Atlantic Presenters Association

What Atlantic Presenters Association does

Atlantic Presenters Association (APA) is a non-profit, member-based regional arts service organization headquartered in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, that serves performing arts presenters across the four Atlantic Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. The organization connects presenters with professional artists through flagship booking and professional development conferences, block booking facilitation, networking events, and specialized programs, operating with a small staff of approximately 9 employees working remotely across Atlantic Canada.

APA's offerings span flagship conferences and ongoing programs. Contact East is Atlantic Canada's premier performing arts booking conference, running for 48+ editions and showcasing over 30 artists per year across music, dance, theatre, circus arts, Deaf/Disability arts, comedy, and cultural performances. Complementary events include Convergence (professional development and artistic discovery), ShiftChange (the region's first festival-focused conference, launched 2022), and MemberConnect (member professional development). Supporting programs include the Block Booking Program (facilitated by the Arts Touring Connector online platform), Atlantic Moves (contemporary dance touring, 145+ performances to 30,000+ audience members since 2011), the Indigenous Presenter Program, the Better Backstages Toolkit (a digital accessibility resource co-developed with Eastern Front Theatre and Music Nova Scotia and hosted at accessibilityproject.ca), and the Presenter Peer Support Program.

APA's revenue model is anchored in government funding and membership dues. Funding is sourced from Canadian Heritage (including the Canada Arts Presentation Fund, which received $31 million over two years in Budget 2024, nearly doubling prior annual supplementary funding from $8 million to $15.5 million per year), the Canada Council for the Arts, and the four Atlantic provincial governments. Specific membership pricing is not publicly disclosed. Leadership comprises Executive Director Laurie Gillis, Director of Operations and Programs Lisa Gleave, and Block Booking Manager Crystal Laffoley, with board oversight from President Janet Larkman and Past President Angela Campbell. APA is a member of the #FutureOfLIVE coalition of 35 performing arts associations and partners with RADARTS, Music Nova Scotia, Eastern Front Theatre, Music New Brunswick, the Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance, First Light Centre for Performance and Creativity, and FACTOR.

Name

Atlantic Presenters Association

Legal name

Atlantic Presenters Association

Website

https://atlanticpresenters.ca

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Atlantic Presenters Association is a non-profit member-based arts service organization serving the four Atlantic Canadian provinces, connecting performing arts presenters with professional artists through booking conferences, block booking coordination, professional development programs, and specialized touring and accessibility initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (71132), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA), Conferences & Conventions Operations Services (Registration, AV, Logistics) (MPAGAGAM)

Keywords

• Performing arts booking
• Block booking coordination
• Arts conference management
• Professional development workshops
• Presenter network services

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlantic Canada (Remote)

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: APA receives ongoing financial support from government funders including Canadian Heritage, Canada Council for the Arts, and the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. In 2024, Budget 2024 proposed $31 million over two years to the Canada Arts Presentation Fund (CAPF), nearly doubling the prior annual supplementary funding from $8 million to $15.5 million per year.
2. Membership Dues: APA operates as a member-based organization offering programs and services to performing arts presenters across Atlantic Canada. Membership benefits include block booking facilitation, professional development, networking events, and access to the Arts Touring Connector platform.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Atlantic Presenters Association is a non-profit regional arts service organization that connects performing arts presenters across the four Atlantic Canadian provinces with professional artists and touring opportunities. Its core deliverable is a portfolio of flagship conferences (Contact East, Convergence, ShiftChange, MemberConnect), facilitated block-booking coordination through the Arts Touring Connector platform, and member-only professional development programs including the Atlantic Moves dance touring initiative and the Indigenous Presenter Program.

