The Next Act: the National Arts Centre Releases its New Strategic PLan
The NAC’s 3-Year Plan (2020-2023) will lead and support the performing arts sector in Canada by focusing on its renewal, long-term resiliency and impact through dynamic artistic leadership, community building, learning and innovation and operational sustainability.
August 11, 2020 – OTTAWA – The National Arts Centre today unveiled the details of its new Strategic Plan for the next three years. Entitled The Next Act, the Strategic Plan announces that the NAC will lead and support the renewal of the Canadian performing arts.
https://nac-cna.ca/en/stories/story/the-next-act
The NAC is releasing this plan in a period of upheaval for the performing arts that includes the tremendous challenges posed to artists, performing arts centres and venues by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the widespread recognition of the need to eliminate racism from our institutions.
“At the NAC, we see an opportunity for profound change,” said NAC President and CEO Christopher Deacon. “We imagine a vibrant, renewed performing arts ecosystem that includes a wider spectrum of stories, cultures and artists. We imagine greater access and opportunities for engagement with the performing arts for all. We imagine a strong, adaptable sector that embraces innovation and fosters the next generation of performing artists, audiences and cultural leaders. With The Next Act, our 3-Year Plan, we commit to leading and supporting the growth of a renewed performing arts sector—not a resurrection of the old, but instead a transformation into something new.”
The NAC has already begun its work of helping the renewal of the performing arts centre through initiatives like #CanadaPerforms, which has showcased and paid more than 700 Canadian artists for their online performances, and partnered with shuttered arts festivals across the country; through arts research on arts attendance during the time of COVID-19 in partnership with Business + Arts and Nanos Research; and by developing a national, online toolkit for the re-opening of performing arts centres and venues. More initiatives will be announced in the coming weeks, stemming from this strategic focus and intent.
“Under the leadership of President and CEO Christopher Deacon, the NAC is ready to lead and support the renewal of the performing arts nationwide,” said NAC Board Chair Adrian Burns. “Through collaboration and investment in creation, production, co-production, and dissemination, along with a heightened focus on community engagement, learning, and innovation, the NAC will shape a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive future for the performing arts in Canada.” …