In response to the rapid growth of festival presenters within the Atlantic Presenters Association’s membership, APA planned Atlantic Canada’s first festival conference, ShiftChange: Festival Perspectives from Atlantic Canada and Beyond.
Registration is NOW OPEN for ShiftChange 2024, happening February 23-25 in Kjipuktuk/Halifax, Nova Scotia!
Accommodations information:
ShiftChange 2024 will take place at Atlantica Hotel Halifax, located at 1980 Robie Street, Kjipuktuk/Halifax, Nova Scotia. We have a special guest room conference rate of $154.00 plus taxes, subject to availability and valid until Thursday, February 15, 2024. Use this direct link to book your room online, or call 902-423-1161 or 1-888-810-7288 and let them know you are with APA to receive the special rate.
We are asking all attendees to please bring your own lanyards if you have them to cut down on unnecessary waste.
About ShiftChange
ShiftChange will bring together arts presenters for three days of festival and event focused professional development and networking on February 23-25 in Kjipuktuk/Halifax, Nova Scotia!
ShiftChange, held each year in mid February, has become an important fixture in the industry with the goal of furthering the development of the festival-presenting sector in Atlantic Canada. The conference provides attendees with the information to make their festivals stronger and more sustainable, discover what is new and trending from leading experts, and share ideas and collaborate with colleagues.
ShiftChange is open to both members and non-members and many industry and sector organizations are invited to attend including festival and theatre presenters, venue operators, event producers and tourism and municipality operators.
For further inquiries about ShiftChange, please contact lisa@atlanticpresenters.ca.
Members and staff of the Atlantic Presenters Association live and work on the ancestral and unceded territories of the Mi’kmaq, Wəlastəkwiyik, Passamaquoddy, Beothuk, Inuit of Nunatsiavut and NunatuKavut and the Innu of Nitassinan.
Schedule
Subject to Change
Friday, February 23
10:30 am - 7:00 pm
Atlantica Hotel, Guild Lobby
Registration Desk Open
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11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Atlantica Hotel, Guild 1 – East
Programming Pitch Sessions
***APA Members only***
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Atlantica Hotel, Guild 1 – East
Opening and Who's in the Room?
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Atlantica Hotel, Guild 1 – East
Meet the Funders
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Atlantic Hotel, Guild Lobby
Opening Reception
6:30 pm - 9:15 pm
Meet in the Atlantica Hotel Lobby no later than 6:30 pm.
Various restaurants around Halifax
Hot Topic Dine Arounds
What the heck is a Hot Topic Dine Around, you ask? The activity is meant to be an informal, engaging dinner conversation with a leader/host who starts things off by talking a bit about their experience or knowledge on the subject. The host will encourage other folks at the table to talk about their experiences and ask questions of the host and each other. Spaces are limited at each location.
This year’s topics include:
Keeping the Fires Burning: How Do We Stay Inspired? – Courtney Steeves
Working on a yearly cycle pf planning and programming can start to feel a little like that movie “Groundhog Day” sometimes. How do we keep ourselves fresh, inspired and fully engaged in making what we we offer vital and engaging year after year?
The Challenges of Managing People – with Lindsay Cory
Encouraging your staff, board and volunteers to be their best selves and fulfil all of their obligations to your organization can be a full time job for a manager. This conversation seeks to offer space for participants to share the best ways to achive objectives while also being kind, maintaining authority and getting your work done too!
Ask the Artist – with Andrew Jackson
What are your burning questions for performing artists? This is your chance to find out what the best, and worst, practices can make or break the artist experience at your festival, event, or venue.
Working with Agents – with Erin Sparks
While it is impossible to generalize how to work the most effectively with all agents, there are some commonalities that can help you feel more confident in your upcoming artist negotiations and contracting.
Financial Risk Management – with Samantha Zimmerman
How clear is your vision around financial risk? What do you base your assessments on? Whether you feel like an expert or not, this conversation will help you move forward in your planning with a stronger understanding of how financial risk assessment can strengthen your organization.
9:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Atlantica Hotel, Lobby Bar
End of Day Wind Down
Join fellow delegates for some informal networking and social connection in the Atlantica Lobby Bar. Tables will be reserved, your tab is your own.
Saturday, February 24
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Atlantica Hotel, Guild Lobby
Registration Desk Open
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9:00 am - 9:15 am
Atlantica Hotel, Guild Lobby
Coffee & Conversation
Sponsored by Rafflebox
9:15 am - 10:45 am
Atlantica Hotel, Guild 1 – East
Workshop: Crafting Partnerships with Sponsors that Resonate
Speaker: Kim Doyle, Resonate XM
Are your struggling to secure long-term sponsorships, expand your revenue and mitigate the risk of presenting live entertainment? The “Crafting Partnerships that Resonate” workshop is your game changer! Led by sponsorship specialist Kim Doyle, Chief Experience Officer of Resonate XM, this workshop will unveil non-traditional partnership concepts and best practices in the experience economy, Say goodbye to old pitch decks and non-renewing sponsors—it’s time to revolutionize your approach!
