provinces, across Canada, and internationally.
APA is further committing to its mandate to present a diverse range of artists from a variety of backgrounds. APA acknowledges that past artist selection processes were not fair or equitable and understands the value that lived experiences and community-based practices have when it comes to making decisions. APA is committed to implementing and upholding equitable practices in choosing artists to perform at Contact East 2022 and beyond.
The artists chosen by the selection committee shall have equitable representation across populations, including Indigenous, Black, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, Deaf, Disability, and Mad arts communities. Atlantic Presenters Association is dedicated to providing a space that is accessible, inclusive, and free from oppression, harassment, and discrimination.
To further ensure a fair selection process, APA will be putting out a call for applications for interested individuals to be on this year’s selection committee. In the past, Contact East’s selection committee has been hand-picked from APA’s membership rather than opened up to the larger presenting community. The goal of this change is to make sure the committee represents a cross-section of different artistic genres and cultural backgrounds, resulting in an overall diverse representation of committee members to ensure the selection process is as fair and equitable as possible.
Beginning in 1975, the event was produced by the Touring Office of the Canada Council for the Arts. In 1982, the event was managed by a steering committee of representatives from the four Atlantic Provinces. With the incorporation of the Atlantic Presenters Association in 2001, the organization took over management of the event and has been producing quality conferences ever since.
Past Artists
- General Khan
- Halifax Circus
- Jah’Mila
- Joce Reyome
- Kristen Martell
- M3D14
- Martha Mutale
- Meredith Kalam
- Quote the Raven
- Rube & Rake
- Satellite Théâtre
- Shalan Joudry
- Silver Wolf Band
- Valmy
- Andrew Waite
- Big Little Lions
- BRIDGE & WOLAK
- Calum Graham
- Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita
- Charlie A’Court
- Countermeasure
- Dr G
- Emily Jean Flack
- Fara
- Geri Hall and Gary Pearson
- Jacques Surette
- Jennah Barry
- Kim Harris
- La Terza Classe
- Laila Biali
- Lizzy Hoyt
- Melody Johnson
- Nive and Deer Children
- Papagroove
- Raine Hamilton
- Rebecca Perry
- Ripopee
- Rozalind MacPhail
- Ryan McMahon
- Sarah Hagen and Brendan McLeod
- Shaun Boothe
- Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch (Axis Theatre)
- Svetlana Shmulyian
- The Myrtle Sisters
- Theatre New Brunswick
- Trio Fibonacci
- Twin Flames
- Vishten
- West of Mabo
- Alex Zerbe
- Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland – Between Breaths
- Axis Theatre Co – ‘Robinson Crusoe’
- Bev and Marc
- Blue Moon Marquee
- Christine Tassan et les Imposteures
- Christopher Hall and the Comic Quartet
- Compania Carmen Romero
- Dione Taylor
- Fretboard Journey
- GoldenOak
- Ian Foster
- Janet Cull
- Jeremy Dutcher
- Jeremy Fisher
- Les Tireux d’Roches
- Lucas Bohn
- L’Aubergine – ‘TerZettto’
- Ndidi Onukwulu
- Norman Foote
- Paul Power – ‘Crippled’
- Preetam Sengupta
- Pretty Archie
