Manitoba Showcase Conference
Your Guide to Navigating the Touring Industry:
A one-day Professional Development Session presented by Manitoba Arts Network at Manitoba Showcase
Thursday, October 26, 2023
Venue: Steinbach Arts Council
Home > 2023 Manitoba Showcase > Artist Professional Development Day
Your Guide to Navigating the Touring Industry: A one-day Professional Development Session presented by Manitoba Arts Network at Manitoba Showcase

Attend the NEW Artist Professional Development Day:
Whether you are a new artist or a seasoned touring artist, this session is for you. If you are looking to market yourself in Canada or the United States, you will learn about all aspects of showcasing, learn about digital marketing, how to work with agents and discover effective methods to broaden your influence within communities.. Throughout the event, you’ll have the chance to engage experts from MB Music, MAN, Manitoba Indigenous Touring Network, Prairie Debut, and ThePitch.ca.
Beyond the structured presentations, you’ll also have the opportunity to take part in informal roundtable discussions. For those interested, there’s the option to present a pitch or deliver a mini-performance, receiving constructive feedback from the panelists. This segment involves showcasing one song along with your pitch while the presenters are in attendance.
Meet the Facilitators:

Inga Petri (She/her)
Since 1990, Inga has designed and implemented research and strategies for organizations in the private, not-for-profit and public sectors, employing collaborative approaches that rally participants around common objectives.
With experience in diverse sectors – from the performing arts, festivals, museums and arts services organization to government, international trade promotion organizations, national membership associations and technology companies – clients benefit from an uncommon breadth of experience and expertise.
Inga provides strategic counsel based on solid research and deep insight; she develops brand, web, communications and marketing strategies that effectively reach target audiences; and she delivers tangible results for clients.

Cheryl Ewing (She/her)
Throughout her career, Cheryl Ewing has developed creative and innovative solutions for the cultural sector, and has helped organizations with strategic planning, event and project management, and administration.
Working with organizations such as Atlantic Presenters Association, Guelph Jazz Festival, Guelph Contemporary Dance Festival, CCI – Ontario’s Presenting Network, Great Canadian Theatre Company (Ottawa), Lakeshore Arts (Etobicoke), St. Jamestown Festival (Toronto), Cheryl appreciates the time, energy and commitment invested in the cultural field as well as the challenges that face the sector. As project manager for a provincial performing arts conference – Ontario Contact and a cutting edge marketing research project, the Values & Benefits Study,
she brings an overall perspective to the assets and resources of the cultural sector.
Cheryl also curates a contemporary dance series and serves on the boards of Dance theatre, David Earle and JM Drama/Registry Theatre and is on the founding board of a new arts enabling organization, Creative Waterloo Region (CWR). Cheryl brings strong facilitation skills, passion, an ability to engage others in my sessions, whether training or planning, and an intense interest in communicating the value of the arts in our communities.

Rhonda Head (She/her)
Rhonda Head has received 15 nominations and won nine international music awards since she began her music career in 2010. Rhonda has had the opportunity to perform in some of the most unique venues – Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Centre, the Viper Room, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the 5 Lands Walk Festival in NSW, Australia, and numerous other venues. Rhonda also recently released an autobiography called Mezzo-Soprano – Memoirs of a Rez Girl.
Learn more about Rhonda: rhondahead.com

Shaneen Robinson-Desjarlais (She/her)
Shaneen Robinson-Desjarlais is a multi-award-winning former journalist/broadcaster who’s been on Canada’s media scene for two decades. Over the years she’s worked at CTV News Winnipeg where her stories have aired on CTV Newsnet/News Channel, CTV National News, and CNN. She also worked for many years as a correspondent at APTN National News and garnered attention for her award-winning series about The Sacred Sundance. She is very proud of her final work with the network, Breaching the Sacred—a 22-minute piece showcasing the tragic reality of Indigenous women living with addictions and using while pregnant. She was honoured to win first place for the Canadian Aboriginal Writing Challenge in 2008 for her play, Notay Kiskintamowin “Wanting to Know”, the same year she was named a National Aboriginal Role Model by the Governor General of Canada and graduated from the University of Winnipeg where she has been recognized as Notable Alumni and founded the Indigenous Course Requirement.
Shaneen is well known across the country and abroad and is dedicated to promoting Indigenous talent. A highly sought master of ceremonies, event planner, promoter, writer, advocate, volunteer, marriage commissioner and speaker, Shaneen loves to keep busy in the community and has sat on many boards including Cancer Care Manitoba, and Canadian Blood Services. She is proud to currently sit on the board of directors for The Canadian Folk Music Awards and on the Board of Bear Clan Patrol Inc. Shaneen has showcased Indigenous artists and their music throughout her career and is proud to be the Indigenous Music Development Coordinator for Manitoba Music. She aspires to continue working with Indigenous Elders, youth, women, and artists and continue to share information that should be of importance to all Canadians. Shaneen’s most important role in life is at home with her husband Martin and their three sons-Sampson, Marrick and Miller.