Product overview

The Atlantic Presenters Association (APA) is a member-based arts service organization serving as a multidisciplinary network of performing arts presenters across Atlantic Canada. The organization operates a portfolio of programs and services organized around its core mission of connecting artists and audiences. Key offerings include flagship conferences: Contact East (biennial performing arts booking conference), Convergence (professional development conference), ShiftChange (festival-focused conference), and MemberConnect (member professional development). Supporting programs include the Block Booking Program, Better Backstages Toolkit (accessibility resources), Indigenous Presenter Program, Atlantic Moves (dance touring), and Presenter Peer Support Program. Together these products facilitate artist showcases, professional development, networking, and touring coordination for performing arts presenters across the Atlantic region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Contact East Atlantic Canada's premiere performing arts booking conference that brings together performing arts presenters, managers, and agents to see top-quality performances from diverse artistic genres including music, cabaret, dance, Deaf/Disability arts, circus arts, theatre, comedy, and cultural performances.
• Convergence Professional development and artistic discovery conference for presenters combining professional development focus with showcasing excitement, featuring curated music showcases, pitch sessions, and networking opportunities.
• ShiftChange Annual festival-focused conference providing professional development and networking for festival and event presenters in Atlantic Canada.
• MemberConnect Three-day professional development conference for APA members featuring insightful conversations, impactful learning, and meaningful connections.
• Better Backstages Toolkit Digital accessibility guide with practical tools, checklists, and self-audits to help music venues, arts organizations, and workplaces create safe, accessible, and inclusive opportunities for artists, including self-audit tools for performance venues, local resources, and artist access riders.
• Block Booking Program Facilitates organized booking of artists across multiple presenters when three or more member presenters are interested, helping small and remote communities access cultural performances through coordinated multi-venue touring.
• Indigenous Presenter Program (IPP) Network connecting Indigenous arts and culture presenters, event producers, and arts leaders across the Atlantic coast to empower Indigenous communities to build Indigenous-led touring networks, including an annual Indigenous Presenters Gathering.
• Atlantic Moves Dance touring development program addressing deficit of contemporary dance touring in Atlantic Canada through curatorial development, audience development, and Canadian dance artist presentation, in partnership with RADARTS.
• Presenter Peer Support Program Mental wellness initiative providing confidential peer support sessions for APA members, facilitated by APA staff with guidance from the ECMA Sound Minds Wellness Program.
• Membership Directory Directory and map of APA member presenters across Atlantic Canada including theatres, festivals, community presenters, universities, symphonies, and municipalities, used by members and partners to identify presenting organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 145 dance performances presented to 30,000+ audience members through the Atlantic Moves program since 2011
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Canadian HeritagecoreOthersCanadian Heritage is a primary funder of APA and the Canada Arts Presentation Fund. In 2024, Budget 2024 proposed $31 million over two years for CAPF, nearly doubling the annual supplementary funding to $15.5 million per year. Canadian Heritage also co-funds the Atlantic Moves program alongside the Canada Council for the Arts.
• Canada Council for the ArtscoreOthersCanada Council for the Arts is a primary government funder supporting APA's operations and programs, including co-funding the Atlantic Moves program with the Department of Canadian Heritage.
• Music Nova ScotiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic Nova Scotia partnered with APA and Eastern Front Theatre to develop the Better Backstages Toolkit in 2025, a digital accessibility resource for music venues and arts organizations.
• Eastern Front TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEastern Front Theatre (EFT) partnered with APA and Music Nova Scotia to develop the Better Backstages Toolkit in 2025, a digital accessibility guide for music venues and performing arts workplaces.
• RADARTS (Réseau atlantique de diffusion des arts de la scène)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRADARTS is APA's partner in the Atlantic Moves program, a partnership project addressing the deficit of contemporary dance touring in Atlantic Canada. RADARTS member organizations participate in the Atlantic Moves network.
• Province of Nova ScotiacoreOthersThe Province of Nova Scotia provides funding through the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism & Heritage. The province co-funds the Indigenous Presenter Program and Atlantic Moves, and provincial staff participated in organizing Contact East 2023.
