CINARS

What CINARS does

CINARS (Conférence internationale des arts de la scène), legally Conférence internationale des arts de la scène de Montréal, is a Montreal-based non-profit organization founded in 1982 (per legal records; firmographics indicate 1984) that operates the Biennale CINARS, a biennial international performing arts conference held at Hôtel Bonaventure and across multiple Montreal venues. The organization brings together 1,300+ professionals from approximately 50 countries — agents, artistic companies, programmers (diffuseurs), and government and cultural institution representatives — for six days of performances, conferences, professional meetings, and networking. Its flagship offerings include the Place du Marché exhibition hall, OFF-CINARS showcase performances (120+ total official and OFF shows per edition), project presentation pitch sessions (8 selected per Biennale, $50 application fee), the Génération CINARS fellowship for mid-career artists, and the Prix Reconnaissance awards program.

Beyond the biennial, CINARS runs year-round international export missions accompanying Canadian artists and companies to major global performing arts markets including Edinburgh Festival Fringe, WOMEX, APAP, PAMS, BPAM, and HKPAX. The organization also produces an email newsletter (via Mailchimp) and publishes editorial content in partnership with International Arts Manager. Revenue is generated from participant registration fees, exhibition booth rentals at Place du Marché, hotel block commissions, export mission fees, and — most significantly — institutional grants from the Government of Quebec, CALQ, Conseil des arts de Montréal, Canada Council for the Arts, Ville de Montréal, and Patrimoine Canada. The technology stack is non-proprietary: JotForm for registration, Laravel-hosted data, Mailchimp for email, and Zone Festival for event management, with a permanent staff of approximately 8 supported by a biennial-specific surge team.

Name

CINARS

Legal name

Conférence internationale des arts de la scène de Montréal

Website

https://cinars.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CINARS is a Montreal-based non-profit that organizes the biennial Biennale CINARS performing arts conference and year-round international export missions, serving agents, artistic companies, programmers, and cultural institutions across approximately 50 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Conference and Networking Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional & Association Conferences (MPAGAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Professional & Certification Expos Organizers (THAHABAD), Partner, Channel & Vendor Conferences (MPAGAGAL)

Keywords

• Performing arts biennial
• International arts conference
• Performing arts networking
• Arts export missions
• Performing arts marketplace

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Biennale participant registration fees: CINARS charges registration fees for agents, companies, programmers (diffuseurs), and observers attending the Biennale. Exhibitor booth rental at the Place du Marché is a separate revenue stream. Fees vary by participant category and include accreditation.
2. Exhibition booth rental (Place du Marché): Exhibitors can rent booth spaces (8ft x 8ft stands, half-stands, or tables) at the Place du Marché exhibition hall during the Biennale. Up to 5 additional accreditations can be purchased per stand. Cancellation policy applies: full refund until September 1 (minus $50 admin fee), 50% refund until September 15, no refund after.
3. Institutional and public funding: CINARS receives financial support from government cultural bodies including the Government of Quebec, CALQ (Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec), the Conseil des arts de Montréal, the Canada Council for the Arts, and Ville de Montréal / Patrimoine Canada.
4. International export mission fees: CINARS coordinates group participation in international performing arts markets, charging fees for Canadian delegations to attend markets such as WOMEX, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, APAP, PAMS, BPAM, and HKPAX. Partnerships with organizations such as Folk Canada, Northern Turtle Island, and Mundial Montréal facilitate these missions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CINARS organizes the Biennale CINARS, a biennial international performing arts conference in Montreal that convenes over 1,300 professionals from approximately 50 countries for performances, conferences, and professional meetings. Year-round, CINARS coordinates international export missions to major performing arts markets (Edinburgh Festival Fringe, WOMEX, APAP, PAMS, BPAM, HKPAX), operates the Place du Marché exhibition marketplace, OFF-CINARS showcases, project presentation pitch sessions, the Génération CINARS fellowship, and the Prix Reconnaissance awards.

Product overview

CINARS operates as an international performing arts conference organization, not a software product company. Its core offering is the Biennale CINARS—a biennial international performing arts event in Montreal—complemented by year-round international export missions to major global markets (Edinburgh, WOMEX, APAP, BPAM, HKPAX, PAMS). The organization provides a portfolio of interconnected services including the Place du Marché exhibition hall, OFF-CINARS showcase performances, project presentation pitch sessions, the Génération CINARS professional development fellowship, and the Prix Reconnaissance awards. The portfolio also includes a newsletter subscription service. These products and services work together to facilitate international circulation and networking for performing arts professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Génération CINARS: Program evolved from 'Ma première Biennale' to support artists, companies, agents, producers, and representation structures in mid-career or at a pivotal stage of international development.
• Prix Reconnaissance CINARS

