Category Archives: performing arts

Value of Performing Arts Presentation – So, what?

Since the release of the final report of 2 years worth of study, consultation and research to shed new light on the individual, community and societal values, benefits and impacts of performing arts in the lives of Canadians and Canada, I have had many opportunities to turn toward the So, what? and the Now, what?

The Value of Presenting is living research that I apply in my consulting practice every day, spanning from brand strategy and audience development with Magnetic North: Canada’s Theatre Festival to strategic planning with Alianait Arts Festival to ongoing consulting with the National Arts Centre.

A large part is giving public presentations and leading workshops. This winter is rich with travel to help presenters and the whole presenting ecosystem contemplate a few ideas – and share my perspectives based on this extensive research and my strategy and marketing practice:

Audience development: A roadmap to engaged audiences and vibrant communities
Performing arts for all: Utopia or Destiny?
The opportunities and challenges that the rapid evolution of communications technologies hold
How to lead audiences to new artistic experiences

Here is a list of 2014 workshops and conferences, that are being organized this winter. As event webpages appear I will add links to session and registration information:

APAP|NYC, New York, January 13
CAPACOA , Toronto, January 22 – 25
Northeastern University, Boston, February 12 – 13
London Arts Council and partners, London, ON, February 26
Atlantic Presenters Association, St. John’s, NL, March 2 to 3
Atlantic Presenters Association, Charlottetown, PEI, March 5
Atlantic Presenters Association, Halifax, NS, March 7 to 8
Manitoba Arts Network, Portage La Prairie, MB, March 25
Iqaluit, NU, March 31
Symposium for Performing Arts in Rural Communities, Haliburton, April 24-27

In all of this work, I am discussion a vision of vibrant communities fueled by performing arts and its community-engaged partnerships.

Creative City Summit – Day 3

Launched! Landmark Study on Benefits of the Performing Arts

I have spent 2 years on this epic exploration that had me visit eight provinces, one territory and meet over 1,000 people who work in the performing arts.

Here’s part of the press release (click for full release) and the report and infographic links:
April 29, 2013 – Performing arts presenting generates a wide range of benefits for Canadians, the communities they live in and society at large, according to a report prepared by Strategic Moves and released today by the Canadian Arts Presenting Association (CAPACOA).

The Value of Presenting: A Study of Performing Arts Presentation in Canada includes a comprehensive historical and contemporary overview of the performing arts ecosystem. It reveals that performing arts are valued by the vast majority of Canadians – across socio-economic differences – and it provides a new perspective on younger Canadians’ interest in live performing arts. Most importantly, the study identifies a broad range of public benefits associated with performing arts presentation, including better health and well-being, greater energy and vitality in communities, and a more caring and cohesive society.


Read the full report		View the infographic		View the infographic

Canadian Atlas Online

If reading reports isn’t your thing read on: I am thrilled that we were able to partner with the one-of-a-kind Canadian Geographic, in putting together a brand new, unique thematic for the Canadian Atlas Onli ne. This thematic aims squarely at the public in general, and the education sector in particular. It offers a look at performing arts in Canada historically, geographically and in terms of the many benefits Canadians receive. And all that in short, to-the-point descriptions, videos and games! The team at Banfield-Seguin & Porkcoffee did an extraordinary job putting my scripts, finely edited by Canadian Geographic’s team, together and making some complex concepts come to life in short and poignant videos!

http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas/themes.aspx?id=performingarts&sub=performingarts_basics_introduction&lang=En

Making information accessible

Long, comprehensive reports, however enthralling, are, at best, read by a minority. That’s why I have been preparing smaller, focused supplementary reports for the Value of Presenting study.

A report on Francophone minorities in Canada: La diffusion des arts vivants dans la francophonie canadienne (PDF)

A Special Report Rural Northern Presenting (PDF)

And the presentation in Powerpoint format I used for a couple of webinars to discuss this information with rural and Northern presenters earlier this month:
Presentation Rural Northern Presenting Highlights (PDF)

A special report on Dance Attendance Supplementary Analysis (PDF)

These reports go beyond the Interim Report that spawns them by deepening the specific information from our survey of the Canadian public.

