News & Announcements

The National Arts Centre announces BC Scene - 600 artists 90 events 30 venues 13 days

Monday, September 8, 2008

VANCOUVER—Canada’s National Arts Centre today announced the first programming details of BC Scene, a dazzling multi-disciplinary arts festival that will take place in Ottawa-Gatineau from April 21 to May 3, 2009. Part of a series of national festivals exploring Canada’s 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. 

In what will be the largest gathering of British Columbia artists ever presented outside of the province, 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 30 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 – producers, buyers, or talent scouts – to discover B.C. talent and bring it back to their own audiences.

To help in the colossal task of producing a festival of this size and scope, Heather Moore, Producer and Executive Director of BC Scene, has called on a team of B.C.-based artistic advisors including Doug Cox (music), Rachel Ditor (Theatre), Helga Pakasaar (Visual and Media arts), Alma Lee (Literature), and Geraldine Manossa (First Nations and Métis programming). They have brought their extensive knowledge and expertise and joined forces with dozens of B.C.-based creators, artists and producers consulted by BC Scene to develop a program that reflects B.C.’s contemporary cultural landscape.

Read the press release