Meet the Members of the BPA

The Brant Performing Arts (BPA) collective was formed in 2010 to provide mutual benefit for the City of Brantford and the County of Brant’s local non-profit performing arts organizations to share resources, network, and pursue shared marketing opportunities. The group includes choirs, bands, presenters, theatre groups, storytellers, teachers, and even a symphony orchestra!

The BPA meets each month to share ideas and information, including presentations by occasional guest speakers. In a typical year, these meetings would be used as a forum to discuss marketing strategies and avoid crossover of multiple events being hosted on the same dates. In 2020, the majority of participating organizations had to cancel their seasons as result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This forum became even more important to these organizations so they could strategize as a group how to slowly rebuild and mitigate fear around live performances. The group commiserated about cancelled performances, events and fundraisers, lost revenue, and discussed the many ways in which they have had to adapt and pivot their own business models.

Many members of the BPA are longstanding organizations within the Brantford community, including:

• Arcady
• Brant County Singers
• Brant Men of Song
• Brant Story-Time Entertainers/Brant Taletellers
• Brant Theatre Workshops
• Brantford Music Club
• Brantford School of Instrumental Music/Memorial Concert Band – Community Symphony
• Brantford Symphony Orchestra
• Grand River Chorus
• ICHTHYS Theatre Productions
• Little String Orchestra
• Paris Port Dover Pipe Band
• Telephone City Musical Society

It is unclear what 2021 has in store for our beloved performing arts group, so until it’s safe to attend a live performance, why not give these amazing groups a “like” and “follow” on Facebook? Visit their website, subscribe to their e-newsletters, or share a post from their page. Many are delivering free online performances, workshops, and content. You do not want to miss the announcement of their exciting and triumphant returns…whenever that will be.

Are you a local Performing Arts Group that’s not already a part of the BPA? Visit the BPA on Facebook and direct message the group, or e-mail culture@brantford.ca for more information.