Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity launches new strategic direction and visual identity

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Together with its Board of Governors, Banff Centre has unveiled a new, long range strategic plan in order to advance and secure its position as the global leader in arts, culture, and creativity. Work on the Banff Centre five-year strategic plan commenced in May 2015, and was accompanied by a thorough review of the mission, vision, and strategic direction. Concurrent to the strategic planning work, the Centre undertook an update to its branding and institutional graphic identity.

Entitled The Creative Voice: 2016- 2021, the strategic plan includes the introduction of:

• An update of its public name to Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
• An ongoing commitment to excellence in artistic learning
• A dedicated public arts program
• A world-class public presenting series
• The development and introduction of a dedicated cultural leadership program
• A commitment to be a centre of excellence for Indigenous arts and leadership programs
• The long term plan for the investment and stewardship of our campus infrastructure

“The six strategic goals detailed in this plan celebrate the dynamic work we do at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and provide the strategic framework to enable the continued creation of work for the national and global stage,” said Janice Price, President and CEO, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. “As we look forward to the next five years, we see an organization that’s equipped to realize its mission and vision, including the aspiration to become the global leader in arts, culture, and creativity. Our success in implementing this five year plan will be measured by our ability to nurture the creative voices of today and tomorrow.”

Banff Centre Board Chair David Weyant added, “The work outlined in the five year strategic plan, that has been endorsed and unanimously adopted by Banff Centre Board of Governors, truly represents the outstanding creative practice that takes place on our campus. We are now firmly positioned to be a powerful and sustainable force in the world of arts and creativity.”

As a public introduction to the new strategic plan and visual identity, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity is hosting a free, celebratory concert on July 16 at the Centre’s Shaw Amphitheatre featuring the legendary Buffy Sainte-Marie, singer-songwriter Dan Mangan, nine-piece string ensemble collectif 9, Cree singer Mariame Hasni, and kora player Seckou Keita along with emerging voices from Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity programs. Tickets are free, but must be reserved at banffcentre.ca

The Creative Voice Overview

The plan, The Creative Voice, has helped to shape a clarified mission and vision and identifies six key areas of focus over the next five years. Highlights of activities in each of the strategic objectives include:

1. Excellence in artistic learning

• Banff Centre summer classical music programs will engage an international faculty of artists, thinkers, and composers to create new work and re-examine traditional repertoire under the co-artistic direction of Claire Chase and Steven Schick.

• Banff Centre opera programs will continue to explore new approaches to the art form in collaboration with national and international partners through one full production residency each year.

• Banff Centre will develop new media programs in digital storytelling, audio and video, gaming and virtual reality, with additional theatre production training in rigging, lighting and sound, and projection.
• Banff Centre will continue to contribute to our artistic community throughout Alberta and the arts and cultural sector with a dedicated public outreach strategy.

1. Banff Centre as a cultural destination

• Banff Centre will create a public art walk from the Town of Banff to the Centre with an accompanying art park on campus. The experience will help to bring to life the creative practice that is present throughout learning programs.

• Banff Centre will commission a series of public art works, beginning in summer 2017.

1. Becoming a leading destination for creativity in Leadership and Conferences

• Banff Centre will work with Russell Willis Taylor, former President and CEO of the US based National Arts Strategies, to establish a new, value-based leadership program for executive level cultural administrators and in addition to overseeing all leadership programs.
• Banff Centre will facilitate unique conference experiences that utilize arts, creativity, leadership practices and the natural environment while advancing programmatic practices and conference measurement techniques.

1. A centre of excellence for Indigenous programs

• Banff Centre will maintain its world respected programs in Indigenous Leadership and Management.
• Banff Centre will develop new programs that bring together Indigenous and non-Indigenous learners around topics of national importance, including training and summits based on recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

• Banff Centre will annually commission an emerging Indigenous visual artist annually with an award of $20,000 to create a new work. This first award will be announced in summer 2016.
• Banff Centre will provide year-round programing and artistic direction in Indigenous arts.

5. Celebrating and preserving our creative home in the Canadian Rocky Mountains   

• Banff Centre will steward, invest, and improve the existing buildings and venues on its campus to best support artists, leaders, and guests.

6. An adaptable, resilient organization

• Banff Centre will continue to operate as a not-for-profit that is driven to invest its earned and contributed income into arts program in support of its mission/vision, while delivering balanced or surplus operating results.

Report courtesy of Banff Centre.