Digital Distribution Platform Announced

Video Pool is excited to share the Canada Council for the Arts’ announcement of a 1.5 million dollar investment into a new digital distribution platform.

We are thrilled to be part of this amazing group of distributors who have been working so hard to get the platform off the ground to benefit Video Pool Members and the Media Arts Community at large!

If you have further questions about the platform you can contact our Distribution Coordinator, Jen at vpdist@videopool.org. 

From the Canada Council for the Arts:

$1.5 million to support national digital platform for the distribution and dissemination of media artworks

Ottawa, May 22, 2014 – The Canada Council for the Arts today announced it will invest $1.5 million to support the creation of a national digital platform for independent works of Canadian film and video. The platform will support the distribution and dissemination of independent media artworks, making thousands of works available to programmers, curators, directors, artists and the general public. Canada Council is providing one time funding over three years for the initiative, which will be developed and administered by a coalition of Canada’s independent media arts distributors.

About the platform and coalition
  • The digital platform responds to a need for an online infrastructure to support the distribution and dissemination of creative content to local, national and international presenters, curators and the public buyers.
  • This initiative builds on recommendations contained in the Distribution of Artist-Driven Film and Video study, which examined Council’s role in sustaining the health of the media arts sector and improving accessibility of productions and financial return to artists.
  • The platform launch is scheduled for spring of 2016, and will feature existing media artworks and add new ones on an ongoing basis.
  • No funds from Council granting programs were diverted to support this initiative.
  • The Canadian Coalition for Independent Media Arts Distributors was created in 2013. It includes the following organizations: Canadian Filmmakers Distribution Centre (CFMDC), Groupe Intervention VidĂ©o (GIV), Les Films du 3 mars (F3M), Moving Images Distribution, VidĂ©o Femmes, Video Out Distribution (VIVO), Video Pool, Winnipeg Film Group. Other organizations may join the Coalition going forward.
“This distribution and dissemination platform creates an important and necessary digital space from both a supply and demand perspective,” said Robert Sirman, Director and CEO of the Canada Council. “It will offer independent Canadian media artists a new portal through which to showcase their work, and for presenters, unprecedented access to high quality content. The end result? More outstanding Canadian media artwork reaching audiences at home and internationally.”
“The Independent Media Arts Alliance acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and this important investment to the digital distribution project,” said Kevin Allen, IMAA president. “The funding will have a tremendous impact on the media arts community and infrastructure nationally, by creating new exhibition and distribution opportunities for artists, as well as finding new audiences nationally and internationally for Canadian independent media artwork.”
About the Canada Council for the Arts 
The Canada Council for the Arts is Canada’s national arts funder. Its grants and payments to artists and arts organizations benefit Canadians by ensuring a vibrant arts sector in Canada. Its awards celebrate creativity by recognizing exceptional Canadians in the arts, humanities and sciences. The Canada Council Art Bank is a national collection of over 17,000 Canadian contemporary artworks – all accessible to the public through rental, loan and outreach programs. The Canadian Commission for UNESCO operates within the Canada Council.
Media contacts:
Heather McAfee: 1-800-263-5588 or 613-566-4414, ext. 4166
Mireille Allaire: 1-800-263-5588 or 613-566-4414, ext 4523