Manitoba Music and Canada Council Launch Market Builder Residency for Aboriginal Artists and Industry

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Leonard Sumner

Manitoba Music and the Canada Council for the Arts are set to launch a new project, the Market Builder Residency for Aboriginal Artists and Industry. Running February 8-13, 2015 in Toronto through Manitoba Music's Aboriginal Music Program, Market Builder provides a unique opportunity for seven export ready artists and four music entrepreneurs from across Canada to connect with industry leaders and exceptional creators in Toronto. 

Manitobans making the trip include JUNO Award-nominated singer/songwriter Don Amero; Western Canadian Music Award nominated artist IsKwé; RAS Creative’s RoseAnna Schick, who provides strategic communications in music and motion pictures, sports and recreation, and the Aboriginal community; Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Award winning singer/songwriter and emcee Leonard Sumner; and manager, publicist, and booker Kim Wheeler of Kimage Entertainment.

Making their way from other corners of the country to join the Manitoba delegation will be Canadian Aboriginal Music Award-winning singer/songwriter Christa Couture; artist manager, producer, and graphic designer Thomas Crier of Rezofficial Music; acclaimed cellist and composer Cris Derksen; JUNO Award-winning singer/songwriter Leela Gilday; Gary Joseph of Indigenous studio 6 Arrows Media; and Canadian Folk Music Award-winner Amanda Rheaume.

Participants will have the rare opportunity to connect with and learn from heavy hitters in Canada’s Toronto-based industry through mentor sessions and meetings, including artists Ron Sexsmith, Coco Love Alcorn, Jadea Kelly, Lido Pimienta, Dave Baxter, Vanessa Cito, John Critchley, Stew Crookes, Don Kerr, Elaine Overholt, Todor Kobakov, The Darcy’s Jason Couse and Wes Marskell, Adrian Ellis, and reps from music companies eOne, Killbeat Music, Six Shooter Records, Coalition Music, The Music Gallery, Craft Services, Embrace Entertainment Group, M3 Entertainment, Hall Webber LLP, Universal Music Canada, OVOFEST, Canadian Music Week, Peermusic, Cuto, Paquin Entertainment Group, Pandyamonium Management, Rich Kidd Beats / R-WAY, Last Gang Records, and Mad Ruk Entertainment. Ontario Arts Council, Arts & Crafts, and Coalition Music will also host panel discussions  about competitiveness and innovation in live music, rights management, and marketing.

Manitoba Music would like to acknowledge the Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, SOCAN, MuchFACT exclusively funded by Much and M3 under Bell Media Inc., Arts & Crafts, and Coalition Music for their support of the Market Builder project.

Manitoba Music's Aboriginal Music Program was launched in 2004 to help First Nation, Inuit, and Métis people in Manitoba develop sustainable careers in music by connecting them with opportunities within Manitoba Music and beyond. Manitoba Music would like to acknowledge the financial support of the Province of Manitoba, Canada Council for the Arts, Manitoba Film & Music, and FACTOR through the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage (Canada Music Fund) and of Canada's Private Radio Broadcasters.

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