Arts come together for Ontario Contact conference
Ontario’s artists and the people who present them have gathered in St. Catharines for the next three days.
The annual Ontario Contact conference will take place at the Holiday Inn on Ontario Street and the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre (PAC) downtown. The three-day event is a chance for those working in the touring performing arts sector to network and discover new work.
Part of the conference will be five free showcases at the Performing Arts Centre’s Partridge Hall, featuring a variety of music and theatre performers. Showcases take place Thursday from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.; Thursday from 8:30 to 10:15 p.m.; Friday from 1:30 to 3:15 p.m.; Friday from 8 to 10 p.m.; and Saturday from 12:30 to 2 p.m.
“It’s a conference where all sorts of programmers from across the province – and a few from out of province – come to take in performances from musicians and all sorts of acts,” says Jordy Yack, communications coordinator with the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre.
“We’re inviting the public to come to the showcases.” Yack says about 114 delegates will be attending, with more than 100 artists showcasing over the three days.
PAC executive director Steve Solski says the conference is a way to showcase the arts community that has sprung up from downtown’s growth in recent years.
“The arts bring everyone together.”
Yack says the showcase is also an opportunity for PAC’s Hot Ticket series to scout artists for upcoming shows.
“Our season is complete and we’re starting to book already for 2019 and 2020, but this is definitely a place where our programming team pays close attention to the acts and performers that are here.”
For bios and the complete Ontario Contact schedule, visit