BCMFC
BC MUSIC FESTIVAL COLLECTIVE

THE BRITISH COLUMBIA MUSIC FESTIVAL COLLECTIVE (BCMFC) IS A NON-PROFIT INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION THAT WAS FORMED IN APRIL 2020 AT THE ONSET OF THE PANDEMIC TO PROVIDE A COMMON VOICE AND SHARED SPACE TO BC’S MUSIC FESTIVAL INDUSTRY. FESTIVAL MEMBERS INCLUDE NON-PROFITS AND FOR-PROFITS, ALL GENRES AND SIZES FROM ACROSS ALL REGIONS OF OUR PROVINCE. MEMBERSHIP IS OPEN TO ANY MUSIC FESTIVAL BASED IN BC.

About

Purpose: BC Music Festival Collective provides knowledge sharing, representation and resources for BC music festivals.

Vision: To support and promote a healthy, vibrant, diverse and inclusive music festival sector in BC.

Mission:

1) Create awareness and understanding of the economic, cultural and social benefits of festivals in BC among stakeholders, funders and the public.

2) Collaborate with provincial, national and international stakeholders in music, arts, culture and tourism to create strategic partnerships.

3) Connect the diverse festival community by convening inclusive province-wide meetings.

4) Educate and engage members by hosting industry stakeholders presentations and share current industry resources.

5) Advocate on behalf of the BC music festival industry to ensure ongoing government support.

BC Music Festival Collective Staff

Picture of Deb Beaton-Smith

Deb Beaton-Smith

Executive Director

Picture of Holly Ketter

Holly Ketter

Project Assistant

BC Music Festival Collective History

The BC Music Festival Collective (BCMFC) was formed in April 2020 as a grassroots response to the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, there was no sector-wide voice representing the unique needs of BC’s diverse music festivals. Festival organizers, reeling from widespread cancellations and financial uncertainty, came together to create a shared space for dialogue, advocacy, and strategic action. What began as a collective emergency response effort quickly evolved into a lasting provincial network.

Early initiatives focused on economic impact surveys, peer-to-peer support, and sector-specific data collection. These efforts were instrumental in helping government partners understand the scale of the pandemic’s impact on the festival sector. BCMFC’s unified voice played a key role in securing provincial support measures, including the BC Festivals, Fairs, and Events Recovery Fund (BCFFE).

Since its inception, the Collective has convened regular monthly meetings and has grown to represent more than 115 music festivals across British Columbia—ranging from small community-based events to large-scale urban festivals. Our members include non-profits, for-profits, and charitable organizations representing all genres of music, including folk, Indigenous, electronic, blues, jazz, rock, ska, pop, and indie. Approximately 80 of these member festivals are publicly listed on our website, with many more participating in our network and activities.

BCMFC provides an inclusive platform for knowledge sharing, professional development, and collaborative planning. Since 2020, we have hosted two in-person Symposiums (in Kelowna and Victoria), organized over 20 professional development workshops and guest speaker presentations, and conducted three sector-wide economic impact surveys. 

One of BCMFC’s greatest strengths is its ability to foster meaningful connection across geography and genre. Festivals from rural, remote, and urban areas regularly collaborate through our monthly meetings and peer-to-peer mentorship, allowing for a truly province-wide exchange of knowledge, resources, and support.

In May 2024, the BC Music Festival Collective became a registered non-profit society. This formalization of our structure allows us to continue growing our services, deepen partnerships, and pursue new funding opportunities. We are officially recognized by the Province of British Columbia as an Industry Representative for the music festival sector, and remain committed to promoting a healthy, inclusive, and resilient music festival ecosystem across BC.

BRITISH COLUMBIA MUSIC FESTIVAL COLLECTIVE ACKNOWLEDGES THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA ARTS COUNCIL, AND CREATIVE BC.