- Proteus Saxophone Quartet
- Quantum Tangle
- Rachel Beck ft. The Atlantic String Machine
- Saltarello
- Terence Jack
- The Daly Family Collective
- The Kubasonics
- Van Larkins
- Wonderheads – ‘Grim and Fischer’
- André Rodrigues
- Andrew Collins Trio
- AYRAD
- Betty Bonifassi
- Chris Kirby/Kim Dunn
- CY
- Diyet
- Earle and Coffin (Pitch)
- Eric Harper
- God Is A Scottish Drag Queen (Pitch)
- Heather Rankin
- Hogtown Brass Quintet
- James & Jamesy
- Jazz Affair (Pitch)
- Kobo Town
- Lloyd Spiegel
- Matthew Byrne
- Meaghan Blanchard
- Nicolas Pellerin et les Grands Hurleurs
- Ouroboros
- Payadora Tango Ensemble
- Pierre Rancourt (Pitch)
- Rebecca Perry – From Judy to Bette (Pitch)
- Roseneath Theatre – Outside (Pitch)
- Rum Ragged
- Ryan Cook as Hank Williams (Pitch)
- Stéphane Tétreault & Marie-Eve Scarfone
- Stéphanie Morin-Robert – Blindside
- The Small Glories
- Tomas Kubinek
- Union Duke
- Video Phase
- Andino Suns
- Annie Lou
- Ariana Nasr (Pitch)
- Atlantic String Machine
- Balbir Singh Dance
- Bears of Legend
- Breabach
- Cadence (Pitch)
- Dylan Menzie
- HatFitz & Cara
- Hillsburn
- Ian Sherwood
- L’Aubergine (Pitch)
- Luke McMaster
- Mélisande [ELECTROTRAD]
- Mi’kmaq Heritage Actors
- Mud Bay Jugglers
- Neworld Theatre
- Port Cities
- Quartetto Gelato (Pitch)
- Raine Hamilton
- Rebecca Perry
- Reeny Smith
- Rosie and the Riveters
- Sarah Hagen (Pitch)
- Simon Daniel
- SNAFU! Comedy (Pitch)
- Spidey – Magician/Mentalist
- Sussex
- Tayo Aluko (Pitch)
- The Swinging Belles
- Twin Kennedy
- VC²
- Alysha Brilla
- Brianna Gosse
- Broken Turtle Productions “Pitch”
- Cheng² Duo
- Christina Martin
- Coco Love Alcorn
- Comedy in Motion with Bob Cates
- Danny Michel
- Duo Percussion
- Everything Fitz (Pitch)
- Geordie Productions “Jabber”
- Green Thumb Theatre (Pitch)
- Halifax Theatre for Young People (Pitch)
- Horse + Bamboo Theatre “Angus – Weaver of Grass”
- Irish Mythen
- Joe Trio
- Kleztory (Pitch)
- L’Aubergine “Dada” (Pitch)
- Les Bordéliques “Blind Date” (Pitch)
- MAZ
- Mulgrave Road Theatre “Watching Glory Die”
- QUARTOM
- Queen Nur
- Sherman Downey
- Stephen Fearing
- The BackYard Devils
- The Eastern Belles
- the lion the bear the fox
- The Secrets
- The Slocan Ramblers
- theatre KAPOW (Pitch)
- Tomato/Tomato
- Whiskey Jack (Pitch)
- [ZØGMA] Collectif de folklore urbain
- 6 Guitars
- Amelia Curran
- Ashley Condon (Pitch)
- Bogdan Dulu
- Chic Gamine
- Còig
- Don Amero
- Don Brownrigg
- Elizabeth Shepherd
- Huu Bac Quartet
- Infinitus
- Lemon Bucket Orkestra
- Maritime Brass Quintet
- Michael Occhipinti & Shine On (Pitch)
- Mocean Dance
- Montreal Guitare Trio & California Guitar Trio
- MOTUS O dance theatre
- Mr. E (Pitch)
- Off The Leash Creative (Pitch)
- Patricia Cano
- Ramshackle Theatre
- Red Moon Road
- Red Sky Performance (Pitch)
- Robert Post
- Ryan LeBlanc (Pitch)
- Speed Control (Pitch)
- Stephanie Cadman
- Terry Barber, Countertenor
- The Fugitives
- The Stanfields
- Theatreworks USA presents Living Voices (Pitch)
- Tim Hus
- Tom Allen’s JUDGMENT OF PARIS
- Woody Holler And His Orchestra
- Andy Sheppard’s Find the Others
- Barney Bentall
- Bon Débarras
- Christine Tassan et les Imposteures
- Compania Azul
- Constantinople
- Ensemble Vivant
- Gordie Tentrees & Hill Country News