Discover why “impressive impression numbers: are a thing of the past and how a “no” can be your stepping stone to the nest “Yes!”. Learn the art of crafting invaluable deals and why values are more important that valuation. Kim’s honed approach will equip you with the skills to prospect, pitch, negotiate, close, and service partnership deals, all while emphasizing the importance of discovery, servicing, and relationship building for long term-results that truly resonate with brands and fans.
10:45 am - 11:00 am
Atlantica Hotel, Guild 1 – East
Break
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Atlantica Hotel, Guild 1 – East
Workshop: Crafting Partnerships that Resonate, continued
Speaker: Kim Doyle, Resonate XM
Are your struggling to secure long-term sponsorships, expand your revenue and mitigate the risk of presenting live entertainment? The “Crafting Partnerships that Resonate” workshop is your game changer! Led by sponsorship specialist Kim Doyle, Chief Experience Officer of Resonate XM, this workshop will unveil non-traditional partnership concepts and best practices in the experience economy, Say goodbye to old pitch decks and non-renewing sponsors—it’s time to revolutionize your approach!
Discover why “impressive impression numbers: are a thing of the past and how a “no” can be your stepping stone to the nest “Yes!”. Learn the art of crafting invaluable deals and why values are more important that valuation. Kim’s honed approach will equip you with the skills to prospect, pitch, negotiate, close, and service partnership deals, all while emphasizing the importance of discovery, servicing, and relationship building for long term-results that truly resonate with brands and fans.
12:00 pm - 12:45 pm
Atlantica Hotel, Guild 2 – West
Lunch & Learn
Sponsored by Tidal Events System
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Atlantica Hotel, Guild 1 – East
Peer-to-Peer Learning Session
2:00 pm - 2:15 pm
Break
2:15 pm - 3:15 pm
Atlantic Hotel, Guild 2 – West
Presenter Peer Support Session
***APA Members only***
3:15 pm - 3:30 pm
Break
3:30 pm - 5:15 pm
Atlantica Hotel, Guild 1 – East
PD Session: Finance Forum - Financial Management, Budgeting, and Understanding Financial Statements
Speaker: Samantha Zimmerman, Guelph Youth Music Centre
How comfortable are you reading your organization’s financial statements? Can you clearly see and articulate the story they tell? How can you utilize that story in how you budget, how you plan and how your organization evolves. Join Samantha Zimmerman in this interactive session where you’ll have a chance to gain a deeper understanding of financial management for your arts organization.
5:15 pm - 6:15 pm
Atlantica Hotel, Lobby Bar
End of Day Wind Down
Join fellow delegates for some informal networking and social connection in the Atlantica Lobby Bar. Tables will be reserved, your tab is your own.
6:15 pm
Dinner on Your Own - enjoy all Halifax has to offer!
Sunday, February 25
8:45 am - 9:30 am
Atlantica Hotel, Commons Room
Breakfast
9:30 am - 10:45 am
Atlantica Hotel, Commons Room
PD Session: Engage Me - An Exploration of Current and Emerging Best Practices in Social Media
Speaker: Vanessa Smith, Refy Agency
In this dynamic and interactive workshop, we delve into the realm of digital storytelling and community engagement, tailored specifically for artists & arts organizations. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, mastering the art of social media is crucial for amplifying yourself or your organization’s impact and connecting with a broader and more diverse audience.
10:45 am - 11:00 am
Atlantica Hotel, Commons Room
Break
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Atlantica Hotel, Commons Room
PD Session: Engage Me - An Exploration of Current and Emerging Best Practices in Social Media, continued
Speaker: Vanessa Smith, Refy Agency
In this dynamic and interactive workshop, we delve into the realm of digital storytelling and community engagement, tailored specifically for artists & arts organizations. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, mastering the art of social media is crucial for amplifying yourself or your organization’s impact and connecting with a broader and more diverse audience.
12:30 pm
Atlantica Hotel, Commons Room
Wrap up and goodbyes
Speakers
Kim Doyle
The visionary founder of resonate xm, Kim Doyle, brings a rare blend of creativity and strategic thinking to the stage every day. Building on a successful career in events and sponsorship, Kim can envision a never-before-done experience and then map out the best path to bring it into reality.
A people person to the core, Kim founded resonate xm so she could create a fun collective of like-minded innovators dedicated to creating bold events and experiences. Kim is never shy about challenging the norms in pursuit of progress.
