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News Releases - 2010

Canada Council for the Arts releases five year strategic plan

Toronto, October 20, 2010 – The Canada Council for the Arts outlined today its priorities for the next five years with the release of Strengthening Connections: Strategic Plan 2011-16.

“This plan continues the vision and strategic directions of the Council’s 2008-11 Plan while expanding its focus to better reflect changes in the broader environment,” noted Robert Sirman, Director and CEO. “The plan responds to what we heard during a broad consultation process and highlights how we bring value to our constituents and stakeholders.”

The Plan will continue with the five directions of its current strategic plan and overlay them with three key themes on technology, public engagement and synergy.

“In a period of constrained growth, the Council will embrace opportunities that new technologies offer for better connectivity, broaden the public conversation on the place of art and culture in our lives, and enrich the quality of the relationships between the Council, the arts community and the Canadian public,” added Mr. Sirman.

The five directions are:

  • Reinforce the Council’s commitment to individual artists, working alone or collaboratively, as the core of artistic practice in Canada;
  • Broaden the Council’s commitment to arts organizations to strengthen their capacity to underpin artistic practices in all parts of the country;
  • Enhance the Council’s leadership role in promoting equity as a critical priority in fulfilling Canada’s artistic aspirations;
  • Make partnerships with other organizations a key element in the Council’s approach to advancing its mandate; and
  • Enhance the Council’s capacity to support the arts and implement change, by strengthening its structure, staffing and services.

A Corporate Plan Summary, to be released in spring 2011, will provide further details on how the Council will implement its strategic directions over the next five years.

Read the Strategic Plan.

Media Contact:

Grace Thrasher
Manager, Public Relations Team
1-800-263-5588 or
613-566-4414, ext. 5145
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