The Kingston Music Strategy supports music and musicians working and living here, by providing a strategic roadmap to improve support, address gaps and opportunities in our city’s music economy, and embrace and promote Kingston’s vibrant and diverse music communities.  

The Strategy, approved by Council in December 2023, includes four strategic pillars – cultivate spaces and places, empower, and invest in talent, amplify connection and visibility, and bolster City leadership and support – and sets a vision for Kingston to be a hub and incubator for musician development, music careers and a strong and sustainable music scene.  

Review the full Kingston Music Strategy and its recommendations and strategic actions  

Implementation of the Kingston Music Strategy is now underway. A key strategic partnership to help drive the Kingston Music Strategy is between the City of Kingston and Tourism Kingston, that will see the establishment of a Music Officer to champion and lead implementation of the Strategy and its recommendations, and advocate for and showcase musicians in Kingston, in collaboration with other community partners. The Music Officer position is an extension of Tourism Kingston’s Music Commissioner role, held by Moira Demorest, who has spent her 20+ year career as a musician, concert promoter and educator. Moira joined Tourism Kingston in 2022, is the co-founder of KPP Concerts, and has been a key partner in the development of the Broom Factory, an all-ages, accessible, music, film, arts, and creative hub, where she has helped to establish community partnerships to provide programming, professional development, and arts experiences to Kingston audiences and visitors. The Music Officer will work within the music portfolio at Tourism Kingston, in collaboration with the City and other key partners, and the Film & Media Office, also housed within Tourism Kingston.  

Learn more about the Music Office as part of Tourism Kingston  

The City, through the Arts & Culture Services department, which includes a performing arts division, and the Special Events Office are responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Kingston Music Strategy, providing support to partners including Tourism Kingston, helping to develop new partnerships, and driving key Strategy action items that are related to municipal policies, programs, events, funding, and other opportunities.  

Learn more about the Arts & Culture Services department at the City of Kingston  

What’s Happening Now  

The Music Office as part of Tourism Kingston, in collaboration with the City, are seeking community members for a Kingston Music Advisory Committee, a key action item in the Kingston Music Strategy. The Committee is to be comprised of community champions and working members of the Kingston music industry, who represent and advocate on behalf of musicians and the music industry, and who help ensure successful implementation of the Kingston Music Strategy. The Committee will have a key role to support the development of annual music work plans, based on the Kingston Music Strategy, helping to translate the recommendations and strategic actions into programs and initiatives. The Committee will also help the City and the Music Office remain connected to the broader community, and will have the ability to form ad hoc sub-committees based on priorities that emerge from work planning.   

Join the Music Advisory Committee

Review the Terms of Reference for the Kingston Music Advisory Committee, and if you’re interested in joining the Committee and/or being part of a future sub-committee, please submit a letter of interest by March 29, 2024 to Music@TourismKingston.com. Submissions will be reviewed by the Music Officer along with Tourism Kingston and City of Kingston staff. The term for the inaugural Kingston Music Advisory Committee is 12 months, scheduled to start meeting in April 2024, with opportunities for renewal. An honourarium for participating independent musicians will be provided.  

Any questions can be directed to Moira Demorest, Music Officer, Tourism Kingston @ Music@TourismKingston.com.  

Past Updates  

The development of a Kingston Music Strategy began in July 2022 and staff issued a Request for Proposal for consulting services to lead its creation. Nordicity, a leading, international consulting firm was selected for the project, and they spearheaded three major phases of work including research and discovery, public engagement, and the creation and validation of the Kingston Music Strategy.  

Review the Findings Report from Phase 1: Research and Discovery  

Review the Report from Phase 2: Public Engagement  

The final Kingston Music Strategy was approved by the Arts, Recreation & Community Policies Committee at its meeting on Dec. 13, 2023, and was subsequently approved by City Council at its meeting on Dec. 19, 2023.  

Review the Report to the Arts, Recreation & Community Policies Committee and City Council