As resonate xm's Chief Experience Officer, Kim brings over 20 years of events, marketing and experiential development leadership to the team. Prior to the pandemic, Kim spent 10 years developing sponsorship and fan experiences for Whitecap Entertainment and the award-winning Cavendish Beach Music Festival.
Kim has earned a reputation for her trailblazing leadership, commitment to blow-your-mind guest experiences, and dedication to forging win-win-win partnerships.
Samantha Zimmerman
Samantha Zimmerman (she/her) is a dynamic and accomplished Digital Strategist and Nonprofit Finance Consultant who has seamlessly transitioned from her roots as a proficient bookkeeper into a specialty in digital strategies and change management. With a career spanning over 15 years in the nonprofit arts sector, Samantha has proven herself to be a trusted leader and invaluable partner to organizations seeking to enhance their financial management, leverage new technologies, and streamline operations through automation.
Samantha's expertise lies in developing and implementing transformative strategies that encompass financial management, organizational operations, and people management to drive the realization of strategic initiatives. Her adept approach involves meticulously identifying pain points, clarifying needs, and finding right-sized digital solutions for lasting improvements. Samantha's belief in the power of employing the right tools is evident in her work to empower organizations to heighten efficiency, minimize manual tasks, and maintain accurate, up-to-date information.
In addition to her consultancy services, Samantha holds the positions of Executive Director at the Guelph Youth Music Centre and Board Chair of CANVAS (Canadian Arts Resources Foundation for Ontario). She holds a Bachelor of Environmental Studies with a Fine and Performing Arts Option from the University of Waterloo, a Graduate Certificate in Arts Administration and Cultural Management from Humber College, and most recently a Graduate Certificate in Change Management from Royal Roads University.
Vanessa Smith
Meet Vanessa Smith, a seasoned marketer hailing from the picturesque landscapes of Prince Edward Island, where she has cultivated a remarkable career spanning 12 years. With a passion for storytelling, idea ideation and a keen understanding of the dynamic marketing landscape, Vanessa led the marketing for organizations such as Murphy Hospitality Group and YYG Charlottetown Airport before switching to the agency world with Volume18 and most recently opening her own business, Refy Agency. In her new endeavour, Vanessa hopes to continue to shape narratives, amplify brands and contribute to the vibrant tapestry of marketing excellence.
SHIFTCHANGE 2023 Schedule
Wednesday, February 23
1:00pm - 2:30pm AST
Fundraising Through a Social Justice Lens
We often typecast people into two groups: those we think can give to our mission and those we think cannot. Most organizations struggle with this dichotomy – how can we raise money in a way that reinforces our mission and not “sell our souls” to the “rich”? How do we align our fundraising with our values to ensure organizational sustainability?
In this workshop, Cindy Wagman, best-selling author of “Raise It! The Reluctant Fundraiser’s Guide to Raising Money Without Selling Your Soul” will bust some fundraising myths around power and giving and help guide you to a model of fundraising that breathes life into your presenting organization’s ongoing commitment to considering social justice as a part of all that you do.
Cindy Wagman
President and Founder, The Good Partnership
Cindy Wagman
President and Founder, The Good Partnership
Cindy Wagman is the President and Founder of The Good Partnership, a values-driven, social-justice informed consultancy that is working to unlock the potential of small nonprofits through fundraising. Cindy became a Certified Fundraising Executive in 2009 and received her MBA from the Rotman School at the University of Toronto in 2013. Cindy has presented for AFP (Association of Fundraising Professionals), CanadaHelps, CharityVillage, Bloomerang, Keela, and Fundraising Everywhere. She is the host of The Small Nonprofit podcast, Canada’s #1 podcast for charities and best-selling author of Raise It! The Reluctant Fundraiser’s Guide to Raising Money Without Selling Your Soul.
The Good Partnership would like to acknowledge the sacred land where we work. This land has been the site of human activity for over 15,000 years. This land is the traditional territory, Tkaronto, “where the trees meet the water,” and it is the traditional land of many nations: the Wendat, the Haudenosaunee, and the Anishinaabe, including the Mississaugas of the Credit. We commit to learning and practicing how we can decolonize this land and our practices.
Thursday, February 24
1:00pm - 2:30pm AST
Google Ad Grants for Non-profits
Have you heard of Google Ad Grants? If not, it is the best time to change that.
Google Ad Grants is a Google initiative launched back in 2003 that allows qualifying nonprofit organizations to get $10,000 USD of in-kind advertising every month. This free advertising credit can be used to promote your organization within Google search results. Improve your brand awareness, drive visitors, improve ticket sales, recruit more volunteers, drive more donations, increase newsletter subscriptions, or promote anything else that generates value to your organization.
The Ad Grants program is a wonderful opportunity to promote your cause online without the need to pay hefty media budgets. Follow the compliance requirements, optimize and experiment and you will be rewarded with a dramatic increase in website traffic and completions of your online goals.
