First a little background... 
Since the year 2000, North Carolina Presenters Consortium has partnered with the North Carolina Arts Council to co-produce the biennial ARTSMARKET performing arts showcase conference. This unique partnership has produced four memorable, successful ArtsMarkets and has weathered (literally) hardships and natural disasters with grace and good humor...
When an unpredicted snowstorm shut down the coastal city of Wilmington, ArtsMarket delegates persevered, helping to staff the kitchen at the only restaurant remaining open in town, and keeping each other entertained with remarkably innovative and often improvised showcase experiences.
When another surprise blizzard caused water pipes to burst over the stage at the High Point Theatre, instantly flooding the stage and orchestra pit as hundred of arriving delegates were taking their seats for the opening showcase, ArtsMarket Grit again kicked into high gear. Within an hour, a temporary stage was set up in the host hotel. The one piano shop with 50 miles that had a four-wheel drive was unloading a baby grand through the lobby and a conference exhibitor displaying sound and lighting equipment had dismantled its booth to get showcases up and going again.
At the next conference, we
found ourselves sharing a hotel with a video gaming convention, with
ingeniously creative characters and personalities walking around in dog
collars and chainmaille. (We shared a breakfast booth with a Rotweiler
and St. Bernard.)
The High Point Theatre Auditorium
Over the years, ArtsMarket has earned a reputation for being welcoming, informative, scrappy, accessible, worthwhile, inspirational – and fun. Even the word “ArtsMarket” has become synonymous with “pack snow boots and a coffeemaker – regardless of time of year.”
While ArtsMarket was initially designed and is still a resource primarily for mid-sized to small presenters in and near NC, especially those who do not have consistent opportunities to attend the national and regional conferences, the event has grown to merit active participation by presenting organizations of all sizes from a continually growing region. Exhibitors include artists and artist representatives from around the country and beyond. Yet the conference, through the help of the NC Arts Council, remains remarkably affordable and accessible to all.
Then a little philosophy.
NCPC
and NCAC partner in a belief that presenting is an act of collaboration
– between artists, managers, presenters, sponsors, and audiences.
We intentionally design the ArtsMarket to foster a spirit of
collaboration
and collegiality, rather than competition.
For example:
- Professional development opportunities are designed to inspire conversation between conference delegates.
- To discourage a “buyer vs. seller” attitude, we print our nametags in one color. We do not schedule concurrent activities, and we travel as a pack.
We believe that presenting as a field benefits greatly from diversity – among artists and among presenters. We can learn an incredible amount from each other even if our venues are different sizes and our artistic mission is served by a different genre. We want ArtsMarket to promote interaction between a wide scope of organizations and individuals.
- Registration fees are subsidized to allow individual artists, small venues, and schools to participate simultaneously with agencies and venues with larger budgets.
- Showcases are built with a sampling of genres in each block rather than clustering the art forms (ie: all dance in one showcase, all family programs in another).
- We value artistic quality as our prime determinant of content of the conference. We value sponsors greatly, and couldn’t produce the conference without their support. We don’t “trade” showcases as part of sponsorships.
We believe that we should never miss an opportunity to be inspired by the great art work and the great people that surround us in this business.
 Paperhand Puppet Intervention |
 Miss Dixie and Jonah (Tupperware Not Included!) |
