Vancouver New Music

What Vancouver New Music does

Vancouver New Music (VNM) is a Vancouver-based nonprofit performing arts organization founded in 1973, dedicated to presenting experimental, interdisciplinary, and cross-cultural new music and sound practices. It operates a portfolio of programs including the annual VNM Festival (most recently branded "Open Frequencies" in 2026), the Parallels concert series, the One Page Score Project community engagement initiative performed by Plastic Acid Orchestra, the long-running Soundwalks series (active since October 2003), and a virtual electronic festival (E-Fest / Electric Fields). The organization works with over 200 contributing artists from Canada and internationally, including markets in Japan, Korea, Egypt, Australia, and the United States.

Programming is delivered through a multi-channel distribution model: live events held at partner venues across Metro Vancouver and British Columbia (Pacific Spirit United Church, Emily Carr University's Integrated Motion Studio, Thompson Rivers University), free outdoor community installations (Wreck Beach, Beaconsfield Park, Roberts Creek), ticketed performances priced $25-$54 per event under a tiered supporter/standard/low-barrier structure, and on-demand streaming via YouTube, Vimeo, and event-specific links. Ticketing and donations are processed through the organization's website (newmusic.org), Eventbrite, and thepointofsale.com.

Revenue is generated from a blend of sources: federal, provincial, and municipal arts council grants (Canada Council for the Arts, BC Arts Council, Government of Canada, City of Vancouver), corporate sponsorship (Stir Vancouver, Rosedale on Robson Suite Hotel), ticket sales, individual donations, and volunteer-supported event operations. The organization operates with a lean staff of approximately 12 employees and is led by Artistic Director Giorgio Magnanensi.

Name

Vancouver New Music

Legal name

Vancouver New Music

Website

https://newmusic.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vancouver New Music is a Vancouver-based nonprofit performing arts organization founded in 1973 that presents experimental, interdisciplinary, and cross-cultural new music to local and international audiences through its annual festival, concert series, and community programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Presentation

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Concerts & Music Festivals (THAJAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hybrid Concerts & Live Shows (Venue + Remote Audience) (MPAGAOAE), Virtual Concerts & Music Festivals (Livestreamed Performances) (MPAGAOAD)

Keywords

• Contemporary music presentation
• Experimental music festivals
• Interdisciplinary sound art
• Concert series programming
• Community music engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: VNM receives operational and project funding from federal, provincial, and municipal government arts councils including Canada Council for the Arts, Government of Canada, BC Arts Council, and City of Vancouver.
2. Corporate Sponsorship: Local businesses provide sponsorship, including Stir Vancouver and Rosedale on Robson Suite Hotel.
3. Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from ticket sales to festival and series events, with tiered pricing including supporter, standard, and low-barrier tickets.
4. Individual Donations: The organization accepts donations through its website and maintains donor support programs.
5. Volunteer Engagement: VNM maintains a volunteer program to support festival and ongoing event operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Vancouver New Music presents, produces, and commissions experimental, interdisciplinary, and cross-cultural contemporary music events for audiences in British Columbia. Its core offerings are the annual VNM Festival, recurring concert series (PARALLELS, E-Fest, Soundwalks), community programs (One Page Score Project), and supporting artist development, all delivered through live performance, ticketed events, and online A/V distribution.

Product overview

Vancouver New Music is a performing arts organization presenting a portfolio of concert programs and festivals centered on experimental and contemporary music. The core offerings include the annual VNM Festival (featuring Open Frequencies), the PARALLELS series for community-focused performances, the One Page Score Project for participatory engagement, E-Fest (Electric Fields) for virtual electronic performances, and the longstanding Soundwalks series. The 2026-27 season gathers artists from Japan, Korea, Egypt, Australia, US, and Canada exploring experimental practices at the intersection of acoustic and electronic sound.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VNM Festival Annual multi-day flagship festival featuring bold, globally engaged approaches to new music by artists working at the forefront of experimental, interdisciplinary, and cross-cultural sound practices, with international and emerging artists.
• Open Frequencies Three-day program within VNM Festival spotlighting experimental music artists; the 2026 edition celebrates Steve Reich's 90th birthday with performances by Kuniko Kato and other international artists.
• PARALLELS Series Community-focused series featuring diverse artists exploring experimental performance practices at the intersection of acoustic and electronic sound, including presentations by artists such as Miyama McQueen-Tokita.
• One Page Score Project Series inviting community members to create graphic scores that are then performed by Plastic Acid Orchestra, fostering participatory engagement with experimental music.
• E-Fest (Electric Fields)

