As you may know by now, this girlaboutOtown is the reflective type. I tend to ruminate about ideas and experiences, and I have learned it is best to let my mind take its time and do its work. Eventually, a perspective always emerges.
My most recent visit to Canada’s National Arts Centre is a perfect example of this approach. Hosted by the very generous marketing team of Jennifer Covert and Natalie Peachy (@CanadasNAC), I was privileged to be included in their Bloggers Night Out a week ago last Thursday.
Several Ottawa bloggers were invited to see the Pops Orchestra show “Mysterioso, Music and Magic”. We were treated to a few fine food selections from Chef Blackie’s new Le Cafe menu with some wine beforehand, and a backstage Q &A session after the show with maestro Jack Everly, Principal Pops Conductor of the NAC Orchestra and visiting magician extraordinaire Joseph Gabriel.
Mike Thompson of Ottawa Tonite did up this video, which does a great job of documenting the evening’s delightful events – or you can read more by Dani of Postcards of the Mothership, Andrea of a peek inside the fishbowl, Kim of relishing.ca and Julie of coffeewithjulie. Not surprisingly each blogger describes a different point of view and imparts their unique insight into our magical, musical night out.
For my part, Bloggers Night Out simply confirmed my belief that the dedicated people behind the scenes at Canada’s National Arts Centre are magicians too!
From marketers and musicians to donors and dancers, these alchemists are not just making the arts to available to a broad audience – they are also creating and shaping our local and national culture. While the breadth and depth of performance offerings at the centre is nothing short of stunning, this deliberately diverse appeal is motivated by much more than just money. In addition to a clear desire to continue operating, the NAC actively strives to lead, and here is where they really succeed.
Not only does the NAC support innovation in each of the performing arts fields in which it works – music (classical & contemporary), theatre (French & English), dance and variety – it also engages us directly through its educational activities, community programming and support of emerging artists. As one of the largest multidisciplinary, bilingual performing arts centres in the world, the NAC is indeed influencing Canada’s culture by creating new connections, inspiring future artistic contributions and enabling the accessible consumption of the arts.
Bloggers Night Out was just one small piece of this much bigger picture.
The leadership of President and CEO Peter Herrndorf should not be understated either. For a federal institution with a long established tradition and a variety of core constituencies to cater to, it cannot have been easy to embrace technology with enthusiasm, to jump confidently into the conversation underway on the social web, or to change so convincingly to keep up with the times.
Mr. Herrndorf’s presence on Bloggers Night provides excellent evidence of the NAC’s commitment to progress. More than just an ‘appearance’, Mr. Herrndorf stayed with us awhile to make our acquaintance, to swap stories, and to pose meaningful questions to help him make the NAC experience even better. When he inquired “How often do you come? What do you like to see?”, not only was he genuinely open to hearing our opinions, it was obvious Mr. Herrndorf was listening intently and that our responses actually mattered to him.
So, for those who might suggest that the NAC was simply wining and dining a bunch of bloggers in their own institutional interest, this girlaboutOtown respectfully disagrees.
Make no mistake, as far as interests go, the NAC never stops finding new ways to work on behalf of ours!
Photo credit Marc Fowler, via the NAC.
I couldn’t agree with you more! Wonderfully stated (If I ruminate more, will I be able to write like you too?)
I completely agree. Mr. Herndorf’s presence said a lot about the NAC’s drive to know their audience (or potential audience). It’s sure a lot quicker than doing public opionion research!
thanks for such a thoughtful post on the blogger event. I’m really pleased that you could make it and that you enjoyed yourself!
Jennifer
I love the N.A.C., and used to go to the theater/opera/dance quite often, even ventured out to Montreal several times for a ballet…. although, what makes it a tad disappointing at times, is I completely associate the Opera/Theater/Dance with an ivory tower, and I like it that way. Those on stage take a painstakingly long time to prepare entertainment to perfection. I feel the audience, out of respect could show up wearing something other than what they rolled out of bed in. I know, I know its not always like that, but a lot of the time, sigh, jeans and a dirty tee have no place at the N.A.C. Anyway, just my two cents from another point of view. Either way, the N.A.C., no matter what the audience, is always a good idea for a night out!
xo!
Justyna
Justyna-
Thanks so much for your comments. While I am in favour of ensuring the arts are accessible to everyone, I do tend to be of the same mind as you on the subject of ‘what to wear’. It seems there are so very few occasions to get decked out anymore, one would think an evening out at Canada’s National Arts Centre would provide the perfect opportunity/excuse. “Why not raise the bar and maintain a sense of elegance and refinement for such an event”, one might ask, but then again, there is always another perspective to consider…
If you haven’t already seen this post on the new NAC blog, you might want to take a look. It suggests that maybe we ought to view the theatre as part of our daily lives. Also a thought worth entertaining, in my view.
http://blog.nac-cna.ca/blog/2010/03/12/to-dress-up-or-not-to-dress-up-that-is-the-question/
Maybe, the best answer is to “do it up” wardrobe-wise everyday!