Your opinion matters!

Dear Arts Northwest members, colleagues, and friends,

In response to tight budgets, travel concerns, and the safety of everyone, Arts Northwest is exploring the possibility of creating a series of mini-conferences in the Fall of 2021. We want to potentially strengthen our routing blocks, see colleagues, and creatively find a way to gather as many as we can (safely) to recharge, renew, and be inspired! These gatherings would take place in Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. This format would allow us to provide resources to our members without the financial burden of attending a four-day conference. We envision these to be a way for us to gather more regionally, give us the chance to network, see new artists via video and live, and inspire us all to what comes next for the world of performing arts!

ANW mini-conferences would be:

- More affordable: reduces the cost for Arts Northwest AND attendees – no hotel blocks, no conference centers, fewer days, limited travel expenses, sliding scale for attendees
- More regional: that could be a drive distance, one night (maybe two, depending on how far folks are driving) of hotels
- A chance to meet in a location that is different from our usual conference sites

Your feedback is important to us!

Please take our conference survey. This is survey is for Presenter members only. We will have a survey available soon for Artists/Agency members.

Click here to begin the survey. Thank you for your participation.

We can’t do this without you!

2020 has been a challenging year for all of us, to say the least. ANW is a membership organization that relies on 80% of our revenue from membership dues and fees from our annual conference. This year, that number dropped to 10%. To cover expenses, we have laid off staff, taken pay cuts, and reduced work hours. We feel confident that we will get through this but we need your support.

Your support helps us to continue to do the work we do of helping you bring quality performing artists, outreach programs, and professional development opportunities to your communities across the Northwest.

If you have the means, please make a donation.

Your donation will support us in our mission of

"Connecting and inspiring through the Performing Arts"

Donate today!

Booking Connection

In response to the current situation with COVID, but also looking beyond it, Booking Connection allows artists to create a profile, complete with audio, video, and links to your websites and social media. We are also looking to gather information as to who is comfortable touring, in what configuration, and what an amended/altered artist and tech rider would be to comply with current regulations.BC will help presenters identify artists that fit their requirements for successful bookings. As long as your membership is current, your profile will appear to all current Arts Northwest members. Each week, we will feature selected profiles on our website and through emails. To create your profile, simply login to our website and follow the instructions. Create your profile today!

Click here to view Artist Profiles

Booking Connection is a valuable resource for Arts Northwest presenters who are seeking performing artists and attractions to book into their communities.
Booking Connection is also of great benefit to performing artists and agents looking for an additional, powerful marketing tool.
Booking Connection helps artists/agents/presenters with dialogue around Covid restrictions and programming

HOW DO I APPLY? Booking Connection is part of your ANW membership! Login and you will be able to create your profile or update an existing profile.

ALL PERFORMING ARTISTS and AGENTS across all genres are encouraged to apply.

Special Note: All artists applying for consideration for inclusion in BOOKING CONNECTION must be seeking bookings in the western region of the USA during the next 2-3 years at the minimum.

COST : These profiles are included as a member benefit. While creating Booking Connection, we contemplated a price structure which was 3 profiles included with your membership and $50 for each additional profile. However, we do not want to price anyone out of the program so we decided to offer the service for free. However, ANW does need income in order to survive so, if you have more than three profiles, please consider donating what you are can. We would really, really appreciate it.

Click here to donate to Arts Northwest

Thank you and we will get through this together,

We hope all of you are well and look forward to a time when we can safely gather again. Please stay in touch. We have limited office hours, but please feel free to call us, 360-457-9290.

Sincerely,

Sam Calhoun

Executive Director

Arts Northwest

We stand against racism. We stand for social justice.

Arts NW stands with the Black community.

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Arts NW Member Testimonials!

“We have 10 cities in Alaska and several other dates on hold in Oregon, Washingon and California! The showcase really made a huge difference in our bookings in the NorthWest! Thank you for the opportunity.”

“The Arts Northwest conference is, without a doubt, one of the best run gatherings it has ever been my pleasure to attend. You are a great team and allowed business to be accomplished without any hassles or mishaps. Quite an accomplishment! BTW, it did not hurt that METALES M5 received about 25-presenter interest hits. We are going to have a 6-state tour because of the showcase. THANK YOU! ”

“This is a great opportunity to experience artists with wonderful talent, to feel comfortable conversing with new acquaintances and having the opportunity to learn more in a friendly setting.”

“(Regarding Block Booking) Thank you, Jeanette for your prompt work. I've gotten a call from Las Vegas already. Talking about dates! Thank you!!!”

“This was my first time attending the conference and I was very appreciative the warmth and openness of everyone I met. The volunteers, artists, presenters, hotel staff, etc were all so very welcoming and engaging. One of the best music conferences I've attended. Great hotel and music venue as well. Thank you for including me in your showcase group this year!”

“To the wonderful team at ANW: Let me say that I was very impressed with the overall vibe at the event. It was friendly, welcoming, professional and inspiring and I think that comes from the organization behind the event and the people tasked with the operations. I remember having questions before I even applied to showcase and from that first question to the closing of the event, mine was a great experience.”

“I enjoyed everything that Arts Northwest offered. Connecting is probably the thing that I value the most and Arts Northwest gives us plenty of opportunity to do that. Starting from the welcome reception through the block booking meetings I had so many opportunities to meet new faces, exchange business cards, and walk away knowing that I have made another connection that may be of some value to my organization.”

