CAPACOA represents 150 professional for-profit and not-for-profit presenters, festivals, presenter networks, artistic companies, agents, managers and other stakeholders working across the presenting and touring sector in Canada.
CAPACOA — Linked Digital Futures Initiative
1. The challenge
The performing arts sector was confronting an accelerated digital shift – in particular, the need for a coherent sector-wide strategy to improve the discoverability of performing arts organizations and events (AI-readiness of performing arts data). Organizations across Canada needed practical support to understand how to adapt their digital practices, while a distributed team of Digital Navigators and Coaches needed to collaborate effectively in a rapidly changing environment. In addition to the lack of homogeneity in the data landscape across Canada’s performing arts sector, implementation of the initiative was compounded by the disruption of COVID-19.
2. The approach
As Project Manager for the Linked Digital Future Initiative project, Akoulina brought together a national team working remotely from cities across Canada.
She created a collaborative structure that kept the team connected, informed, and empowered while providing strategic guidance on stakeholder challenges and emerging issues. She also supported sector-wide dialogue, including co-presenting with Frederic Julien the outcomes of the initiative at the Arts, Culture and Digital Transformation Summit in Banff (Radical Collaboration in a Linked Digital World).
Her approach combined project management with stakeholder intelligence, facilitation, and strategic sense-making.
3. The outcome
The project enabled and supported a team of Digital Navigators and Coaches to provide practical guidance to performing arts organizations navigating the digital transition to improve sector-wide capacities and competencies to standardize and implement strategies to ensure the AI-readiness of performing arts data. Despite the disruption and uncertainty of the pandemic, the project maintained momentum and cohesion across a distributed national team and partner stakeholders (CultureCreates). Akoulina also helped translate complex sector conversations into useful analysis and insights shared by CAPACOA with the broader cultural community.
Testimonial
“Even as COVID-19 disrupted our entire sector, Akou maintained a steady hand on the project. She provided sage counsel on tackling specific issues with stakeholders and through her leadership I felt connected, informed and empowered to carry out our work.”
Bridget MacIntosh
Award-winning Cultural Strategist & Advisor