Call for artists for the Folquébec Showcase at the annual conference of the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals.

Folquébec will present a showcase on Friday, October 24, from 11:30 pm to 2:00 am in a suite at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Ottawa, Ontario, during the next OCFF (Ontario Council of Folk Festivals) conference, October 23-26, 2008 in Ottawa, ON. We are looking for artists and we suggest you submit your press and promo kit. Chosen showcase artists will have a 10-30-minute performance (including setup). Folquébec will provide logistics and guidance help maximize the impact of your presence at OCFF. Artists must cover the expenses related to their participation (hotel, transport, etc.). What Folquébec offers to the artists is exhibit space at the booth for artists’ individual promo material and a staffed booth answering to promoters’ requests or making suggestions to interested promoters. The artists will take advantage of the highly developed Folquébec network, however we encourage you to use your own contacts/networks as well to ensure that your showcase is as well attended as possible. Folquébec will produce a special compilation that will include a piece by the selected artists in both the official (OCFF) and Folquébec showcases (1000 copies). This compilation will be distributed at OCFF at the stand and in presenters’ mailboxes, as well as at international conferences attended by Folquébec delegates throughout the year. Folquébec will promote the showcase at OCFF (e-promo, posters onsite, ad in the official OCFF programme, and 700 flyers in delegate bags). http://ocff.ca

Please include: Full promo kit (bio, CD, press quotes, tech rider, photos, links to website and MySpace, video extracts, etc.); 20$ participation fee by cheque payable to Folquebec; a selection of 2 tracks for the jury and for the compilation. Send to Folquébec, 4102 Saint-Urbain, Montréal QC H2W 1V3.

The jury will make the selection according to the following criteria: Artistic quality/originality; quality of the promo tools; availability of the artist for the showcase at OCFF and for touring in Canada; relevance of the genre to the profile of buyers at OCFF. The final selection of artists will be representative of folk music made in Québec (trad, folk, roots and world music).

Artists who applied for official showcase at OCFF but were not chosen are invited to participate and will not have to pay the 20$ participation fee. All other required material must be sent by the deadline. Production deadlines (compilation, promo material) means that we cannot accept incomplete or late applications. We thank you in advance and wish you luck!

Info : 514-844-7393 or showcase@folquebec.com. Postmark deadline : August 20, 2008