- Green Thumb Theatre – PITCH ARTIST
- Jadea Kelly
- Jaron Freeman-Fox & The Opposite of
- Everything
- Ken Lavigne
- Kim Wempe
- Lisa Phinney Langley – PITCH ARTIST
- Lizzy Hoyt
- Magnum Opus Management – PITCH ARTISTS
- Melody A. Johnson
- Nova Dance
- Onalea Theatrical Productions
- Sarah Hagen: Pro’ject Sound
- Shannon Litzenberger – PITCH ARTIST
- Sharron Matthews
- Sherman Downey & The Ambiguous Case
- suddenlyLISTEN – PITCH ARTIST
- Ten Strings And A Goat Skin
- The Fortunate Ones
- The Navigators
- The Once
- Theatre Newfoundland Labrador
- Zandra Bell as “Shirley Best”
- Alejandra Ribera
- Anastasia Rizikov
- Andrew James O’Brien – Mentorship Artist
- Ann Vriend
- Anne Bisson
- Ash Koley
- Atlantic Sinfonia Atlantique
- Breagh Mackinnon – Mentorship Artist
- Chris Gibbs
- David Holt – North Carolina Artist
- Donna Washington
- Faustwork Mask Theatre
- Fubuki Daiko
- Gypsophilia
- H’Sao
- Harrison Kennedy
- Hey Romeo
- Irish Mythen
- Jeremy Webb – Fishing/Heroine
- Julia Mackey – Jake’s Gift
- Krista Martynes
- Leela Gilday
- Maria in the Shower
- Maria Osende Flamenco
- Matthew Hornell – Mentorship Artist
- Mike Wiley Productions – North Carolina Artist
- Norman Foote
- Owen Dacombe Steel
- Pascal Lejeune
- Patrice Servant alias Servantes
- Patrick Maliha
- Ria Mae
- Royal Wood
- Shaun LeBlanc – Mentorship Artist
- Sheesham and Lotus
- SoHo Ghetto – Mentorship Artist
- Speed Control
- Ten Strings and a Goat Skin – Mentorship Artist
- The John Brown Trio – North Carolina Artist
- The PepTides
- Tim Chaisson
- Treasa Levasseur
- Valerie Milot
- Wesli Band
- Yegor Dyachkov
- Al Simmons
- Andy Brown
- Charlie A’Court
- Chloé Dominguez
- Chris Kirby
- Compania Azul
- Daniel Matto
- Dennis Ellsworth and Haunted Hearts
- Destins Croisés
- Drumlin
- Ennis
- Ensemble Caprice
- Evalyn Parry’s SPIN
- Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys
- guy&nadina
- Ian Sherwood and Coco Love Alcorn
- James Hill
- Jayme Stone: Room of Wonders
- John Wort Hannam
- Kaha:wi Dance Theatre
- Kat Danser
- Kevin Fox
- Kevin Ramessar
- Kim Dunn
- Kim Stockwood
- L’Aubergine
- Luis Mario Ochoa Cuban Quintet
- Molly Thomason
- Quartango
- Rhapsody Quintet
- Shameless Hussy Productions
- Smokin’ Contra Band
- Suzie Vinnick
- The Divorcees
- Troy MacGillivray and Louis-Charles Vigneau
- Zuppa Theatre Co. – The Debacle
- A Christmas Carol
- Alan Gerber
- Alice Stops Time
- Amanda Martinez
- Anne-Marie Dubois
- Best of the West
- Buzz Brass
- Cadence
- Carleton Stone Drives the Big Wheel
- Daniel Bolshoy
- Digging Roots
- Down By The Docks
- Elisapie Isaac
- Elizabeth Shepherd
- Erin Costelo
- Ian Foster
- Jaffa Road
- Jessica Rhaye
- Jorge Miguel Flamenco Ensemble
- Julia Halfyard
- Kathleen Gorey-McSorley
- Ladies of the Canyon
- Laila Biali
- Marie-Josée Lord
- Mike Stevens and Raymond McLain
- Motus O Dance Theatre
- Nikkie
- Oddville Stage Company
- Pacific Curls
- Petunia
- Project Soul
- Sagapool
- Sageev Oore
- Sleepy Driver
- Story Theatre
- Stripes: The Mystery Circus
- Sue Foley/Peter Karp
- Sultans of String
- Tanya Davis
- Terry Penney
- The Adam Growe Comedy & Quiz Showe
- The Navigators
- The Sojourners
- Tim Chaisson & Morning Fold
- Triolet d’Nord
- Vishtèn
- Will Stroet and The Backyard Band
- Amelia Curran
