PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
DEVELOPING ARTISTS PROGRAM
The Developing Artist Program (formerly known as the Youth Program) offers a unique career development opportunity for emerging artists aged 18-25. Participants receive one-on-one mentorship from established artists, collaborate with peers, and enhance their industry knowledge and technical skills through workshops and master classes. They also become part of a welcoming community at Canada’s largest annual folk music industry gathering. Selected artists will have the chance to showcase their talents at the annual Folk Canada Conference Developing Artists Program Showcase.
Participants are chosen by external jurors based on interest, ability, and experience.
Past mentors include AHI, Kaia Kater, Quique Escamilla, YAO, Dayna Manning, Lynn Miles, Julian Taylor, Cécile Doo-Kingué, Leonard Sumner, Graydon James, The Good Lovelies, Bob Wiseman, and Brian Kobayakawa.
Notable alumni include JUNO Winning artist: Kaia Kater, Annie Sumi, John Muirhead, Missy Bauman, Tim Jackson, Joëlle Villeneuve, Campbell Woods, Housewife (formerly Moscow Apartment), Ariana Gillis, The Lifers, Nabi Loney (Ellevator), and Benjamin Dakota Rogers.
The Developing Artists Program is made possible through the support of Ontario Creates
How It Works
The Developing Artist (DAP) program features online networking, one-on-one mentorship, and learning sessions that take place prior-to, and after, the Folk Canada conference, with opportunities for one-on-one mentoring, workshops, showcasing, and further in-person networking at the conference.
The program is open to residents of Canada between ages 18* and 25.
*If you are under age 18 by the conference dates, you are welcome to apply for the program, however, if you are chosen, you will be required to have a parent/guardian accompany you to the conference as a registered delegate.
Selected participants will be offered a complimentary registration to the Folk Canada Conference, and will receive an honorarium/bursary for their participation.
Pre-Conference
In the weeks leading up to the conference, DAP participants will take part in an orientation session via Zoom, meeting other artists and learning directly from industry experts. The program includes a 1-day intensive training in-person, at the conference. These sessions will train artists in topics such as marketing, licensing, preparing a release, touring/booking, a performance masterclass dedicated to showcase preparedness, and more. The pre-conference session is dedicated to Conference 101: networking, showcasing, and making the most of the event.
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​It is required that participants attend both the pre-conference online activities as well as the in-person conference. Failure to attend the pre-conference sessions may result in removal from the program.
Conference
All participants in the Developing Artist Program will be invited to showcase at the Folk Canada Conference. Using the skills learned in the pre-conference sessions, participants take part in all conference activities, as well as program-specific sessions such as:
- Interacting in one-on-one meetings with assigned mentors participating in professional development activities
- Video recording of their official showcase
- DAP Song Circle / Jam Session
- Performance Coaching / Developing a showcase performance
- Performing a showcase
- Networking events with industry professionals
2026 PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS
DANE PEDERSEN
MILLVILLE, NS
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Dane Pedersen is a Cape Breton singer-songwriter working within the contemporary folk tradition, balancing original writing with carefully chosen reinterpretations of the songs that shaped him. Carried by a warm, steady voice and understated fingerstyle guitar, his performances are rooted in patience, restraint, and a deep reverence for song.
IAN MARC
TORONTO, ON
Ian Marc is a Canadian-Dominican artist, singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. His music blends rock and pop with Latin influences. He works on each song from start to finish, from the initial idea to the final production, carefully shaping every detail so his vision is felt in every release.
Ian Marc is able to connect with his audience through music that touches the heart and brings a strong energy into his performances, combining styles in a way that invites people not only to listen, but also to enjoy and dance.
JOELLE ROSE
MISSISSAUGA, ON
Joelle Rose is a lyrically driven, folk-rooted singer-songwriter from Mississauga, Ontario, whose music is grounded in authentic storytelling. Her debut single, Birdhouse, was unanimously selected as Mississauga’s 2025 Song of the Year, leading to performances across Ontario. Raised in a multicultural household with roots in Hong Kong and Croatia, Joelle experienced music as a universal language and force for togetherness early on. She carries that spirit into her writing, crafting songs that are deeply personal yet widely relatable. With new music releasing in 2026, Joelle continues to grow artistically while staying true to the raw emotional honesty that defines her work.
JOLIE ANASTASIA
COLLINGWOOD, ON
Jolie Anastasia is a folk and Americana singer-songwriter whose music feels like a conversation around a fire—intimate, timeless, and rooted in the human spirit. With a voice that carries both tenderness and grit, she weaves stories of love, resilience, and belonging. From Ontario to open skies far beyond, Jolie’s melodies echo the traditions of the folk greats while carving her own path, balancing vulnerability with quiet strength. Her music invites you to slow down, listen deeply, and find yourself reflected in the poetry of her songs—like letters written from the soul to anyone willing to hear.
LUKA HALL
NEW GLASGOW, PE
Luka Hall is a dynamic PEI singer-songwriter, guitarist, and fiddler known for blending traditional folk and country. His 2024 EP, To Be Honest, earned him nominations for a 2025 Music PEI (Traditional Recording of the Year) and a 2026 Canadian Folk Music Award (Young Performer of the Year). In 2025, he released an original holiday single, "Maybe Next Christmas" with Brooke MacArthur. A compelling live act, Luka has performed at the PEI Festival of Small Halls, Harmony House, Rollo Bay Fiddle Festival, and Canadian Folk Music Awards. He is a rising talent quickly gaining traction across the Canadian music scene.
MARY LIV
SASKATOON, SK
Based in Saskatoon, Mary Liv is an independent femme-folk singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist with deep roots in Canadian fiddle and country music. Her song "In The Ground" won the SOCAN Young Canadian Songwriter Award (2025). Blending high-energy country with folk and protest songs, she has released a traditional fiddle album, Fiddlin Around (2024), and an all-originals album, Hello There (2025). Touring the Canadian prairies, Mary has performed at venues and festivals including The Bassment and Ness Creek Music Festival.
