Familiarization missions
Explore congresses and festivals
CINARS wishes to organize two separate missions again this year: one as part of the OFF Avignon festival and the other as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, in order to introduce five artistic companies or artist representatives to each of these two essential performing arts hubs. Professional networking activities will be organized to foster relationships with local presenters and cultural organizations, with the aim of better understanding and evaluating the potential of these events for members of the Quebec delegations.
Our strategies on site?
Connect Quebec arts companies with local theaters; Create strategic links for future programming opportunities; Offer institutional meetings between local organizations and those in Quebec; Promote professional networking through targeted meetings; Present conferences with local partners; Facilitate meetings with foreign presenters and organizations.
Included in our services*
- Personalized support for your strategy before the event (potential meetings, etc.)
- Support throughout the event and professional meetings initiated by CINARS
- Organization of networking events (cocktails, conferences, pitch sessions, etc.)
- Development of a professional itinerary (visits to venues and events, etc.).
*Activities may vary depending on the event.
Not included in our services
- Travel costs and arrangements
- Accommodation
- Per diems
Call for Application
- Opening date: Monday, October 20th 2025
- Deadline to apply: Sunday, November 9th, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time)
- Selection results: Approximately one week after the closing date
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Ready to take your first steps into international professional development and networking?
Spring & Summer 2026 Missions
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14 au 21 June 2026 / Dance
Hambourg, Allemagne
The Tanztriennale 1st edition, will engage and invite dance professionals and the general public to reflect on and experience the many facets of dance and the role it can play in daily life, whether it be through seeing and doing or reflecting and discussing. The Tanztriennale will highlight dance in all its potential and to engage with dance not only as a performative art form for the stage, but also for its distinct ability to nourish more cohesive societies and to stimulate new approaches for reinvention and transformative thinking. The notion of coming together will play out in several realms – across dance cultures, across generations, across diverse backgrounds.
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FESTIVAL OFF AVIGNON
July 2026 / Multidisciplinary
Avignon, France
The Festival d'Avignon and the OFF-Avignon create the most important crossroads for the French-speaking performing arts. Thousands of professionals from French-speaking countries and Europe participate in order to discover the works that will feature in their future seasons. The 2025 edition has come to a close, supported by the commitment of 1,405 companies, 139 theaters, and a total of 1,785 shows and events. The 60th edition of the Off Avignon festival will be held in July 2026, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of Avignon Festival & Compagnies.
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EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL
August, 2026 / Multidisciplinary
Edinburgh, Scotland
For three weeks in August, the city of Edinburgh welcomes an explosion of creative energy from around the world. Artists and performers take to hundreds of stages across the city to present shows for all tastes. From big names in the entertainment world to unknown artists looking to build their careers, the festival has something for everyone and includes theater, comedy, dance, physical theater, circus, cabaret, children's shows, musicals, opera, music, spoken word, exhibitions, and events. In 2025, 301 venues hosted an eclectic program of 53,942 performances. Sixty-two countries were represented on the Fringe stages, with 17 international showcases in the spotlight, including Denmark, Australia, South Korea, and Brazil.
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Any questions? Contact Adrien Bussy: abussy@cinars.org
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ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
- Be an agent, representative of an artistic company, or artist with headquarters in Québec (please note that only one representative per company is accepted).
- Represent at least one production ready and available for international touring in dance, theater, circus, or music.
- Have the financial and human resources necessary to undertake market development efforts in the targeted regions.
- Demonstrate an interest in establishing new collaborative interactions and have prior experience in international touring.
SELECTION CRITERIA:
- The artistic quality of the submitted project.
- The touring potential in the targeted territories.
- The alignment between the artistic nature of the company and the relevant events and festivals.
PARTICIPATION COSTS
- Participation fee (if selected): $500 CAD + taxes for each in-person conference. *Except for Tanztriennale at a rate of CAD 700 + taxes
- Additional costs: Transportation, accommodation, and per diem are to be covered by participants for any in-person events.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The implementation of these activities is contingent upon CINARS securing adequate funding. A full refund will be issued if the event is canceled.
CINARS coordinates the following aspects related to meetings and communications:
- Communications: promotional newsletter for the companies, and invitations.
- Venue Visits: Site inspections for scouting missions (venues and festivals).
- Networking: Facilitating connections with professionals on-site.
- Presentations: Showcasing (pitching) Québec-based creations and productions when applicable.
- Receptions: Organized in collaboration with Québec General Delegations when applicable.
Following these missions, participants from Québec will be required to submit a report, and CINARS will share the information with the Québec Ministry of Culture and Communications (MCCQ) and the Québec Arts Council (CALQ).
We strongly encourage applications from visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, individuals of all sexual orientations and gender identities, and others who can contribute to the diversification of theater, dance, circus, and music.
Thanks to our partners: Québec Ministry of Culture and Communications, the Québec Arts Council, and the Québec General Delegations.