- Andrew White & Brendan Power
- Annabelle Chvostek
- Ballet Creole
- Brockway Biggs
- Chris Kirby and the Marquee
- Christina Martin
- Dave Carroll
- Down by the Docks
- Dr. Zoo
- Fred Piston (Frédéric Demers)
- Ian Sherwood
- Jenn Grant
- John Connolly
- John Sheehan
- Kellylee Evans
- Kevin Fox
- Maria Osende Flamenco Company
- Marshall Button
- Meaghan Blanchard
- Mel Keith & The Strombachs
- Njacko Backo & Kalimba Kalimba
- Nudie and The Turks
- Pascal Lejeune
- Pat Braden
- Patricia O’Callaghan
- Patrizia
- Quebec Viennese Music Society
- Ralph Shaw
- Rémi Bolduc Jazz Ensemble
- Rum for the Money
- Ryan LeBlanc Introduces…
- Sébastien Lépine / Antoine Bareil
- Sherman Downey
- Shoestring Opera
- Sierra Noble
- Susanna Hamnett – Nearly Lear
- The Grass Mountain Hobos
- The Keats
- The Olympic Symphonium
- The Twisters
- The Zodiac Trio
- TorQ
- Violin on a String
- Yadong Guan
- Air Traffic Control
- Alexander Sevastian
- Andy Jones
- Asia & NuGruv
- BLOU
- Cantabile
- Carmen Townsend
- Catherine MacLellan
- Chris Colepaugh & the Cosmic Crew
- Chuck & Albert
- Dance Party of Newfoundland
- Darrell Grant
- David Myles
- Dini Petty
- Duane Andrews
- Dufflebag Theatre
- Dust Poets
- Faded Blue
- Genticorum
- Gypsophilia
- Hong Xu
- In Good Company – God’s Middle Name
- Jessica Rhaye
- Jill Barber
- K’Ryne
- Kevin Ramessar
- Maritime Marionettes
- Mary Barry
- Mocean Dance
- Montreal Guitar Trio
- Motus O
- Old Man Luedecke
- Rose Cousins
- Ross Neilsen
- Sarah Joy Stoker
- Sepastian Lepine & Arturo Nieto-Dornates
- Steve Poltz
- Taxi Chain
- The Divorcees
- Theatre du Gros Mecano
- Theatre L’Aubergine
- Thom Swift
- Three Pianos
- Tim Chaisson Band
- Tom Fun Family Orchestra
- Wicked All Together
- Zuma
Awards & Nominations
Initiated in 1998, Contact East sponsored a series of awards to recognize excellence and achievement in the field of live performance touring and presentation. The Contact East Awards of Excellence celebrate the growth of the industry and recognize the accomplishments of presenters and performers who comprise the touring sector in Atlantic Canada.
Beginning in 2015, Contact East streamlined its awards into one honour, the Atlantic Presenters Association Achievement Award.
Awards Categories
The Atlantic Presenters Association Achievement Award is presented annually to a deserving individual who has made a significant contribution to the performing arts touring sector in Atlantic Canada, thereby furthering the objectives of the Association. The recipient is selected by the APA Board of Directors.
2021 – Angela Campbell, Imperial Theatre, Saint John, NB
2020 – Jenelle Duval, First Light Centre for Performance & Creativity, St. John’s, NL
2019 – Pam Leader, The Savoy Theatre, Glace Bay, NS
2018 – Tim Yerxa, The Fredericton Playhouse, Fredericton, NB
2017 – Steve Butler, Paquin Artist Agency, Toronto, ON
2016 – Heather McGean, Dalhousie Arts Centre, Halifax, NS
2015 – Erick Bickerdike, Chester Playhouse, Chester, NS
(formerly the Performing Arts Touring Award of Excellence)
To recognize the commitment and contribution of an individual to touring performance presentation in Atlantic Canada, such as long term involvement, commitment to excellence, or contribution to community life and/or to touring sector growth.
