REPLAY FOR LIVESTREAM
NAC-Facebook initiative receives $100K donation from Slaight Music
NAC will host more gigs
The #CanadaPerforms livestream series launched last week by the National Arts Centre and Facebook Canada is proving to be a runaway hit, attracting more than 2,800 applications from artists, hundreds of thousands of viewers and an additional $100,000 donation from Slaight Music.
Thursday’s kickoff concert by Jim Cuddy and friends drew about 10,000 viewers as it streamed from his Toronto studio, and thousands more watched it later. By Monday, it had been viewed more than 600,000 times, a “phenomenal” number for a video from Canada, said Facebook Canada’s head of public policy, Kevin Chan, who came up with the idea to partner with the NAC on the artists’ fund.
“We saw the very acute pain that was going to affect the performing arts community very quickly,” Chan said, noting that 24 million Canadians use Facebook. “It was clear that artists were no longer going to be able to count on the tours and performances they had already booked.
“Then we saw a very interesting thing happen, which was artists spontaneously, almost on their own, turning to online platforms to start performing for free. People wanted to see that sort of thing, and for us, it was important to find a way to support that.”
Facebook Canada provided the $100,000 in funding to get started, and the NAC is administering the money. Artists in any discipline can apply by email for a $1,000 grant to support a 45- to 60-minute livestream.
The program received more than 1,400 applications in the first 24 hours, including submissions from comedians, dancers, storytellers and a wide variety of musicians.
Cuddy, New Brunswick francophone artist Lisa LeBlanc and Hamilton-based folk-rockers Whitehorse were among the 14 artists to livestream concerts over the weekend, while the Ottawa music scene was represented by singer-songwriter Rita Carter and francophone rocker Mehdi Cayenne. Upcoming #CanadaPresents livestreamers include Jenn Grant, Serena Ryder, Catherine McLellan, Colin Linden and more.
Over the weekend, Slaight Music, a Canadian talent-development organization, doubled the funds available with its $100,000 donation, which is likely to extend the program beyond the original deadline of March 31.
“We are proud to be partnering with Facebook and the NAC on this creative relief initiative to help musicians share their talents during these challenging times,” Slaight Music president Derrick Ross said in a statement.
Meanwhile, musicians from the National Arts Centre Orchestra are also getting in on the Facebook action by pre-recording solo performances that will be posted at noon each day. The first Lunch Break on Monday featured violinist Jeremy Mastrangelo playing Gavotte en Rondeau from Bach’s 3rd partita for solo violin in E-major.
Performances later in the week will come from cellist Rachel Mercer and violinist Frédéric Moisan.
Orchestra subscribers can also look forward to a weekly Home Delivery email from maestro Alexander Shelley highlighting past NACO concerts with a curated playlist.
Go to nac-cna.ca for more information on livestream performances and how to apply for a #CanadaPerforms short-term relief grant. lsaxberg@postmedia.com