Applications are now open for the Northern Arts and Cultural CentreSA国际影视传媒檚 (NACC) .

The program has five spots, open to performing artists of all stripes in communities across the Northwest Territories. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a two-year commitment designed to help performing artists build a professional career, said Marie Coderre executive and artistic director of NACC.

SA国际影视传媒淚t can be theatre, dance, it can be spoken word, music from electronica to hip-hop to classical music,SA国际影视传媒� said Coderre. SA国际影视传媒淚t has been definitely diverse over the last seven years.SA国际影视传媒�

Past mentees include artists like Carmen Braden, Digawolf and Juno award-winning Quantum Tangle.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e been at NACC for seven years and itSA国际影视传媒檚 been a real treat to work with different artists,SA国际影视传媒� said Coderre.

Once the artists are selected, NACC works with the mentees to create a personalized action plan.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 not a group program, itSA国际影视传媒檚 an individual program with each mentee,SA国际影视传媒� said Coderre.

SA国际影视传媒淪o at first I ask them to fill out a form for an action plan with goals set and I evaluate with them where they are at with their career.SA国际影视传媒�

From there, they make a plan for each year of the program. Because not every artist is at the same stage in their career, itSA国际影视传媒檚 important to nail down whatSA国际影视传媒檚 important during that first year, she said.

SA国际影视传媒淚f you really want to make a full-time living as a professional artist, then thereSA国际影视传媒檚 time that you need to invest,SA国际影视传媒� said Coderre.

Each mentee has a $3,000 budget to work with to help build both their artistic practice and their business activities, she said. That includes supports like helping them with CD recording, grant applications, attending arts summits to network and access to communications and promotional tools.

SA国际影视传媒淲e can give them training from professional artists via Skype for business and how to develop touring capacity, it can be going to the Banff Centre, booking gigs for showcases,SA国际影视传媒� said Coderre.

NACC also works with festivals across Canada to help artists land real gigs.

SA国际影视传媒淭he Northern Scene Series here is in place to give them the opportunity to test and explore new ideas,SA国际影视传媒� she said. "It also gives mentees experience performing in a professional theatre to help advance their career."

Coderre said she hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 seen another program like this in other parts of Canada.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 very proud of it,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

The program is especially important because it allows artists to build a career in the North.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think itSA国际影视传媒檚 because NACC is the main performing arts institution and we have connections down south and the isolation doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 help the artist to stay here,SA国际影视传媒� said Coderre.

Artists in the North simply donSA国际影视传媒檛 have the same advantages as they would in a hub like Toronto. But with NACC acting as a liaison between the North and the south, they are connected to more opportunities.

SA国际影视传媒淲e donSA国际影视传媒檛 want them to move down south after. So they need to have supports and I think NACC can play a big role in that.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淲e need to keep our artistic brains as much as possible in town,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

The application period runs from March 1 until April 1 and Coderre said decisions will be made in mid-April. 

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