2014 Celtic Colours International Festival, Cape Breton, NS
2013 Peter Brzezicki, Riverview Arts Centre, Riverview, NB
2012 Sue Urquhart, Charlottetown, PE
2011 Debut Atlantic, Halifax, NS
2010 Dick Stoker, Desmond Maillet, Marcel McKeough, and Harry Holman
2009 Peter D. Smith, Imperial Theatre, Saint John, NB
2007 Michael Steinitz, Antigonish Performing Arts Series, Antigonish, NS
2005 Rindy Austin, Council of the Arts, Fredericton, NB
2003 John C Perlin, CM, CVO, St.John’s, NL
2001 Pamela Kinsman, Atlantic Presenters Association, Windsor, NS
1998 Mary Ryan, Performing Arts Sponsors of Nova Scotia, Halifax, NS
Betty Tompkins, New Brunswick Arts Council, Saint John, NB
To recognize excellence and achievement by an individual or organization in a volunteer capacity to present touring performances, such as long term involvement, commitment to excellence in programming, or contribution to community life. This award was no longer presented after 2014.
2014 Mount Allison Performing Arts Series, Sackville, NB
2013 Deep Roots Music Cooperative, Wolfville, NS
2012 Errin Williams Spidle, Harmony Bazaar Festival of Women and Song, Lockport, NS
2011 Les Productions Le Moulin, Saulnierville, NS
2010 Fred Chipman, Acadia Performing Arts Series, Wolfville, NS
2009 Russell Easy, Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society, Lunenburg, NS
2007 Carleton-Victoria Arts Council, Perth-Andover, NB
2005 Barbara Butler, St. Cecilia’s Concert Series, Halifax, NS
2003 Hampton Concert Group, Hampton, NB
2001 Michael Steinitz, Antigonish Performing Arts Series, Antigonish, NS
1998 Rindy Austin, Council of the Arts – Fredericton, NB
To recognize excellence and achievement by an individual or organization in a professional capacity to present touring performances, such as long term commitment, commitment to excellence in programming and professionalism, or contribution to community life and/or to the touring sector in Atlantic Canada. This award was no longer presented after 2014.
2014 TD Halifax Jazz Festival, Halifax, NS
2013 Harvest Jazz And Blues Festival, Fredericton, NB
2012 David O’Leary, Evergreen Theatre, Margaretsville, NS
2011 The Stan Rogers Folk Festival, Canso, NS
2010 Live Art Dance Productions, Halifax, NS
2009 Robin Anne Ettles, Capitol Theatre, Moncton, NB
2007 Astor Theatre, Liverpool, NS
2005 Confederation Centre of the Arts, Charlottetown, PEI
2003 John Patches, Maine Center of the Arts, Orono, Maine, USA
2001 Capitol Theatre, Moncton, NB
1998 Richard Stoker, Arts and Culture Centres, NL
To recognize performers whose professionalism and cooperative spirit enhance their relationship with presenters, such as cooperation in performance promotion, technical facilitation, contract fulfillment, or service above and beyond contractual agreements, either presented or self-presented. This award was no longer presented after 2014.
2014 Jeremy Webb / Off the Leash Creative, NS
2013 Bboyizm, ON
2012 Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada, NB
2011 Kevin Fox, ON
2010 Julia McKay, Jake’s Gift, BC
2009 Chuck and Albert, PE
2007 Chris Coldpaugh and the Cosmic Crew, NB
2005 Hot Toddy / Isaac & Blewitt, NB
2003 Motus O Dance Theatre, Stouffville, ON
2001 Duo Concertante, St. John’s, NL
1998 The Quigley Ensemble, NB
To recognize exceptional achievement by business organizations that work in partnership with presenters to develop and maintain audiences, promote block booking activity, conceive innovative touring projects, and otherwise go above and beyond the basic booking of engagements. This award was no longer presented after 2011.
2011 Agence Station Bleue, Montreal, PQ
2010 Prologue to the Performing Arts, Toronto, ON
2009 Mermaid Theatre, Windsor, NS
To recognize the philanthropic commitment and contribution of an individual, or organization, to the presentation of the live performing arts in Atlantic Canada, such as long term involvement, or contribution to community life and/or to touring sector growth. This award was no longer presented after 2014.
