Manitoba Music Hosts Aboriginal Music Presenters Summit in Winnipeg

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Indian City

Manitoba Music is bringing together some of Canada's most experienced music presenters for a unique event aimed at increasing opportunities for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis musicians from Manitoba. The Aboriginal Music Presenters Summit will include a day of panel discussions and mentor sessions at the Manitoba Music office on September 20, as well two showcases of local talent at The Cube in Old Market Square. 

Presenters taking part in the inaugural summit include 19 festival artistic directors and executive directors, talent buyers, and arts funders from across the country, including reps from Calgary Folk Festival, Asinabka Festival, Winnipeg Folk Festival, Salmon Arts Roots and Blues Festival, Aboriginal Music Week, New York's National Museum of the American Indian, Halifax Jazz Festival, Canada Council for the Arts, Peterborough Folk Festival, and more. 

Music fans have the chance to catch two free concerts featuring some of Manitoba's top Aboriginal recording artists, presented with NCI FM. Award-winning rock supergroup Indian City will play a free noon hour concert at The Cube while singer/songwriter Leonard Sumner, country chanteuse Desiree Dorion, and rock outfit The Mosquitoz will take over The Cube for a free evening show starting at 7 p.m. The showcases are an opportunity for these acclaimed artists to perform for and connect with the influential visiting presenters.

An expansion of a presenters panel first hosted by Manitoba Music in March 2012, this year's summit will offer emerging presenters a unique opportunity to network with and learn from experienced national presenters and facilitate key discussions about the state of Aboriginal music in Canada. The long term goal of the summit is to foster a more connected Aboriginal music presenter community within Manitoba and increase performance opportunities for local artists. 

The summit was organized through Manitoba Music’s Aboriginal Music Program (AMP), which was launched in 2004 to help First Nation, Métis, and Inuit people develop sustainable careers in Manitoba’s music industry. The program delivers projects and services that respond to the needs of the industry is a driving force behind a vibrant Aboriginal music community in Manitoba. The Aboriginal Music Program is made possible by the generous support of the Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba, FACTOR, and Manitoba Film & Music.

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