Client Stories

5X Festival (a project of Vancouver International Bhangra Celebration Society) is Canada’s largest South Asian Youth Event. Initially focused on their summer Festival which attracts crowds in excess of 15,000, they have expanded to include year-round digital programming including online culture zine 5X Press, numerous digital content series, and their own bespoke Festival Mobile App. Working in close, intensive collaboration since 2019, we have increased their grant streams from 7 to 32, bringing in over $3,000,000 in revenues to date (February 2024), and increasing their seasonal and permanent staff capacity by over 50%.

Sunny Drake’s transformative and inventive works have been translated into 4 languages and presented in 90 venues in over 60 cities across the world. Working in close collaboration primarily as grant writer, but also as producer (CHILD-ISH Summerworks 2019), markets adviser and strategic advisor, Joel and Sunny have achieved a near-perfect record over 3 seasons of grant writing, including Canada Council’s first-ever multi-year composite funding award for theatre production by an individual artist.

The Bulkley Valley Concert Association is the most significant multi-disciplinary arts presenter in the Bulkley Valley, with a catchment of 10,000 people spanning a 450 km stretch of BC’s northern highway 16. After facilitating and advising the BVCA on their 2018 strategic planning and restructure process, Joel has remained a grant adviser and writer for ongoing operational funders (BC Gaming, Heritage) and for a significant group of projects focused on cultural bridging among local Indigenous and Settler communities (BCAC, Canada Council, and Vancouver Foundation).

After advising the Dancers of Damelahamid as they built and maintained tours across BC and across Canada, Joel was contracted to act as a liaison among Indigenous artists and Dance Presenters as part of a multi-year commitment towards cultural learning by members of the CanDance Network. Joel continues to work with the Dancers of Damelahamid on Coastal Dance Festival Industry Series programming, with an international cultural sharing event planned for March 2022.

Joel had already independently researched small-scale opera production and touring throughout England and Germany, and had collaboratively built and nurtured a network for indie opera producers in Western Canada (Indie Opera West). With this background he was contracted by Canada Council to co-ordinate and facilitate a Spring 2020 Canada Focus event at OperaDagen Rotterdam. Meant to feature key Canadian talent and works and to build robust networks for Canadian producing artists, this project was placed on indefinite hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Funded by a grant from Global Affairs Canada, the Association for Opera in Canada contracted Joel in 2019 to research and develop a multi-year International Business Development strategy for Canada’s opera sector. After a significant period of international research, the Strategy was presented and accepted in late 2019. With the COVID-19 pandemic putting all International artistic projects on indefinite hold, Joel has continued his link to the Association, taking the role of General Manager in spring 2021.

African Friendship Society – African Canadian Arts Outreach (August 2019 – February 2020)

STRATEGIC PLANNING: In this extended strategic planning process, I worked closely with AFS founder Jacky Essombé, her board, and artistic colleagues, to build a strategic plan and work plan, leveraging funders and partnerships to achieve growth and stability across two distinct areas of strategic objectives.

Alliance of Canadian Dance Networks (April 2015 – June 2015)

NETWORK DEVELOPMENT: As the inter-organizational collaboration coordinator, I was in charge of ensuring alignment among all of these partners, as we worked together to produce a national symposium at the Harbourfront Centre, in collaboration with the inaugural Fall For Dance North Festival and the Canadian Dance Assembly annual gathering.

Atelier Bon Train – Inclusive Woodworking Studio (December 2022 – Present)

FUND DEVELOPMENT, STRATEGIC PLANNING, BUSINESS PLAN DEVELOPMENT: In this multifaceted contract, I worked with ABT to achieve their first Canada Council grant, and then pulled together a small team of facilitators and advisors to: hold large-scale community consultations; develop new language around their core mission, vision and values; incorporate as a Quebec non-profit; examine their core business principles and practices, and develop short-term and long-term sustainability strategies; develop partnerships to continue their success into the long-term.

Azrieli Foundation / Fondation Azrieli (September 2023 – October 2023)

COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS: In this contract, I leveraged my significant connections across the international opera ecosystem to develop a robust competitive analysis of non-accredited Summer Vocal training programs.

Buddies in Bad TImes Theatre (November 2023 – Present)

FUND DEVELOPMENT: In this evolving contract, I have requested project and operating funds totalling over $500,000.

Bulkley Valley Concert Association (April 2017 – Present)

ORGANISATIONAL RESTRUCTURING; STRATEGIC PLANNING; FUND DEVELOPMENT: Work for the BVCA has included: 2017 organisational restructuring from a Working Board model to a Policy-Governance Board model and paid Artistic and Administrative Leadership; 2018 Strategic Planning; 2023 Strategic Plan Update and Staff Transition Planning; 2017-2024 general artistic and managerial advice, grant writing assistance achieving hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to support local community initiatives.

Burnaby Lyric Opera (February 2020 – March 2020)

FUND DEVELOPMENT: I provided BLO with strategy and grant writing assistance throughout their COVID recovery efforts.

Canada Council for the Arts (October 2019 – March 2020)

INTERNATIONAL MARKET DEVELOPMENT; NETWORK DEVELOPMENT: in this COVID-interrupted contract, I ran a market development initiative for the new opera and music theatre subsector, in partnership with O. Festival / Operadagen Rotterdam and the Music Theatre Now Network.

Crimson Coast Dance & InFrinGing Dance Festival (May 2018 to September 2018)

STRATEGIC PLANNING; ORGANIZATION RESTRUCTURING; INTERIM GENERAL MANAGEMENT: Worked with Board and Senior Staff to build an Artstic Director transition plan; Managed all aspects of production and artistci administraiotn for a week-long international contemporary dance festival.