In this webinar, you’ll learn how to:
- Get the Google Ad Grant for your non-profit organization
- Create and efficiently optimize your campaigns
- Ensure that your account is always compliant with program requirements
- Create a robust online marketing strategy for performing arts presenting organizations
- View a case study of a cultural institution benefiting from Google Ad Grants
Peter Sima
Founder, AboveX Digital
Peter Sima
Founder, AboveX Digital
Based in the Netherlands, Peter Sima is the Founder of AboveX Digital and a Google Certified Trainer for Non-profits. Peter is a Google Ad Grants Certified Professional with a background in Search Engine Marketing, Web Analytics, and Conversion Funnel Optimization. He worked on a variety of campaigns for global clients like LinkedIn, ESET & Red Bull. Since 2014 he works exclusively with nonprofits through his agency AboveX Digital. He is also a Google Certified Partners Trainer for Nonprofits. In this role, he educates nonprofit leaders on how to get & run Google Ad Grants campaigns efficiently.
Wednesday, March 2
1:00pm - 2:30pm AST
Reconciliation Statements
After twenty years of living and working in the North and doing reconciliation work across sectors, Davida and Tosh are ready to share what they have learned and use this knowledge to support other organizations in responding to the TRC’s 94 calls to action and supporting Indigenous self-determination.
Both founders are from the Yukon and are strong First Nations women who have a track record of creating the systemic change in organizations needed for reconciliation to actually occur. Tosh and Davida have an extensive network across the Yukon, and nationally across post-secondary institutions. They have built a distinct reputation for working with organizations and Indigenous communities to design and implement projects that move the bar on reconciliation forward. In this session Tosh and Davida will discuss Reconciliation Statements, what they are, how to create one, and why they should be an important part of the forward facing identity of your presenting organization.
Davida Wood
Co-founder, IRP consulting
Davida Wood
Co-founder, IRP consulting
Davida Wood is a born and raised Yukoner from the Teslin Tlingit Council of Southern Yukon, a member of the crow moiety and Kùkhhittàn clan. Her formal education was completed through the University of Regina via Yukon College with an Education degree. Her informal education is on-going through her various roles in life; business owner, consultant, director, facilitator, mother, wife, teacher, First Nation member, committee member and traveler.
It is with great and excitement and passion that she co-founded IRP consulting. Working to not only further self-determination for Indigenous people, but also to work closely with other entities who are embarking on or furthering their learning and journeys on how we are all able to thrive together on this land. Uniting her passions, interests and past experience, Davida is looking forward to working thoughtfully on projects at IRP consulting.
Tosh Southwick
Co-founder, IRP consulting
Tosh Southwick
Co-founder, IRP consulting
Tosh Southwick belongs to the wolf moiety and is a Citizen of Kluane First Nation. She grew up in a small northern community and is the mother to three children and the auntie to many more. She has worked with Yukon First Nations most of her career and in many different capacities. Most recently in her previous role as the Associate Vice President of Indigenous Engagement and Reconciliation at Yukon University Tosh oversaw the integration of First Nation ways of knowing and doing throughout the institution. During her 12 years there she worked with her team to ensure that Yukon University was meeting the education and training needs of the 14 Yukon First Nations. Tosh is a trained facilitator and knowledge sharer. She has worked with organizations across sectors to build and deliver relevant and culturally appropriate workshops and creating safe spaces to explore complex topics. Tosh has worked in Governance, Education, Human Resources and Health for various First Nation Governments and organizations. She has also served as youth councilor and Deputy Chief for her First Nation. Tosh acquired her B.A. with honors in Psychology from the University of Victoria and completed a Master’s in Education with the University of British Columbia.
Thursday, March 3
1:00pm - 2:30pm AST
Insurance and Risk Management
Running a non-profit organization involves a lot of responsibilities—protecting your assets and your board of directors is probably one of the most important! Join us in this engaging session where Melanie will provide an overview of the evolving exposures of non-profit entities and how you can protect the organization. We will discuss the different insurance coverages available in the marketplace and coverage considerations to watch for to ensure you are properly protected.
Melanie Needham
Commercial Analyst, Economical Insurance Group
Melanie Needham
Commercial Analyst, Economical Insurance Group
Melanie first entered the Insurance Industry in January 2000 and in these ten years her career has undergone quite a transformation. She joined the Economical Insurance Group four years ago as a commercial analyst and is now responsible for training all levels of staff and for preparing course materials.
Melanie has completed both her CIP and CRM designations and is in the final stages of completing her FCIP. In 2009, Melanie successfully completed her Adult Teacher/Trainer certification with Conestoga College – all while working at Economical. Melanie is also a proud supporter of the Insurance Institute.
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