NAC to continue livestreaming project, with Facebook’s help

The National Arts Centre’s #CanadaPerforms livestreaming series will become a permanent initiative with the support of a $500,000 investment from Facebook, the NAC announced Friday.

Launched as a partnership between the NAC and Facebook Canada in mid-March, after the novel coronavirus closed all performance venues, CanadaPerforms was initially a $100,000 short-term relief fund that paid Canadian performers and authors for online performances.

After additional donors contributed, the series grew to a $700,000 fund that over the last two months paid $1,000 to each of its 70 performers, chosen from more than 6,000 applicants. The concerts have been seen by more than 4.5 million viewers, the NAC said in a release.

Christopher Deacon, the NAC’s president and CEO, called #CanadaPerforms “a movement that has grown beyond our expectations.”

“While physical stages, venues, live audiences and performance will always be at the heart of the performing arts, it is clear that livestreaming has an ongoing role,” said Heather Gibson, the NAC’s executive producer of popular music and variety, and lead programmer for #CanadaPerforms. “We are excited to continue #CanadaPerforms and bring the arts into people’s homes across Canada and around the world.”

Throughout June, the project will feature and profile performing arts festivals from across Canada that were forced to shut because of the pandemic. phum@postmedia.com