Canadian arts streaming platform Stageview is raising the curtain on its strategy to support the domestic arts sector.

The indie streamer announced Monday (Oct. 23) that it has been certified as an eligible digital platform by the Canadian Audio-Visual Certification Office (CAVCO), allowing it to trigger federal tax credits for Canadian productions.

Stageview is a streaming platform dedicated to various forms of visual arts, including arts documentaries and filmed performances of theatre, opera, dance and classical music. It was founded by Craig Thompson, president and executive producer of Stratford, Ont.–based prodco Ballinran Entertainment, working closely with streaming consultancy firm Grace Street Media.

In a statement, Thompson said Stageview seeks to fill a “void in the marketplace” for arts organizations and audiences, and that the CAVCO certification will allow them to support a “new wave of arts-related production.”

The platform launched in the beta stage in 2021 with the Ballinran-produced two-hour special Stratford Signatures, which highlights the role that Stratford plays in the arts scene in Canada. Grace Street Media president Vernon Freedlander tells Playback Daily that the streamer plans to exit the beta stage in spring 2024, following a push to “establish more relationships with art organizations and content creators and acquire more content,” as well as secure additional investment.

Grace Street Media president Vernon Freedlander tells Playback Daily that the streamer currently plans to exit the beta stage in spring 2024, following a push to “establish more relationships with art organizations and content creators and acquire more content,” as well as secure additional investment.

“We are seeking investment partners who believe in the Canadian arts sector and see niche streaming as an important way to connect with an engaged and dedicated audience,” says Freedlander.

When asked about original content plans, Freedlander says the volume of original content commissions is currently undetermined, but the goal is to reinvest 50% of revenue into commissions and acquisitions.

The company has also established an advisory board, and is actively seeking new members. The current board includes actor and director Megan Follows; Peter Raymont, president and executive producer at White Pine Pictures; Kevin Goldstein, BCE’s former head of regulatory affairs; media consultant Brad Pelman; former Ontario MPP John Wilkinson; Sarah Bay-Cheng, dean of the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design at York University; and Rosemary Thompson, former National Arts Centre executive.

Additional information on the platform is expected to be announced in the coming months as Stageview continues to seek out new partnerships, according to Thompson.

“We are confident that Stageview will open up an exciting new revenue stream for arts organizations creating digital content, subsidizing the cost of production and help[ing] promote their creativity to a much wider audience,” he said. “Ultimately, the goal of Stageview is not only to reflect Canadian arts and culture to Canadians, but to position the platform as a showcase for sharing great Canadian talent with the world.”

Image courtesy of Ballinran Entertainment