EXPORT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

In 2024-2025 Folk Canada is expanding its export work, in line with growing opportunities that have come through outreach and an expanding membership and partnership base. Folk Canada’s international engagement strategy is designed to promote Canadian artists and professionals on the global stage, while forging meaningful professional relationships with international partners.

Partners, domestic and international, are important parts of this export work. Relationships with event-producers ensure positive results and favourable conditions (discount registrations, prime-time events, locations in expo hall, etc). Meanwhile, domestic partners help amplify our work, particularly the organisations comprising the Northern Turtle Island Collective, which unites like-minded organisations (core members Folk Canada, Small World Music, Mundial Montreal, and International Indigenous Music Summit are also joined by Folquebec, Sunfest, CAPACOA, and CINARS) in export missions to ensure Canadians make the most of each event.

UPCOMING EXPORT MISSIONS

WOMEX: Oct 23-27 2024 Manchester, England

The biggest conference of the culturally-diverse music scene, featuring a trade fair, panels, films, and showcases, and drawing over 2,700 professionals (including 300 performing artists) from more than 90 countries. Moving to a different European city each year, WOMEX features 7 stages, 750+ exhibiting days exhibiting companies, 100 speakers, films, an opening concert, and an award ceremony across five days.

NERFA: Nov 20-24, 2024 Portland, Maine, US

The Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) is a regional affiliate of Folk Alliance International (FAI). Each year, more than 500 performing artists, presenters, promoters, agents, managers, folk DJs, and others actively engaged in contemporary and traditional folk music attend. The conference features showcases, song swaps, open mics, and jam sessions; informative workshops and panel discussions; mentoring and peer group sessions; an exhibit hall; communal meals; and lots of informal conversation and networking.

Fluvial: Nov 26 - Dec 1, 2024 Valdivia, Chile

Fluvial is a music conference and festival that seeks to promote and strengthen the development of the Chilean music industry through international trade and partnership, and contributes to education and reflection on art, creative industries, society, and the environment, with an emphasis on Indigenous communities. Our inaugural mission to Chile is designed to enhance Canadian visibility in the Latin American market and encourage collaborations.

English Folk Expo: March 20-22, 2025 Manchester, England

English Folk Expo draws approximately 200 delegates and generates over CA$3.5 million in future business. Held in venues around Manchester’s vibrant Northern Quarter in conjunction with the Manchester Folk Festival, it features showcases by more than 60 artists.

We strive to establish a gold standard for all outbound events, creating a trusted export brand from which Folk Canada and its members and stakeholders can take full advantage in each region targeted. The activities revolve around increasing live performance exposure through mission-based showcases, generating leads through business-to-business meetings in- person and online, growing our networks through gathering music industry professionals for network receptions to enhance international collaborations, collaboration with other orgs through the Northern Turtle Island Collective, and more.

FOUR COMPONENTS OF EXPORT MISSIONS

Education: Market Overview and Event Orientation

A pre-event online gathering for participating artists and professionals sets the scene and fosters a sense of community. We also strive to gather Canadian delegates in person to build on the community of support.

Showcases

Each mission is built around showcase opportunities, recognizing that live performances significantly influence decision-making in the music industry. Our aim is to enhance artists' chances of securing sales and gig bookings through these valuable opportunities, and provide promotional support for showcasing artists. Occasionally, as at WOMEX in partnership with the Northern Turtle Island Collective, we help produce an unofficial showcase.

Trade Show: Marketing and Promotion of Activities

Where possible, we will secure space in the trade show or exhibit hall to raise awareness of the Canadian music market and provide visibility for artists and companies as well as an HQ for Canadians to gather. When an event does not feature an expo hall, we will focus on other promotional vehicles (ads in conference spaces/publications/web, flyers, social media, etc).

B2B: Meetings and Network Activities

Networking activities include arranging, where possible, specific B2B meetings through a sponsorship arrangement, as well as hosting a “Meet the Canadians” event in which Canadian delegates and showcasing artists are highlighted, and where Folk Canada (and, when appropriate, partners) address the gathering.