Named customers4 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

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Arts Council KoreacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts Council Korea co-sponsored the Walking Festival of Sound 2022, a cross-cultural Vancouver-Seoul sound art program featuring events in both cities. VNM served as a sponsor alongside Arts Council Korea for this international exchange.
• Powell Street Festival SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPowell Street Festival Society partnered with VNM on the Kuniko Kato Quartet performance on October 22, 2026, celebrating Steve Reich's 90th birthday at the VNM Festival.
• Emily Carr University of Art and DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmily Carr University co-presented EE – electro-emergence (November 2021), a collaborative project with VNM Artistic Director Giorgio Magnanensi and ECU New Media + Sound Arts students, held at the Integrated Motion Studio.
• Emily Carr University of Art and DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmily Carr University co-presented EPIC_Tom++ (May 2022), featuring live improvisation and generative media in collaboration with VNM Artistic Director Giorgio Magnanensi.
• Walking Festival of SoundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVNM co-presented and co-sponsored the Walking Festival of Sound 2022 with Arts Council Korea, featuring soundwalks and sonic art events across Vancouver and Seoul.
• Still Moon Arts SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStill Moon Arts Society co-presented Invoking Beaconsfield Wetland (September 2022) as part of the Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival, with VNM artists Brady Marks, Mark Timmings, and Giorgio Magnanensi.
• Seoul Art Space MullaeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeoul Art Space Mullae provided venue support for the E 7 L performance by Jin Sangtae as part of the Walking Festival of Sound 2022 collaboration between Vancouver and Seoul.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Issue Project Room: Brooklyn-based nonprofit performance venue commissioning and presenting experimental music and sound art. Comparable to VNM in its curatorial focus on experimental, interdisciplinary, and cross-cultural sound practice at small scale.
• Arraymusic: Toronto-based nonprofit presenter and producer of contemporary and experimental music. Analogous to VNM as a Canadian small-staff organization commissioning, producing, and presenting new music with international artist engagement.
• MUTEK: Montreal-based festival organization dedicated to electronic music and digital art. Comparable to VNM in its experimental, avant-garde programming focus and overlap with VNM's E-Fest (Electric Fields) virtual electronic programming line.
• Bang on a Can: New York-based nonprofit presenter producing concerts, commissions, and festivals of contemporary and experimental music. Directly comparable to VNM as a presenter/producer focused on bold, globally engaged new music with international artists.
• Vancouver Pro Musica: Vancouver-based society dedicated to contemporary music presentation and advocacy. Comparable to VNM as a similarly sized nonprofit presenting new and contemporary music to Vancouver audiences, with a concert series format.
• Western Front: Vancouver-based artist-run center for experimental music, sound art, and new media since 1973. Closely comparable to VNM as a peer nonprofit presenter of experimental and contemporary music in the same city, with overlapping artistic communities and audiences.
• Music on Main: Vancouver concert presenter producing chamber and contemporary music programming in intimate venues. Directly comparable as a Vancouver-based nonprofit presenter of contemporary and experimental performance with a similar small-staff operating model.
• Music Toronto: Toronto concert presenter producing contemporary chamber and new music concerts. Comparable to VNM as a Canadian nonprofit presenter of contemporary music with subscription-style series and international artist bookings.

Broad incumbents

• Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival: UK-based annual festival of new and contemporary music. Comparable to VNM Festival as a multi-day, internationally programmed new music festival with cross-cultural and experimental artist rosters, though at significantly larger scale.

Regional players

• Coastal Jazz & Blues Society: Vancouver-based presenter of jazz and contemporary music with a large annual festival. Partially comparable to VNM as a Vancouver-rooted nonprofit presenter, though oriented toward jazz rather than experimental new music.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vannewmusic
• YouTubeyoutube.com/vancouvernewmusic
• Facebookfacebook.com/vannewmusic
• Instagraminstagram.com/vannewmusic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vancouver-new-music

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Vancouver New Music