2011 Delta Hotels
2010 Ron Outerbridge/Coast Tire, NS
2009 Doug & Debbie Hall, PE
2007 Winston Pearce, Moncton, NB
2007 Winston Pearce, Moncton, NB
2005 Moosehead Brewery, Saint John, NB
2003 RBC Royal Bank
To recognize innovative and successful initiatives to increase audiences for touring performances, such as cooperative or joint promotional ventures, series innovation, or creative sponsorships. This award was no longer presented after 2007.
2007 Mocean Dance, Halifax, NS
2005 The Playhouse, Fredericton, NB
2003 Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL
2001 Keltic Lodge’s Theatre on the Cliff, Cape Breton, NS
1998 Paula Davis, Port Hawkesbury Recreation Department, NS
History
Contact East is the Atlantic Presenters Association’s hallmark event and Atlantic Canada’s premiere performing arts booking conference. The conference brings together performing arts presenters and in-demand, tour-ready arts performers to showcase contemporary and classical music, dance, theatre, and youth-oriented programming. Contact East is made up of several components, all of which are designed to enhance the presenter’s knowledge of the field. Event components include high quality showcases, provocative speakers, professional development sessions, informal meetings and networking. Contact East provides an essential and inspiring experience for delegates, who encompass Canadian and international showcasing artists, performing arts presenters, managers, and agents from regional, national and international levels.
Beginning in 1975, the event was produced by the Touring Office of the Canada Council for the Arts. In 1982, the event was managed by a steering committee of representatives from the four Atlantic Provinces. With the incorporation of the Atlantic Presenters Association in 2001, the organization took over management of the event and has been producing quality conferences ever since.
According to the Atlantic Presenters Association’s records, Contact East has been held in the following years and locations:
2021 – New Brunswick – Moncton (Capitol Theatre)
2020 – Contact(less) East
2019 – Prince Edward Island – Charlottetown (Florence Simmonds Hall at Holland College)
2018 – Newfoundland & Labrador – St. John’s (Arts and Culture Centre)
2017 – Nova Scotia – Membertou, Cape Breton (Membertou Trade & Convention Centre)
2016 – New Brunswick – Saint John (Imperial Theatre)
2015 – Prince Edward Island – Charlottetown (Confederation Centre of the Arts)
2014 – Nova Scotia – Pictou (deCoste Centre)
2013 – Newfoundland & Labrador – St. John’s (Arts and Culture Centre)
2012 – New Brunswick – Fredericton (Fredericton Playhouse)
2011 – Prince Edward Island – Summerside (Harbourfront Theatre)
2010 – Nova Scotia – Antigonish (The Keating Millennium Centre)
2009 – New Brunswick – Moncton (The Capitol Theatre)
2007 – Nova Scotia – Liverpool (The Astor Theatre)
2005 – Prince Edward Island – Summerside (Harbourfront Jubilee Theatre)
2003 – Newfoundland & Labrador – St. John’s (Arts and Culture Centre)
2001 – New Brunswick – Saint John (Hotel Courtenay Bay/Imperial Theatre)
1998 – Nova Scotia – Wolfville (Old Orchard Inn/ Atlantic Theatre Festival)
1996 – New Brunswick – Saint John (Delta Hotel/Imperial Theatre)
1994 – Prince Edward Island – Charlottetown (Confederation Centre)
1992 – Prince Edward Island – Charlottetown (Confederation Centre)
1990 – Nova Scotia – Dartmouth (Holiday Inn)
1988 – New Brunswick – Saint John (Delta Saint John/Saint John High School)
1985 – Nova Scotia – Halifax (World Trade Centre)
1983 – Massachusetts – Boston
1982 – New Brunswick – Sackville (Mt Allison University)
1979 – Nova Scotia – Halifax (Lord Nelson Hotel)
1978 – New Brunswick – Moncton (Hotel Beauséjour)
1977 – Nova Scotia – Halifax (Lord Nelson Hotel)
1976 – Nova Scotia – Halifax (Chateau Halifax)
1975 – New Brunswick – Fredericton (Lord Beaverbrook Hotel)
Sponsored by King’s Theatre Annapolis Royal