• Province of New BrunswickcoreOthersThe Province of New Brunswick funds APA through the Department of Tourism, Heritage & Culture. It was a supporting partner for Contact East 2023 and is a Convergence26 partner hosting the conference in Moncton, NB alongside NB Music Week.
• Province of Newfoundland and LabradorcoreOthersThe Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, through the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts & Recreation and Industry, Energy and Technology, supported Contact East 2023 and is a regional funder of APA.
• #FutureOfLIVE CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPA is a member of the #FutureOfLIVE coalition, a collective of 35 performing arts, presenting, festival, and music industry associations advocating for predictable and increased funding for performing arts presenting organizations and festivals. The campaign generated engagement from organizations across every province and rallied support from MPs of all political parties.
• Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance (IPAA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPAA partnered with APA to host the third annual Atlantic Indigenous Presenters Gathering in 2023, held at Neptune Theatre in Halifax, in partnership with CAPACOA as well.
• Music New Brunswick / NB Music WeekcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic NB is APA's partner for Convergence26, taking place October 22-25, 2026 in Moncton, NB. Convergence26 is presented in partnership with NB Music Week / Semaine MNB Week, combining APA's professional development programming with NB's music showcase festival.
• First Light Centre for Performance and CreativitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Light Centre for Performance and Creativity, an organization serving urban and non-urban Indigenous populations, organized and hosted the 2022 Indigenous Presenters Gathering in St. John's, NL on behalf of APA, providing staff and space to enable Indigenous-led program delivery.
• FACTORminorOthersFACTOR (Foundations to Assist Canada's Talent on Records) is listed as a funding partner supporting Contact East 2023, contributing to the showcasing conference's ability to bring artists and presenters together.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation: Regional arts service organization supporting presenting, touring, and artist exchange across the US Mid-Atlantic states. Comparable to APA in providing block booking, professional development, and grantmaking to presenters in a defined region.
• Ontario Presents: Provincial presenting network in Ontario running showcase conferences, professional development, and block booking programs — structurally the closest Canadian peer to APA in mission, programs, and member-service model.
• Western Arts Alliance: North American booking conference and presenting network serving western US/Canada. Runs showcase events and networking for presenters, artists, and agents, closely paralleling Contact East.
• New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA): Regional nonprofit arts grantmaker and presenting-support organization serving New England. Operates conference programming, touring support, and grantmaking for performing arts presenters in its region.
• Arts Midwest: US regional presenting and touring organization providing block booking, professional development, and conference programming for performing arts presenters across the US Midwest — directly comparable mission and operating model to APA.
• National Performance Network (NPN): US-based network of performing arts presenters and artist communities supporting residency and touring partnerships. Functions as a peer convenor for presenters, paralleling APA's role in connecting regional presenters and artists.

Emerging players

• Music Nova Scotia: Provincial music industry association and APA's direct co-development partner on the Better Backstages Toolkit. Operates adjacent music-sector services within APA's Atlantic Canadian membership geography.
• Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance (IPAA): National Indigenous-led performing arts organization that partnered with APA on the Atlantic Indigenous Presenters Gathering. Operates in an adjacent specialty niche with overlapping Indigenous presenter network initiatives.

Broad incumbents

• CAPACOA (Canadian Association for the Performing Arts): National Canadian presenting and performing arts service organization and APA's parent partner in the Indigenous Presenters Gathering. Operates one organizational tier above APA as the national umbrella, but covers the same presenting and booking domain across all provinces.

Regional players

• East Coast Music Association (ECMA): Atlantic Canada regional music industry association running the ECMA music awards and showcase events. Overlaps with APA's ecosystem (shared Sound Minds Wellness Program partnership) but focuses on recording/music industry rather than presenting.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/atlanticpres
• Facebookfacebook.com/atlanticpresenters
• Instagraminstagram.com/atlantic_presenters
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/atlantic-presenters-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Atlantic Presenters Association