Dancers of Damelahamid / Coastal First Nations Dance Festival (March 2017 – April 2022)

NETWORK DEVELOPMENT; CULTURAL BRIDGING: Collaborated with the CanDance network, Alliance of Canadian Dance Networks, and Dani Fecko to organise and facilitate industry events at the Coastal First Nations Dance Festival from 2017 to 2022, providing platforms for cultural exchange and awareness.

Contributed to the promotion and preservation of Indigenous dance and culture through strategic collaborations and educational initiatives.

Fight for Peace – Social Service (Via WeiHsi Hu’s Logical Thinking Consultancy) (August 2019 – October 2019)

STRATEGIC PLANNING: NETWORK DEVELOPMENT: Working with Logical Thinking Consultancy, I provided an evaluation of work to date, and an update of next steps towards the development of FFP’s international Alliance program.

Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance (IPAA) (January 2015 – December 2015)

MENTORSHIP: Mentored Executive Director Cole Alvis on multiple aspects of organisational leadership, spanning board management, systems and policy development, financial structures and systems.

Landon Krentz, Deaf Arts Creator / Artistic Sign Language (January 2018 – December 2021)

GRANT WRITING; ACCESS SUPPORT; NETWORK DEVELOPMENT: I worked with Landon over the course of many projects, assisting his grant writing efforts and helping him to develop a personal support network for the production of his works.

Modern Biology / Tarun Nayar, Musician (January 2020 – Present)

FUND DEVELOPMENT: I have worked closely with Tarun since 2020, introducing him to the world of Arts Council funding, achieving hundreds of thousands of dollars to support his unique artistic practice.

Myriad Dance Projects (April 2017 – Present)

STRATEGIC PLANNING: FUND DEVELOPMENT, ARTISTIC ADMINISTRATION SUPPORT: Work for MDP has included strategic advice, artistic administration, and grant writing and reporting.

New Performance Works Society / New Works (August 2019 – February 2020)

STRATEGIC PLANNING: I worked closely with the Board, Staff, and key stakeholders to develop a 3-year strategic plan that saw a renewal of New Works’ core programs

O. Dela Arts / Matriarchs Rising Festival – Indigenous Dance (September 2022 – Present)

MENTORSHIP: Mentored General Manager Brian Postalian in all aspects of organisational development and management, including development of systems, policies and procedures.

Performing Arts Hub Norway (via Dani Fecko’s Fascinator Management) (June 2018 – August 2020)

INTERNATIONAL MARKET DEVELOPMENT; NETWORK DEVELOPMENT. Working closely with Dani Fecko of Fascinator Management, this contract saw us working with PAHN across the Canadian and US art markets, building connections and opportunities for Norwegian dance and theatre artists and companies. Highlights included showcases at CINARS and at ISPA / APAP.

re:Naissance Opera – New and Digital Opera Creations (March 2019 – March 2021)

STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT; FUND DEVELOPMENT: NETWORK DEVELOPMENT; PERFORMANCE PRODUCTION: Work for re:N has encompassed a wide variety of workflows including development of overall organisational and national and international market strategy, and direct assistance with artistic production and artistic administration.

Sound the Alarm: Music / Theatre (June 2020 – March 2021)

PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: In this contract I assisted Sound the Alarm, re:Naissance Opera; Loose Tea Music Theatre, Array Music and Turning Point ensemble in achieving a partnership agreement for the production of a large-scale project.

Sunny Drake, Trans Theatre Artist (March 2018 – August 2023)

STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT; FUND DEVELOPMENT: NETWORK DEVELOPMENT; PERFORMANCE PRODUCTION: Work for Sunny has been centred on strategic development towards achieving sustainability through increased income and expanded institutional partnerships. At various times, I have been Sunny’s Grant Writer, National and International Markets Advisor, Production Manager, and Business Management Advisor.

TomoeArts – Japanese Canadian Dance Theatre (November 2020 – March 2021)

NETWORK DEVELOPMENT; INTERNATIONAL MARKET DEVELOPMENT. This contract saw me working closely with Artistic Director Colleen Lanki to develop international market development strategies for a number of performance products.

Touchstone Theatre (April 2019 – September 2019)

STRATEGIC PLANNING: In this contract I worked closely with ED Amy Strilchuk and AD Roy Surette to develop a new programming and business plan and set of internal workflows following the departure of the previous staffing team.

Vancouver Musicians Association Local 145 (August 2018 – October 2018)

STRATEGIC PLANNING: Working closely with Board and Executive Staff, I generated VMA’s 2018 Strategic update.

Volcano Theatre (via Dani Fecko’s Fascinator Management) (May 2019 – March 2020)

INTERNATIONAL MARKET DEVELOPMENT: Working closely with Dani Fecko’S Fascinator Management, I was co-touring-agent for Volcano’s full scale reimagining of Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha.

West Coast Indie Opera Incubator & Indie Opera West (January 2016 – March 2021)

NETWORK DEVELOPMENT: I was responsible for all research, development, and facilitation for the creation of this collaborative producers network.

Why Not Theatre (via Dani Fecko’s Fascinator Management) (September 2019 – October 2020)

STRATEGIC PLANNING; INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PLANNING; NETWORK DEVELOPMENT: Dani Fecko and I worked with the Why Not team to research and develop the national and international market development portion of their overall strategic plan.