Panel, Roundtable Public Programming – What’s Working, What’s Not?

Public programming plays an important role in connecting communities with music and culture, but what makes these initiatives successful and where are they falling short…

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Speakers:
Garvia Bailey (Moderator), Ryan Craven, Eunju Yi, Arnold Yescas

PresentationPaul Seed Fund: Why invest in Music?

What does it mean to invest in a UNESCO City of Music, and what impact can that investment have beyond individual artists and events…

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Speakers:
Jennepher Cahill, Cory Crossman

Roundtable, PanelWho Gets Heard? Gender Equity in Music Today

Women continue to play a vital role across every part of the music industry, yet barriers to access, leadership, opportunity and career advancement remain…

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Speakers:
Emm Gryner (Moderator), Robyn Stewart, Tina Wroblewski, Grettel Killing, Sandra Lövbom Wall

Discussion, PanelHonest talks About Sustaining Live Music

For-profit music venues are essential to a healthy live music ecosystem, providing stages for artists, employment for industry workers and gathering places for communities…

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Speakers:
Ryan Soulierre (Moderator), Paul Maxwell, Jacky Manuel, Diana Cerovich

Discussion, RoundtableRoad Wisdom: Touring Artists on Survival, Success and Sustainability

Touring is essential to building sustainable careers in music, but artists continue to face significant barriers related to travel costs, cross-border regulations, accommodation, visas, accessibility and limited touring support…

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Speakers:
Sarah Burke (Moderator), JJ Wilde, Shad, Dave Baksh, Adam Sturgeon

Presentation, Discussion Les SMAQ Music Venue Trust in Montreal

Les SMAQ is Quebec’s independent venue association, the only one of its kind in Canada. The organization has received significant funding to develop a cultural land trust that will create a permanent…

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Speaker:
Jon Weisz

Presentation, Discussion10 Years of the National Music Centre

Canada's National Music Centre (NMC) at Studio Bell in Calgary is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2026, marking a decade since opening its doors to the public on July 1, 2016…

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Speaker:
Andrew Mosker

Discussion, PanelFilm Playbook: Lessons for Music Cities

For decades, municipalities have supported film and television production through dedicated staff, streamlined permitting and impact measurement, helping drive investment and industry growth…

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Speakers:
Natalie Moore, Lisa Nawrocki, Devon Hogue

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Moderator:
Andrew Dodd

Panel, DiscussionBuilding a Resilient Music Ecosystem

Across the world, music ecosystems face funding challenges, fragmented decision-making, complex regulations and a gap between cultural practice and policy. In Toronto, one of the most multicultural and diverse cities in the world…

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Speakers:
Jonathan Bunce, Kristyn Gelfand, Said Yassin

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Moderator:
Jaclyn Tam

Discussion, LunchMusic on the Menu (Lunch Provided)

An experiential lunch conversation featuring UNESCO Cities of Music and Gastronomy. Food and music are two of the most powerful ways people experience a city…

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Speakers:
Pablo Tovar, Dr. Neil Fassina

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Moderator:
Ilana Guslits

PresentationInteractive Sessions: Behind the Scenes of Live Music

Go backstage. Get hands-on. Discover what it really takes to make live music happen during these interactive sessions…

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Speakers:
Brandon Eedy, TBA

Presentation, DiscussionThe Music Box Downtown Lincoln’s Music Incubation Project

With a rich musical legacy shaped by iconic venues, local artists and generations of live performance, Downtown Lincoln is leveraging music as a catalyst for community identity, economic growth…

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Speaker:
Todd Ogden

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Moderator:
Kathy McLaughlin

Presentation, DiscussionSound Check: Climate Risk & Resilience in Canada's Live Music Sector

Live music events across Canada are increasingly impacted by weather and climate-related risks, creating new challenges for event planning, operations and financial sustainability…

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Speaker:
Maddy Oliver

Panel, RoundtableShaping Cultural Cities Through Creative Hubs

Cities around the world are increasingly investing in incubation spaces and creative facilities that help artists, entrepreneurs, and music organizations develop sustainable careers and innovative projects…

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Speakers:
Lisa Moser, Alexander Jassim