ArtsMarket Performing Arts Conference moving to Downtown Durham in 2011

Carolina Theatre and Durham Marriott Convention Center to host activities during three-day gathering of performing arts professionals

DURHAM – The Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc., the North Carolina Presenters Consortium and the North Carolina Arts Council today announced that ArtsMarket, a regional performing arts showcase and booking conference, is moving to Downtown Durham in November 2011.

The biennial conference will attract performing arts industry professionals from throughout the United States and Canada for a three-day intensive schedule at the Carolina Theatre and the Durham Marriott Convention Center.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to show Downtown Durham to the performing arts community throughout the Southeast and for the Carolina Theatre to show itself to the industry nationwide,” said Bob Nocek, who takes over the Carolina as President/CEO on July 1. “I’m honored that NCPC approached us to host the conference, and I think it’s a great fit for Downtown Durham.”

Since 2000, North Carolina Presenters Consortium has partnered with the North Carolina Arts Council to co-produce ArtsMarket, which features live stage performances, trade show exhibit hall sessions, professional development workshops and networking opportunities for performing arts professionals.

The 2011 ArtsMarket will come to Durham on Nov. 7-9. The city-owned Carolina Theatre complex will host artist showcases, while the adjacent Durham Marriott Convention Center will host the trade show, meals, and other events. The event is expected to fill over 500 room nights at the Marriott and to use all ballroom space in the Convention Center. The Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau assisted NCPC in working with the Carolina Theatre and the Marriott.

“In our minds, Durham is the ideal host city for this event – due not only to Durham’s vibrant downtown but equally for the convenient configuration of the hosting Carolina Theatre and the Marriott,” said Stephen Barefoot, co-chair of ArtsMarket and Executive Director of the North Carolina Presenters Consortium. “ArtsMarket will prove a spectacular showcase to put the City of Durham front and center in front of hundreds of performing arts administrators, professional touring artists, arts agencies, and management firms from throughout the country.”

The conference was initially created to be an opportunity for mid-sized to small performing arts presenters who often can’t afford to attend national or larger regional conferences. It has since grown to attract presenters from 25 states and Canada.

Conference delegates will attend more than ten hours of fifteen-minute showcase performances on stage at the Carolina Theatre.  Close to 150 managers and agents, representing virtually every genre of touring performing arts, will be on hand in the exhibit hall. 

“The ArtsMarket booking conference continues to grow in size and quality, attracting more and more performing arts professionals from around the nation.  We are thrilled that the conference is moving to a city that has such a vital performing arts scene.  Durham will be the perfect host city for ArtsMarket 2011,” states Vicki Vitiello, Senior Program Director at the N.C. Arts Council, one of the sponsoring agencies of the conference.

ArtMarket events are not open to the public, although arts presenters, educators and representatives of other not-for-profit arts organizations may register to attend the conference as official delegates. Conference details will be posted as they become available at http://www.ncpresenters.org/artsmarket.shtml.

The ArtsMarket conference is officially co-hosted by the North Carolina Arts Council and NC Presenters Consortium.

About Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc.

Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc. (CTD) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which manages the City of Durham-owned Carolina Theatre complex at 309 W. Morgan Street, Durham. The organization is dedicated to presenting vibrant, thought-provoking film and live performances that contribute to the cultural and economic vitality of downtown Durham and the Triangle.