Backgrounder: Government of Canada helps five creative companies in Atlantic Canada succeed on the world stage

Project Title: Expanding Thief & Bandit's Presence in the US

Thief & Bandit Apparel and Accessories Inc. is receiving funding for export planning, international market readiness, and market development activities to further develop its market presence in the target market of the United States. With this project, the recipient will refine its export processes and lay the groundwork for future international expansion. The company will develop and execute a digital marketing strategy, including media management and advertising, tailored to the target market. It will create marketing materials for its social media, website and ad campaigns to showcase its collections. It will upgrade its Shopify site to optimize transactions with international clients. It will also develop an export strategy to prepare for long-term expansion. Thief & Bandit Apparel and Accessories Inc. will establish and nurture relationships with key stakeholders in the United States, including distributors, retailers and industry influencers.

Project Title: COLLECT Art Fair 2025, London, UK

Craft Alliance Atlantic Association / L’Association alliance métiers d'arts atlantique is receiving funding to support the promotion of as many as 20 Atlantic Canadian fine craft artists at the Collect Art Fair 2025, an international fair dedicated to contemporary craft and design, held annually in London, England. Collect is a direct-to-consumer event, attended by key art collectors, museums and galleries looking to purchase and represent contemporary craft and design. Craft Alliance will launch an exhibition of pan-Atlantic contemporary craft artists at the fair, to introduce new work from Canada. Artists will have opportunities to interact with audiences to promote their work and to develop a market for Canadian contemporary craft. To prepare craft artists to introduce their work abroad, the organization will run an ongoing mentoring program that partners mid-career craft artists with emerging craft artists, will hold workshops on export readiness and market entry, and will provide opportunities for on-site training sessions while at the fair. The target markets for this project are the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands and France with opportunities for secondary markets for media specific crafts, like Italy and Portugal for ceramics.

Project Title: Canadian Sustainable Jeweller exports to the USA

Dorothée Rosen, Designer Goldsmith, is receiving funding to increase sales of her company’s sustainably made Canadian products in the target market of the United States. The project will enable the recipient to expand its business-to-consumer promotion of its artistic jewelry pieces into international markets by creating marketing materials and optimizing its website for international sales. Additionally, the project will present an opportunity to cultivate international business networks and partnerships, paving the way for future growth and collaboration.

Project Title: Prismatic Delegation at Fluvial 2024, Chile

The Prismatic Arts Society received funding in 2024-25 to lead and promote a delegation of Indigenous artists and artists of colour at the Fluvial Festival, an international event/conference dedicated to showcasing artists and facilitating connections in the global music arts industry. Fluvial was held in Valdivia, Chile in November 2024. The Prismatic Arts Society led a Canadian delegation of performing arts professionals that represent organizations championing the voices marginalized and racialized artists. The delegation included Mohawk musician Logan Staats, who was featured at Fluvial as a showcasing artist. By attending this conference, delegates had an opportunity to build new business networks between Canadian and Latin American music industry stakeholders, creating collaborative relationships and promotional opportunities for artists. The target market for this project is Latin America, in countries such as Chile, Mexico, Guatemala, Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela.

Project Title: Music PEI Export Development Program 2024/25

Music PEI is receiving funding in 2024-25 to promote its artists internationally, by holding two events that host international delegates, and by attending a minimum of four international music festivals. The domestic events, Canadian Song Conference and Showcase PEI, brought together influential industry experts from around the world, who have the capacity to offer important opportunities to the artists, such as representation at the international level, paid performances and publishing and licensing deals. The curated set of international festivals, including the Reeperbahn Festival (Germany), Americana UK (London), Showcase Scotland, and English Folk Expo, will provide Canadian musicians with opportunities to build business relationships while exposing their creative work to international audiences. The target markets for this project include Ireland, United Kingdom, Europe, the United States and Australia.