SOPHIE ASH
OTTAWA, ON
With a voice that blends softness and power, Sophie Ash tries to capture everything before the moments fade away too quickly. An artisan of words and introspective melodies, she navigates through her Belgian and Lebanese origins with sounds and stories that embody longing and letting go.
An emerging name in the franco-ontarian music scene, she has played stages across Ontario and Quebec such as CityFolk Festival, Festival Franco-Ontarien, Vanier Sugar Festival, as an opener at Le Minotaure in Gatineau, la Nouvelle Scène Gilles Desjardins and most recently at the Grand Concours Hydro-Québec of the Festival International de la Chanson de Granby.
TRISTAN KONKLE
PETERBOROUGH, ON
Tristan Konkle is a songwriter, producer, and performer from Peterborough. A multi-instrumentalist influenced by late-20th-century pop and folk-rock, he began playing guitar at twelve and developed his craft through years of writing and live performance. He has refined his work on stages across his hometown, including Sadleir House and Pig's Ear Tavern. In 2026, he was named the Peterborough Folk Festival Emerging Artist, recognized for his growing voice as a songwriter blending indie pop and folk sensibilities.
2025 DEVELOPING ARTISTS PROGRAM
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Artists
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York Street Thought Process
Mentors:
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Housewife
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Kellylee Evans
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Kyle Kirkpatrick
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Madeleine Roger
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Moonfruits
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Robert Thomas
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Sarah Jane Scouten
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Tennyson King​
DEVELOPING PRESENTERS PROGRAM
The Developing Presenters stream empowers individuals to hone their skills as festival organizers and presenters through a combination of training, mentorship, and hands-on learning.
The program is launched at the Festivals' Retreat, where professionals engaged in the administration, management, execution, and governance of festivals gather to learn from and share with each other, and engage in networking activities designed to strengthen connections and encourage collaboration. The cohort gathers in advance of the Retreat for virtual sessions to learn about, from and with each other. A pre-Retreat preparatory session is an essential way that participants can take full advantage of the opportunity to connect with festival producers and create relationships that propel careers.
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Participants are paired with mentors, providing personalized guidance, feedback, and support throughout their journey. Mentors help participants refine their skills and overcome any challenges they may encounter in organizing festivals and events through regular consultations.
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Mentors are selected with their events in mind, as participants attend and learn through immersive job-shadowing experiences, gaining firsthand insights into the intricacies of event planning, execution, and management.
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The program culminates with an invitation to the Folk Canada Conference as part of the Presenters Program, providing a platform to discover new artists, and build networks, in addition to potential engagements at the Conference like presenting showcases.
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Pilot-edition mentors are from Calgary Folk Festival, Cultivate Festival, Hillside Festival, Ottawa Bluesfest/CityFolk, and Summerfolk.
Participants in the 2024 pilot edition of the program include: Roisin Miland & Sophia Pompe of STOMPBOX, Gaby Harvey & Emma Jane Julien of Campsite, Phillip Vonesh of the Toronto Folk Festival, Danielle Parris of Small World Music, and Hind El Ouardi, independent.
FESTIVALS RETREAT
The Festivals' Retreat is a one-of-a-kind event, bringing together the executive, governance, management, and administration teams of folk festivals. Experts lead discussions on key topics related to festival execution, with a strong focus on peer-to-peer learning, networking, and sharing experiences.
All Folk Canada Festival Members are invited to join the Festivals' Retreat, taking place April 19-21, 2026.
For more information about the 2026 Festivals' Retreat, please contact Executive Director Rosalyn Dennett.
Topics Covered at Previous Festivals Retreats
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Show Stoppers - Emergency Safety & Planning
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Embedding Diversity and Equity both Onstage & Backstage
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Municipal, Provincial, and Federal Opportunities for Grant Funding
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The Price is Right: Ticketing and Tiers / Funding & Fundraising Opportunities for Free Festivals
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Operational and Administrative Tools & Resources
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Exploring Board Governance Models
How Sessions are Run
The Festivals' Retreat is a professional development event for knowledge holders and seekers within the Canadian music festival industry. It offers an opportunity to share expertise and discuss the challenges and successes of managing festivals.
Each day features learning sessions tailored to the attendees' interests and skill sets. These sessions, whether peer-led or industry-led, spark conversations and inspire new ideas in a collaborative learning environment.
After each presentation, participants break into smaller groups for in-depth discussions and problem-solving exercises. These interactive sessions allow for a deeper understanding of specific issues, an opportunity to ask questions, and the exchange of solutions to common challenges.
At the retreat’s conclusion, Folk Canada staff prepare a summary document capturing key discussions, resources, and ideas generated. This document serves as both a reminder of the experience and a resource for continued learning and exploration.
TAYLOR MITCHELL BURSARY
The Taylor Mitchell Bursary was established in 2010 by Emily Mitchell, in memory of her daughter, Canadian songwriter Taylor Mitchell. The bursary is to support one participant in the Performer Stream of the Developing Artist Program who might otherwise be prevented from taking part.
The bursary recipient receives up to $500 towards costs associated with attending the Folk Canada conference and participating in the Performer Stream of the Developing Artist Program.
While the bursary will be dispersed prior to the conference to help offset costs, the award will be presented to the recipient live during the Ontario Folk Music Awards.
Eligibility Requirements
Must be nominated for the bursary by a teacher/community member/mentor, in light of the goals of the bursary program.
Must be selected as a participant of the Performer Stream of the Developing Artist Program. Participants will be given the option to apply for the bursary in their application.
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