Community Stage Programmer for Burnaby Blues + Roots Festival

Organization:

City of Burnaby

Deadline:

Apr. 1, 2025

Website:

https://burnaby.widen.net/s/9rbzmfd6jv/burnaby-blues-roots-festival-community-stage-programmer

Call for Artists Description:

The City of Burnaby operates on the unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam),
Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) Peoples. For 2025’s Burnaby Blues + Roots Festival, we are seeking a programmer for the newly returned community stage. The individual will have strong connections to the local music scene to assist in programming this additional stage.

About Burnaby Blues + Roots:
• The City has hosted the Burnaby Blues + Roots Festival in Deer Lake Park since 2000. We approach the genre with the widest possible definition of Blues and Roots and have
featured a wide array of veteran and emerging professional blues and roots artists from
around the world.
• In 2023, the City opened the festival by making it free to attend. Last year, the City removed the site fencing making it accessible and easy for attendees to enter and leave the outdoor venue.
• With direction from City Council, the 2025 Burnaby Blues + Roots Festival will now include the return of a second stage on the East Lawn, dedicated to promoting local and emerging musical talent.

Scope of Work
The City is seeking a music programmer to curate the community stage for the Burnaby Blues + Roots Festival, scheduled for Saturday, August 9, 2025, between 3:30-7:30pm at Deer Lake Park.

This work will be done in collaboration with City staff from the Festivals and Special Events team. We are seeking an individual who can deliver on the following scope of work in support of the event:

• Curating and programming the community stage entertainment
o Responsible for selecting four musical performances (local and emerging).
o Acts should complement the mainstage programming
o Acts can be Blues and Roots inspired
o Acts should highlight diverse local talent
o A proposed stage schedule will be provided by City staff; however, alternative stage
schedules will be considered at the recommendation of the programmer
o Acting as host/MC to introduce the performances and provide event context throughout
the day
o Drafting the MC script with support from City staff
o Facilitating relationships between the performers and City staff as it relates to provision
of technical equipment and artist needs
o Attendance at the event to support the artists
• Collaboration on marketing and promotion
o Assist City staff in the development of a press release, social media content, and other
marketing elements as required for digital and print marketing (like collecting of artists
biographies and images from performers)
o Potential media interviews pending the comfort level of the individual
• Attendance at pre-event planning meetings
o Meetings are held monthly in person or via MS Teams
o Meetings with event liaisons via MS Teams to provide updates
• Assisting with training of City volunteers who will be supporting the event activities
• Wrap up and documentation
o Participation in post-event debrief meeting (late August/early September)
o Contribution to wrap up report

Note: All performer selections are subject to city staff approval.

Excluded from the scope of work are the following:
• Performer and vendor contracting
• Site Management and design
o City staff and contractors will ensure that appropriate equipment is installed on site
• Volunteer management
• Day of technical work
• City staff will run the AV equipment and facilitate stage turnovers

How to Apply:

Next Steps
Engagement would begin as early as mid-April 2025. We recognize that this is a very short timeline,
so the engagement can be flexible to support the needs of those involved. Those interested, please
submit via email a letter of interest of up to two (2) pages that includes the following:
• A description of yourself and why you are interested in this opportunity
• Your experience working with musicians, especially local and emerging artists
• Your experience planning events for the public (artistic and programming)
Please attach a copy of your resume or curriculum vitae to the letter of interest.
Deadline: April 1, 2025 at midnight (Pacific Standard Time)
Email proposal to: celebrate@burnaby.ca
Subject line: BBRF Community Programmer
Selection Process
The selection committee will review proposals and may request interviews. Interviews would be
scheduled the week of April 7, 2025.
The panel will be comprised of up to three designates from the City of Burnaby Culture Division.
Following the selection process, the City will prepare a contract of service for the individual. The
programmer will work collaboratively with the Special Events Team to program the stage. We are
dedicated to the continued work of creating opportunities to platform local artists at the Burnaby
Blues + Roots Festival.

Fees/Compensation:

The selected individual will be paid $7500 for their work.

Contact Name: Lois Dawson
Contact Email: lois.dawson@burnaby.ca
Contact Phone: (604) 205-3003