Vancouver New Music will be hosting an eclectic mix of Canadian and international artists during their 2019-20 season—and letting audience members decide how much to pay for them.

The company has announced a two-year partnership with weshowup.io, a Vancouver-based digital platform. Its website allows guests to reserve a ticket in advance of the show, then pay what they think it was worth after attending.

VNM artistic director Giorgio Magnanensi says the initiative will make it easier for audiences to engage with and support artists. “In simply giving people the opportunity to contribute more, they will," he states in a VNM press release. "That’s the idea that this year’s VNM festival and series wishes to experiment with.”

This initiative applies to all events this season, which begins with this year’s festival, called Resonances—artistic transformation, mapping and sonification (October 17 to 19). It will feature artists from Canada, Europe and Mexico, who will “trace paths through sound and performance that diverge into new forms, expressions and ideas”, according to the release.

The regular season begins with a performance by cellist Okkyung Lee for VNM’s ongoing PARALLELS series (November 16). Lee will imporivise a unique piece on-site, accompanied by local electronic musicians.

Winnipeg's crys cole and Australia's Oren Ambarchi then return to Vancouver for a special double bill (February 15). Next, choreographer Bill Coleman and sound artist Gordan Monahan will present their show Dollhouse, chronicling “the descent into theatrical disintegration”, in partnership with the Dance Centre (March 12 to 14).

On March 28, violinist Silvia Mandolini will perform with local ensemble magik. The season will close with Vancouver-based guitarist Adrian Verdejo, who will perform world premieres of new pieces by Wolf Edwards and Peter Hannan (May 9).

Tickets for VNM’s 2019-20 season will be open for reservations starting on September 3 at newmusic.org/tickets.