Additional segment reports will be published over the spring to help Canadian presenters and anyone interested see themselves more clearly in this sector-wide study.

Media coverage in articles and interviews is summarized in this post.

Interim report: Value of Presenting revealed

This spring my life has been dominated by writing. The result is a major milestone for the Value of Presenting: A Study of Arts Presentation in Canada.

In this Interim Report of Findings I consolidate the facts and figures on the value and benefits of performing arts presenting in Canada gathered over the last year through two national surveys (288 presenters and 1,031 Canadians), participation at conferences, leading dialogues and interviews with the presenting field and those found in the literature. Additionally, it presents a profile of the performing arts presenting ecology as a whole and highlights how several groups of presenters are distinct; for instance, those presenting works for aboriginal communities, francophone minority (those operating outside Quebec) and those in rural and remote communities.

The Interim Report of Findings:
http://www.diffusionartspresenting.ca/2012/05/07/interim-report-of-findings/

French-language executive summary:
http://www.diffusionartspresenting.ca/2012/05/07/rapport-interimaire/

The supplementary report on francophone minorities and presenting in Canada, with additional data:
http://www.diffusionartspresenting.ca/2012/05/07/diffusion-francophonie/

Writing is both solitary and communal. My thanks and appreciation go to the project manager at CAPACOA, Frédéric Julien, for reviewing everything and co-writing the French report. And my colleague, Pierre Lacroix, who has been leading the consulting work with the francophone communities and co-wrote the French-language report.

Over the next year, I will continue to explore the implications of these and other findings with the presenting field across Canada. In March 2013, we will publish a final report on the Value of Presenting in both English and French.

This next week, I will lead two webinars for rural and Northern presenters to review findings and begin conversations on the “So, what” part of this work. For webinar information: http://www.diffusionartspresenting.ca/events/

Ottawa is putting it all together for Juno Awards Week

Being invited to participate on the Ottawa Host Committee for Juno 2012 has offered me a deeper perspective of the tremendous teamwork, expertise and volunteerism needed to bring a major national event to a city. Ottawa’s institutions are very well practiced in producing major events, having made that an important pillar of economic development activities in the region.

Members of the Host Committee with the Juno Ice Sculpture.

This collaboration ranging from the NCC and the City to Aboriginal and Francophone communities, from the Chamber of Commerce and local BIAs to museums, transportation hubs and local media partners to the universities, and, of course, the local bar/ music scene is awesome. Sponsors are also a key part in the “making it go” equation.

Producing and promoting a major event is a complex choreography. To make it go requires diligent effort, involvement and engagement of people and communities, and a flexible plan. Knowing the many innovative marketing and “civic animation” ideas we have generated to help bring a buzz for the Juno Awards and Canadian music to Ottawa and the nation is simply cool. Many of these ideas have been put in place. Any that aren’t seeing the light of day due to time and resource constraints will be well worth revisiting in the future; especially those that involved more advanced uses of communications technologies.

Meanwhile, partnerships like this one with the University of Ottawa/Ottawa Host Committee/ MASC are using technology to bust wide open the sacred walls of learning through video-conferencing master classes with leading musicians across Canada.

http://www.junoawards.ca

In the best of worlds, major events serve the visiting organization (CARAS, in this case), its constituents (music industry and musicians) while providing unique opportunities for participation to the local community and, at the same time, elevating the brand of the city in the Nation’s psyche. On April 1, Canadians will see Ottawa once again for what it is – a vibrant city and a diverse people much beyond the day-to-day political machinations inherent in being a capital. And almost better yet, all through Juno week from March 26 to the CTV Juno Award show broadcast on April 1, people in Ottawa-Gatineau get to celebrate Canadian music in bars, on the street and in concert halls across the region.

Juno Week in Ottawa: March 26 to April 1, 2012.

Juno 2012 in Ottawa

Canada’s premier music celebration, the Juno Awards, is returning to Ottawa this spring. I have the pleasure of volunteering on the local Host City Committee; needless to say … check it out!

Next week, the nominees will be announced, just in time for the public ticket on sale date for the Awards show.

Ottawa will be buzzing with Juno action from March 26 to April 1, 2012 with dozens of shows, a mega autograph session, basketball and hockey games and more.