The Art of Welcoming an International Artist in Québec: Planning, Coordinating, and Supporting

Navigate the logistical, administrative, and legal complexities with agility to ensure your international artist(s) a smooth, safe, and supportive working experience.

Welcoming an international artist to Québec involves much more than administrative paperwork: it’s a complex and delicate process that touches on planning, immigration, travel, integration, legal obligations, and internal coordination.

This 2.5-hour training offers a clear, practical, and structured overview of the steps needed to ensure that both the artist and your hosting team experience not only an ethical and compliant process but also an enjoyable and enriching one.

Through case studies, expert guidance, and ready-to-use tools, you will learn to anticipate challenges and timelines, avoid common pitfalls, and organize the full process of hosting an international artist—from pre-employment to the end of their stay.

The trainer will provide references and document templates to support your learning, and an immigration lawyer will be present to address legal aspects related to hosting an international artist in Québec.

Objectives

By the end of the training, participants will be able to:

Understand the overall framework for hosting international artists

• Define what constitutes an “international artist” in a professional context.
• Identify the key stages of the process: pre-employment, immigration, arrival, stay, and project completion.
• Recognize the human, administrative, and logistical challenges involved in hosting.

Effectively plan pre-employment

• Determine the information to collect for evaluating an artist’s file: nationality, tax status, residence, insurance, CV, experience, etc.
• Prepare and adapt an employment contract according to international realities.
• Anticipate visa requirements, timelines, and risks related to the production schedule.

Manage immigration and hiring procedures (pre-arrival)

• Identify the types of work permits available and their conditions.
• Understand the steps, costs, and timelines involved in permit applications.
• Know the legal obligations of the employer and the artist.

Organize travel and preparation for the stay

• Provide essential information regarding travel and entry into the country.
• Verify required items upon arrival (documents, insurance, communications).

Ensure administrative logistics upon arrival

• Track the work permit until final issuance.
• Manage insurance (medical for the first three months, RAMQ, CNESST, travel, liability), banking, taxation, long-term commitments (phone, lease, etc.), and residency obligations.
• Arrange necessary support and resources for the artist.
• Handle unexpected issues and resolve any breaches of agreement.

Properly conclude a project with an international worker

• Process the final payment for the artist.
• Manage the return travel.
• Fulfill fiscal obligations: worker taxes, T4A forms, etc.
• Provide feedback to the artist and internal team.

Personalized Support

At the end of the group training, you will have the opportunity to benefit from a one-hour individual coaching session with the trainer, allowing you to deepen the concepts learned according to your specific challenges. As the number of sessions is limited, they will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Deadline to book a session with the trainer: May 8, 2026
• Deadline to hold your session: June 5, 2026

Who is this training for ?

For cultural organizations, producers, managers, independent dance professionals, or anyone involved in hosting or hiring international artists.

Instructor

 © Isabelle Rancier

This RQD training is made possible thanks to the financial support of the Government of Québec, through the Intervention-Compétences program of Compétence Culture.