ArtistDirect News
Music BC Announces 15 Artists for 2026 ARC Accelerator Program
On July 2 2026, Music BC unveiled a new cohort of 15 rising talents slated to launch its 2026 Artist Development Accelerator (ARC) program. The announcement follows the province’s open call and marks the next phase of ARC’s mission to elevate British Columbian musicians.
ARC’s three‑phase cycle—The Clinic, The Retreat, and The Show—will run from July through October. The design is intentional: workshops in the Clinic arm the artists with the business acumen they need, while the Retreat immerses them in songwriting, recording, and performance work, and The Show offers a public showcase that bridges the gap between demo‑stage ideas and fully realized tracks.
The selected participants are Anna Katarina, Bealby Point, CHLO, Chopping Spree, Cold Fame, Connor Roff, Dani Black, Dour, Felisha and the Jazz Rejects, Mauvey, Maya Jade, Paris Pick, Revay, Seven Taviss, and Talel McBriar. All hail from British Columbia and earned their spots through a competitive application process.
The Clinic opens the program with a series of workshops covering branding, marketing, revenue generation, and career planning. Artists then move to The Retreat, a residency that hones songwriting, recording, and performance skills. The final stage, The Show, brings the refined material to a live audience of fans and industry delegates, providing a concrete launchpad for future releases.
ARC’s funding comes from a coalition of provincial and national agencies. Creative BC, the Province of British Columbia, FACTOR, and the Canada Council for the Arts each contribute financial support, while Music BC handles the application process and selects participants through a jury of music‑industry professionals.
Since its launch in 2022, ARC has partnered with 60 artists across the province. Participants have released eight songs that originated during the program’s songwriting retreat, and alumni now include Desirée Dawson, Kimmortal, Missy D, Vox Rea, daysormay, Teon Gibbs, FKA Rayne, and Concrete Vehicles (formerly Computer). These artists have built audiences, secured new opportunities, and reached significant career milestones.
In a statement, Music BC executive director Scott Johnson emphasized the program’s impact: “In just a few short years, ARC has become an important part of the artist development ecosystem in British Columbia. Seeing alumni such as Desirée Dawson, Kimmortal, Missy D, Vox Rea, daysormay, Teon Gibbs, FKA Rayne, Concrete Vehicles (fka Computer) and others continue to build audiences, access new opportunities and achieve significant career milestones is incredibly inspiring. It reinforces why programs like ARC matter: they help talented artists develop the skills, relationships and confidence needed to build sustainable careers.”
The 2026 cohort will complete the July‑to‑October schedule, emerging from a mix of workshops, a creative residency, and a public showcase. Music BC’s continued expansion of ARC reflects its commitment to supporting the province’s music community and fostering sustainable careers for emerging talent.
ARC’s three‑phase cycle—The Clinic, The Retreat, and The Show—will run from July through October. The design is intentional: workshops in the Clinic arm the artists with the business acumen they need, while the Retreat immerses them in songwriting, recording, and performance work, and The Show offers a public showcase that bridges the gap between demo‑stage ideas and fully realized tracks.
The selected participants are Anna Katarina, Bealby Point, CHLO, Chopping Spree, Cold Fame, Connor Roff, Dani Black, Dour, Felisha and the Jazz Rejects, Mauvey, Maya Jade, Paris Pick, Revay, Seven Taviss, and Talel McBriar. All hail from British Columbia and earned their spots through a competitive application process.
The Clinic opens the program with a series of workshops covering branding, marketing, revenue generation, and career planning. Artists then move to The Retreat, a residency that hones songwriting, recording, and performance skills. The final stage, The Show, brings the refined material to a live audience of fans and industry delegates, providing a concrete launchpad for future releases.
ARC’s funding comes from a coalition of provincial and national agencies. Creative BC, the Province of British Columbia, FACTOR, and the Canada Council for the Arts each contribute financial support, while Music BC handles the application process and selects participants through a jury of music‑industry professionals.
Since its launch in 2022, ARC has partnered with 60 artists across the province. Participants have released eight songs that originated during the program’s songwriting retreat, and alumni now include Desirée Dawson, Kimmortal, Missy D, Vox Rea, daysormay, Teon Gibbs, FKA Rayne, and Concrete Vehicles (formerly Computer). These artists have built audiences, secured new opportunities, and reached significant career milestones.
In a statement, Music BC executive director Scott Johnson emphasized the program’s impact: “In just a few short years, ARC has become an important part of the artist development ecosystem in British Columbia. Seeing alumni such as Desirée Dawson, Kimmortal, Missy D, Vox Rea, daysormay, Teon Gibbs, FKA Rayne, Concrete Vehicles (fka Computer) and others continue to build audiences, access new opportunities and achieve significant career milestones is incredibly inspiring. It reinforces why programs like ARC matter: they help talented artists develop the skills, relationships and confidence needed to build sustainable careers.”
The 2026 cohort will complete the July‑to‑October schedule, emerging from a mix of workshops, a creative residency, and a public showcase. Music BC’s continued expansion of ARC reflects its commitment to supporting the province’s music community and fostering sustainable careers for emerging talent.