September 18, 2014 – OTTAWA (Canada) – Last October’s historic 20-day tour of China by the National Arts Centre Orchestra was considered a powerful expression of the friendship and strong artistic and cultural ties between Canada and China.  

Coordinated by the National Arts Centre (NAC), a new manifestation of that special relationship is now underway with the arrival of eight Chinese arts administration students who are taking part in cultural residencies at four prestigious Canadian arts organizations: The Banff Centre, the Stratford Festival, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the National Arts Centre.

Each institution is hosting two Chinese students for eight to 12-week residencies. These residencies will provide exposure to the specific cultural strengths of each institution, such as the world-renowned expertise of the NAC in new media and long-distance learning applications.  Marketing and social media applications, production techniques, audience development and building links to other cultures are some of the other areas to be explored by the students as they absorb the internal operations of the Canadian institutions. 

For example, 24 year-old Yuan Yuan Zhang (Vivian), a student from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, is shadowing National Arts Centre Music Department staff as they prepare the Canadian visit of China’s National Center for the Performing Arts orchestral tour in November. She is also gaining insights on how to produce online videos, podcasts, webcasts and distance learning events under the direction of the NAC’s New Media Producer.

For her part, Chen Yaya (Shadow), also 24, from the Nanjing University of the Arts, is learning about how the NAC goes about planning and executing a number of events such as Culture Days and the NAC Orchestra’s Family Adventures pre-concert activities. She also gets to attend orchestra season planning meetings with the Music and Marketing Departments, and is learning about how the NAC Foundation goes about fundraising for a large cultural institution. 

The six other Chinese students have begun similar residencies at the following Canadian institutions:

• Stratford Festival: Simeng Huang (Sebrina) from the Shanghai Theatre Academy, and Chen Qiutong (Carolyn) from the Xinghai Conservatory of Music in Guangzhou;
• The Banff Centre: Zhong Ziyan (Joanne) from the Xinghai Conservatory of Music in Guangzhou and Ma Zhicong (Vera) from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music;
• Toronto Symphony Orchestra: Margot Yu from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, and Liang Yazhen (Dora) from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.

TANGIBLE LEGACY OF 2013 TOUR

China is currently on an ambitious program of building concert halls and other cultural entities that require trained leadership. Hence, enrolment in Arts Administration programs is burgeoning. Chinese conservatories and other education institutions have asked Canada, through the NAC, to provide inspiration and experiential learning to top students who can provide leadership to the rapidly expanding number of arts institutions in China.

The initiative, called the Arts Administration China/Canada Cultural Program, creates a tangible China Tour legacy in both China and Canada.

“The NAC wanted to create a meaningful and measurable legacy which would enhance and further the Tour’s goals of cultural understanding and cultural exchange between our two nations,” said Peter Herrndorf, President and CEO of the National Arts Centre. “This initiative is a wonderful partnership that will allow us to deepen our friendship and lead to even more collaboration in the years to come.”

Chinese partner institutions for this program are the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, the Xinghai Conservatory of Music in Guangzhou, the Shanghai Theatre Academy and the Nanjing University of the Arts.  Each of these institutions has a strong Arts Administration program.

ABOUT THE NAC

The National Arts Centre collaborates with artists and arts organizations across Canada to help create a national stage for the performing arts, and acts as a catalyst for performance, creation and learning across the country. A home for Canada’s most creative artists, the NAC strives to be artistically adventurous in each of its programming streams – the NAC Orchestra, English Theatre, French Theatre and Dance, as well as the Scene festivals and NAC Presents, which showcase established and emerging Canadian artists. The organization is at the forefront of youth and educational activities, offering artist training, programs for children and youth, and resources for teachers in communities across Canada. The NAC is also a pioneer in new media, using technology to teach students and young artists around the globe, by creating top-rated podcasts, and providing a wide range of NAC Orchestra concerts on demand. The NAC is the only bilingual, multidisciplinary performing arts centre in Canada, and one of the largest in the world.

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TO ARRANGE FOR INTERVIEW OR FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Carl Martin
Communications
National Arts Centre
613 947-7000 x560
carl.martin@nac-cna.ca