Mission
CINARS is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote and support the export of the performing arts. Its main objectives are to:
- Encourage cultural creations emerging from the performing arts sector
- Promote commercial discussions between organizations specializing in production and those specializing in show presentation
- Make Montreal a worldwide hub of performance art networking
CINARS’s services are clustered around five different headings:
1) CINARS BIENNALE
Since 1984, CINARS organizes every two years in Montreal, one of the most important international performing arts conferences in the world, with nearly 1900 professionals hailing from 54 countries including 433 show presenters, some of whom are the most influential in the business. During one week, over 170 shows from Quebec, Canada and abroad grace the stages while workshops, networking events, as well as an exhibition hall are teeming with participants. After 18 editions, the CINARS Biennale has become a key worldwide event in performing arts touring.
2) INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATION
All year long, CINARS ensures a presence abroad thanks to:
- Joint attendance in international markets (Québec On Stage): every year, CINARS organizes, along with Quebec artistic companies and agents, several joint attendance in the most important international markets;
- The organization of showcases abroad: CINARS organizes showcases abroad within the context of international markets. Among the most significant operations, CINARS has coordinated a showcase in New York, called Ice Storm, in 2012, 2014 and 2016 as part of the APAP;
- Various missions and a presence in international networking events.
3) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Every year, CINARS provides training seminars designed for artist representatives and agents, as well as targeted workshops to encourage the development of the skills involved in international touring. A coaching service is also provided all year long to address the specific needs of artistic companies.
4) THE DEVELOPMENT OF COOPERATIVE PROMOTIONAL TOOLS
In order to assist the promotion of Quebec and Canadian companies abroad, CINARS has put forth several cooperative promotional operations such as the creation of a promotional DVD.
5) EXPERTISE
CINARS also offers its expertise by undertaking studies of the performing arts sector, by creating long-term strategies for certain geographical territories, as well as by acting as an operator or a consultant for international networking events.
Biennale 2021
Important dates until the CINARS Biennale 2021

19TH EDITION OF THE CINARS BIENNALE:
24-29 MAY 2021
CLICK HERE TO READ THE PRESS RELEASE ON THE POSTPONEMENT OF THE CINARS BIENNALE
September 2, 2019: Opening of the call for applications for the CINARS Biennale 2020 official programming;
Late October 2019: End of the call for applications for the CINARS Biennale 2020 official programming;
Mid-December 2019: Replies to all applicants for the CINARS Biennale 2020 official programming;
January 31, 2020: End of the call for applications for digital Arts for the CINARS Biennale 2020 official programming;
March 2020: Opening of the Call for applications for My First Biennale and Project Presentations;
January 2021: Opening of the registration for delegates (Exhibitors, Presenters and Observers);
January 2021: Opening of the registration for OFF-CINARS showcases;
May 24 to 29, 2021: 19th CINARS Biennale.
We announce the calls, the registration opening, etc. through our Newsletters and on our Facebook page. Follow us and subscribe to our Newsletters to be informed. Looking forward to see you from May 24 to 29, 2021.
Downloadable Files
Team
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Nassib El-Husseini, Board of Directors President (Les 7 doigts de la main)
Chantal Cimon, Vice President (PLA'C'ART)
Marjorie Deschamps, Secretary-Treasurer (Résonances)
Alain Paré, Administrator (CINARS)
George Skalkogiannis, Administrator
Claude de Grandpré, Administrator (Théâtre Hector-Charland)
Philip Giffard, Administrator (Solotech)
Evelyne Morrisseau, Administrator (Quebecor)
EXECUTIVE TEAM
Alain Paré
President, Executive Director and Founder
Gilles Doré
International Development Director
gdore@cinars.org
+1 514 842 5866 #24
CPAM
In collaboration with other international performing arts conferences, CINARS undertook the project of bringing them together within a Coalition of Performing Arts Markets (CPAM), whose mission would be:
“To provide its members with a hub for international exchange, collaboration, and partnerships with a view to encouraging any initiative that might improve the effectiveness of individual members and the realization of their collective goals.“
After several working sessions on the subject, held in Singapore in June 2005 and in Tokyo in September 2005, a working document was presented to CPAM’s founding and future members for discussion and approval, at ameeting during the Puertas de las Americas (Mexico) event in June 2006. This document contains proposals for the organization’s founding principles, structure, operations, and start-up plan.
LIST OF FOUNDING MEMBERS:
INTERNATIONALE TANZMESSE NRW
Düsseldorf, Germany
PERFORMING ARTS MARKET IN SEOUL (PAMS)
Séoul, South Korea
SHANGHAI PERFORMING ARTS FAIR (SPAF)
Shanghai, China
WORLD MUSIC EXPO (WOMEX)
Berlin, Germany
PERFORMING ARTS MEETING IN YOKOHAMA (TPAM)
Tokyo, Japan
AUSTRALIAN PERFORMING ARTS MARKET (APAM)
Brisbane, Australia
ASIAN ARTS MART (AAM)
Singapore, Singapore
MARKET FOR AFRICAN PERFORMING ARTS (MASA)
Abidjan, Ivory Coast