“Great to meet artists, agents, and presenters. This conference is perfect for our audience and budget needs.”

“I loved the intimacy that holding this year's conference in a smaller venue afforded. It was TERRIFIC to have the market place in the same facility as the hotel.”

“Meeting interesting, connected, knowledgeable, nice people and learning about Arts Northwest and how booking in the region works.”

“I enjoyed the energy of the performers, colleagues, and the flow of the entire week! I love that new things were tried. I heard a ton of positive comments throughout the week!!”

“The agenda/itinerary flowed really well. I enjoyed the pitch sessions and liked the after hour showcases being the last day, instead of both Tues and Wed. I like that there seemed to be more workshops for artists/performers. Thanks Sam! You did an amazing job!”

“The friendly and supportive atmosphere was very welcoming for me as a new member.”

“You all work so hard, and I saw incredible improvements in the way things ran as opposed to last year, my first time. I also love the fellowship that you all encourage in this particular conference. It is by far the friendliest of all of the others that I attended so far this year! (WAA, Midwest & PAE). Keep up that GREAT work that you are putting in to make this conference so wonderful! You are appreciated!”

“Juried showcase and during the "interview" portion got to reveal additional relevant information about our dance company that really helped to peak interest of presenters EVEN MORE! We got 13 potential prospects for engagement, 4 other artists interested in collaborating with us. This is huge.”

“Good booth traffic that was aided by the Pitch/Perform Session. It gave visibility and presenters noted booth numbers to seek out artists and agents in the exhibit hall.”

“Sam has done an extraordinary job as Executive Director. Well tempered, serious minded and very approachable. She is wonderful. Her ideas for the pitch session and the Q&A of artists after performance are both great ideas that make the conference even more directed and valuable. She can do no wrong.”

“It was my first time attending an Arts NW Booking Conference. However I have been to other sorts of conferences, and this was the best conference I've ever been too, hands down! I enjoyed everything about it. The three workshops I took were very educational. I enjoyed meeting peers and co-presenters. All of the performances were entertaining and inspiring. I enjoyed having time to visit with people at their booths and between events.”

“This is a friendly conference. The presenters are very conscientious about seeing work, using the Exhibit Hall, attending events -- makes it worth coming for artists and agents. Also, the block booking format is good if you are lucky enough to be part of a block book.”

“We come to these conferences to FIND TALENT. That is what we value, and we found a couple of "diamonds" and a few "pearls" for our concert series.”

“Great to meet so many new people in the industry, especially those that would not otherwise get to regional or national conferences. Quality and quantity of showcasing was very much appreciated.”

“Since there is a wide range of size and shape in our network, this is a great conference at which we can all find value. I appreciate the diversity of showcasing artists, and the opportunity to find artists that can appeal to a variety of communities. It helps us to better define what kinds of artists might be appropriate for our communities, with quality in mind.”

“So much fun getting to better understand what artists, agents, and presenters go through to make their job successful! I enjoyed seeing all the performances. It was really fun!”

“I found the conference to be very approachable. As a first time attendee, I felt I was provided the resources to be prepared and excel at the conference.”

“As a new colleague to the conference I felt the atmosphere to be open and inviting.”

“I always feel like the conference has my best interests at heart and that I can always come to a staff member with any problems or questions I might have.”

“The showcases -- in particular, the structure of everyone attending together. The more laid-back atmosphere, compared to other conferences, is also great for networking and developing relationships with colleagues.”

“I enjoyed and valued coming back into the conference and feeling how important all our work is. Several times we heard comments on the artistic and economic reasons what we do matters, it's good to hear and it helps us go back to our organizations with renewed energy. I also really enjoyed and valued the new artists, it's clear that staff and board worked hard to make this conference attractive and worthwhile to many.”

“Arts Northwest was my first introduction to the lifeblood of my organization; having the opportunity to enjoy the showcases and begin planning the next season is invaluable. Arts Northwest is incredibly well-organized, enjoyable, and informative. Having taken on my position just two months before last year's conference, it made huge contributions to my knowledge of presenting, my network, and expanded my ideas for shows to present.”

“ANW means a great deal to me - I am on the phone with Friends and colleagues throughout the year - it is always great to visit and have fun - in one word? Exhilarating”

“Arts Northwest represents an ongoing and fluid opportunity to present our group to the level and type of venues that best suits our entertainment style on an ongoing basis. We love the communication and interaction that goes on all year long, and the helpful staff that is always just an email away. Over the years we have pared down our association involvement on an ROI basis. Arts Northwest remains one of the few we remain members of. Thank you for all you do!”

“Arts Northwest: a collective force enhancing life in the Pacific Northwest on behalf of our individual and greater communities.”

“How did an independent entertainer from Alaska book venues in seven western states?......Arts Northwest!”

“Welcoming, Familial, Fun, Productive - My favorite conference!”

“Relaxed atmosphere to do business. Much appreciated!!”

“"Connecting in the moment."”

“Things are really cooking from the conference. Looks like we'll be touring a lot because of the pitch and perform session and booth. Best results of all 4 conferences I went to in October by far. Thanks again and see you next year.”