Components
Membership
The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) is a membership based organization comprised of professional theatre, dance and opera companies as well as various performing arts institutions in and around the Greater Toronto Area. TAPA monitors government policies which affect the arts, informs its membership of potential changes and concerns, and works pro-actively to help shape such policies. TAPA is involved with municipal and provincial governments, as well as other arts service organizations, to represent its membership on a political level.
Member companies are invited to participate in the SPARKS: Igniting Ideas discussion forums. Hosted by TAPA, companies are given the opportunity to meet fellow members, provide feedback on TAPA services and voice concerns facing the performing arts in Toronto.
With the launch of the new TAPA website (www.tapa.ca), members will have exclusive access to the Member Forum. Through this service, members will be able to talk to one another, exchange ideas and resources or post special announcements for other TAPA members.
Once a year, TAPA hosts a one-day forum titled The Indie Theatre and Dance Trade Forum. Throughout the day, attendees have the opportunity to partake in various workshops, ask questions to performing arts professionals during the professional development seminars and mingle in the Marketplace with participating vendors.
TAPA is working with various media outlets in order to provide discounted ad rates in newspapers and magazines across the City of Toronto. The TAPA Marketing Committee meets on a regular basis to discuss future marketing opportunities for TAPA members and how to better market the performing arts community at large. TAPA is also a member of Tourism Toronto. TAPA Members benefit by being able to partake in the many marketing campaigns offered by Tourism Toronto, which reach a large international tourist market.
The TAPA Office is located in the same suite as Theatre Ontario, PACT and Opera. ca. A main boardroom is available for use by TAPA members. Our office is equipped with a TV, phone, and computer / internet capabilities.
Dora Mavor Moore Awards
The annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards celebrates the outstanding work in the theatre, dance and opera communities in the City of Toronto in five main categories:
- General Theatre
- Independent Theatre
- Dance
- Opera
- Theatre for Young Audiences
Each winner receives a bronze statue cast from an original by sculptor John Romano. The Doras are named for Dora Mavor Moore (1888 – 1979), a well-loved teacher and director who helped establish Canadian professional theatre in the 1930s and 1940s.
TAPA Member companies must be a member in good standing and register their shows with the Dora Manager three weeks prior to the opening of the show.
T.O.TIX
Similar to Booth found in New York’s Time Square and London’s West End, T.O.TIX is Toronto’s discount performing arts ticket booth. Owned and operated by TAPA, T.O.TIX is a marketing tool for our membership.
Located on Yonge-Dundas Square at the corner of Yonge and Dundas in downtown Toronto, T.O.TIX is situated in a prime location for tourists and locals alike.
T.O.TIX offers day-of discount tickets for participating member company performances as well as full-price advance tickets. Audiences looking to purchase tickets at T.O.TIX can do so by visiting the booth in-person or by visiting www.totix.ca.
On November 23, 2004, T.O.TIX launched its online ticket sales service. A huge benefit to those unable to make the trek down to the booth’s physical location, T.O.TIX online offers the same day-of discount tickets and full-price advance tickets for sale at the click of a button.
T.O.TIX offers three ways to find out which shows are available at the booth. By calling the Hotline at 416 536.6468 ext 40, callers are prompted with a voice recording of shows available. Anyone may also sign up to receive the T.O.TIX Daily E-Bulletin, which delivers the list of available shows direct to your inbox. Shows available are also listed on the website at www.totix.ca.
Communiqué
The outreach component of TAPA, Communiqué encompasses any marketing, publicity or publications offered through TAPA.
Members are offered a discount rate on publications produced through TAPA including the Indie Theatre Producers’ Guide, STAGES: A Guide to Toronto’s Theatre Facilities, Arts and Media Listings and Tourist / Hospitality Listings.
TAPA sends out a newsletter quarterly to its membership keeping everyone apprised of the many events and news worthy items happening in and around our industry. Members are also encouraged to write articles for publication consideration.
Toronto Performs and the Opening Nights Directory is an invaluable service for both the membership and many Tourism Operators. The Opening Nights Directory is a listing of all the opening dates of member shows as many as six months in advance. This listing is a great way to avoid conflict with the opening of your show.
Toronto Performs is a comprehensive listing of performances happening in and around the City of Toronto. With the launch of our new website, Toronto Performs will be updated by the membership as their shows are announced.
Another initiative TAPA is launching along with the new website is Toronto Chats, an online forum where anyone can voice their opinions, concerns, rave reviews or questions about the performing arts in Toronto.