Products and services

• Biennale CINARS The flagship biennial international performing arts conference held in Montreal, bringing together over 1,300 professionals from approximately 50 countries for six days of performances, conferences, professional meetings, and networking activities.
• Missions d'exportation (Export Missions) International export missions that accompany Canadian artists and companies to major performing arts markets worldwide, including Edinburgh Festival Fringe, WOMEX, APAP, BPAM, HKPAX, and PAMS, providing networking opportunities and market access.
• Place du Marché An exhibition hall within the Biennale where agents and companies can reserve booths to showcase their works, network with presenters, and conduct business during the event.
• OFF-CINARS Complementary showcase performances running alongside the official Biennale programming, allowing companies to present shows in various Montreal venues throughout the week.
• Prix Reconnaissance CINARS Recognition awards highlighting excellence, commitment, and contributions of individuals, presenters, institutions, and agents who have shaped the international development of performing arts, including the Prix Élan, Prix Diffuseur, Prix Uriel Luft, and Prix Hommage.
• Présentations de projets (Project Presentations) Pitch sessions where eight selected artists or companies present works-in-progress to programmers, artists, and agents attending the Biennale.
• Génération CINARS An evolution of the former 'Ma première Biennale' program, offering structured support for mid-career artists, companies, agents, and representative structures including collective booths, international mission participation, financial contributions, strategic workshops, and visibility in CINARS communications.
• Programmation Biennale (Biennale Programming) The curated selection of 120+ official shows and OFF performances spanning dance, theatre, circus, music, new writings, and multidisciplinary works from international artists presented during the Biennale.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,300+ professionals from ~50 countries connect during each Biennale edition
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 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

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Gouvernement du QuébeccoreOthersPrimary institutional funder of CINARS through the Secrétariat aux relations canadiennes et à la Francophonie or equivalent cultural ministry. The Government of Quebec provides core operational funding that enables CINARS to organize the Biennale and international missions.
• CALQ (Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec)coreOthersMajor public arts funder providing financial support to CINARS. Also partners with CINARS on the 'Prix du CALQ pour la meilleure tournée internationale' award for best international tour.
• Conseil des arts de MontréalcoreOthersMunicipal arts council providing funding to support CINARS' activities and the Biennale in Montreal.
• Canada Council for the Arts (CAC)coreOthersFederal arts funder providing significant financial support to CINARS' operations and international activities.
• Ville de MontréalcoreOthersCity of Montreal provides funding support and partners with CINARS through its cultural development programs.
• Patrimoine Canada (Canadian Heritage)coreOthersFederal government department providing funding support for CINARS' national and international cultural programming.
• Folk CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization collaborating with CINARS on Canadian participation in WOMEX (World Music Expo), helping strengthen coordinated Canadian representation at this major world music market.
• Northern Turtle IslandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization collaborating on Canadian group participation in international markets such as WOMEX, contributing to coherent Canadian representation in world music and performing arts.
• Mundial MontréalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuébec world music summit that partners with CINARS on international mission coordination and Canadian collective representation at events such as WOMEX.
• Scène Plus (scenoplus.com)minorOthersPrivate sector sponsor listed among CINARS' private partners, supporting the development of live performing arts.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Edinburgh Festival Fringe: Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the world's largest performing arts festival and a major international showcase market. CINARS organizes Canadian group participation at Edinburgh via export missions, making it both a partner and a benchmark peer for international performing arts gathering scale and influence.
• ISPA (International Society for the Performing Arts): ISPA is a global membership association of performing arts leaders, with congresses and year-round programming. Comparable in serving the same performing arts leadership audience as CINARS, though operating as a continuous membership body rather than a biennial marketplace.

Emerging players

• Folk Alliance International: Folk Alliance International runs the world's largest folk and roots music conference, including a trade show and networking programming. Comparable to CINARS in targeting folk and roots performing arts agents and presenters, and listed as a CINARS partner via Folk Canada.

Direct peers

• IETM (International Network for Contemporary Performing Arts): IETM is a European-based membership network running regular meetings, plenaries, and digital tools for the international performing arts community. Comparable to CINARS in facilitating international collaboration and professional development for performing arts professionals, though structured as an ongoing network rather than a biennial conference.
• APAP (Association of Performing Arts Professionals): APAP is the largest annual performing arts marketplace in North America, convening presenters, agents, and artists for networking and booking. It is the most direct functional peer to CINARS' Biennale, with similar delegate composition (agents, programmers, artists) but operating annually rather than biennially and based in the U.S.
• WOMEX (World Music Expo): WOMEX is the leading international trade fair for world music, with conference, exhibition, and networking components. It is directly comparable to CINARS' world music and music export mission programming, and is a CINARS mission partner for Canadian delegations.
• PAMS (Performing Arts Market in Seoul): PAMS is the leading Asian performing arts showcase and market, attracting international presenters and artists to Seoul annually. Comparable to CINARS in offering showcase, networking, and pitching formats for performing arts professionals, with a regional rather than hemispheric focus.
• HKPAX (Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo): HKPAX is a major Asian performing arts market organized by the Hong Kong government, attracting 1,600+ professionals in its early editions. Directly comparable to CINARS as a government-backed international performing arts marketplace, and a current CINARS mission partner.
• Mundial Montréal: Mundial Montréal is a Quebec-based world music summit and conference, sharing overlapping scope with CINARS on world music programming. It is a strategic partner to CINARS for coordinating Canadian participation at international music markets like WOMEX.

Regional players

• BPAM (Beijing Performing Arts Market): BPAM is a Chinese performing arts market organized to facilitate international exchange and touring into the Chinese market. Comparable in scope and format to CINARS' export missions, but regionally focused on Greater China.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cinars

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 CINARS