The NAC Unveils its Vision, Values and Strategic Goals, along with Actions Plans on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Anti-Racism and Environmental Sustainability 

SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 – OTTAWA – The National Arts Centre, led by President and CEO Christopher Deacon, today unveiled its 2023–2026 Strategic Plan, The Journey Ahead. It details how the NAC will continue to work with artists and arts organizations from across the land to revitalize the Canadian performing arts sector, and to fulfil its mandate of presenting and developing the performing arts across Canada. Through the Plan, the NAC also recommits to a journey of ensuring that equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, accessibility and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples will guide its actions. 

“The NAC is a house of dreams, an idea of creativity and story that takes flight on stages across the country through our collaborations and partnerships with artists and arts companies coast to coast to coast,” Christopher Deacon said. “We recommit to the journey of working with others to build a performing arts sector that is more creative, adaptive and relevant to communities; that is equitable, diverse, accessible and welcoming to all; and that advances environmental sustainability and reconciliation with Indigenous nations, so that the art on the stages reflects all of what Canada is.” 

ABOUT THE JOURNEY AHEAD 

The Journey Ahead, the NAC’s 2023–2026 Strategic Plan, was developed by the NAC’s leadership team and its Board of Trustees, chaired by Guy Pratte, C.M.  
 
The Plan is centred on the following Vision Statement:  

“We believe the performing arts are vital to human experience. A house of dreams for the Canadian performing arts, the National Arts Centre will work with artists and arts organizations from across this land to revitalize our sector. We are on a journey, committed to ensuring that equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, accessibility and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples will guide our actions.” 

The Journey Ahead will pursue five Strategic Goals: 

• Develop the Canadian Performing Arts Through the Work on our Stages
• Elevate Indigenous Voices and Stories at the NAC and Across the Land 
• Engage Meaningfully with Audiences and Communities 
• Support Engagement in the Arts for Children, Youth and Families
• Foster Best Practices in Management

 Six Values will guide the NAC’s priorities and actions:   

• Creativity
• Grounded in Communities
• Sense of Belonging
• Generous Collaboration
• Walking Gently on the Land
• Children of Today, Future of Tomorrow

THE NAC’S ACTION PLANS ON EQUITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND ANTI-RACISM, AS WELL AS ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY  

Alongside the launch of the 2023-2026 Strategic Plan, the NAC also unveiled two Action Plans that outline the NAC’s commitments to equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism, as well as environmental sustainability. (The NAC’s Accessibility Action Plan was launched in December 2022). These Plans are publicly available on the NAC’s website. Progress reports will be posted as the Corporation moves along its journey.  

Learn more about The Journey Ahead and the NAC’s Strategic Goals, Priorities and Actions Plans: https://nac-cna.ca/en/about/strategic-plan/2023-2026 

ABOUT THE NAC 

The National Arts Centre (NAC) is Canada’s bilingual, multi-disciplinary home for the performing arts. The NAC presents, creates, produces, and co-produces performing arts programming in various streams — the NAC Orchestra, Dance, English Theatre in collaboration with Black Theatre Workshop, French Theatre, Indigenous Theatre, and Popular Music and Variety — and nurtures the next generation of audiences and artists from across Canada. The NAC is located in the National Capital Region on the unceded territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation. 

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Annabelle Cloutier
Executive Director, Strategy and Communications
National Arts Centre
613-301-2764
annabelle.cloutier@nac-cna.ca