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Executive Director - Martin Bragg

Martin Bragg is one of the most widely respected arts leaders in Canada.  Prior to joining Alberta Ballet, Martin was an arts consultant and the Chief Executive Officer and Artistic Producer of the Canadian Stage Company in Toronto, Canada’s largest year round contemporary theatre company.  During his 17 years with Canadian Stage, he produced more than 150 productions and tripled the revenue base of the Company.  Mr. Bragg led the company’s national and international touring activities which included their world wide touring production of “The Overcoat”, the world premiere production of “The House of Martin Guerre” in partnership with Chicago’s acclaimed Goodman Theatre, and collaborative projects and tours with Companies in England, Ireland and the United States.  Martin created a number of innovative private sector investment and joint venture activities for the company in Toronto in order to expand their programming activities.  Mr. Bragg has a wide range of experience in all aspects of producing, finance, administration, human resources, fundraising, government relations and Board of Trustee management.

Martin has spent his entire career in the arts, working at theatres across Canada and the United States.  He began his career as an actor and then moved into the production, management, producing and fund development side of the business.  He was a Stage Manager at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in the 1970’s working with Artistic Director Robin Phillips on productions which starred Maggie Smith and Peter Ustinoff, and when he was appointed as Managing Director of the Vancouver Playhouse at the age of 27 he was the youngest leader in the history of that Company.  After nine years with the Vancouver Playhouse, Martin spent three years in Sevilla, Spain as a Vice President of Entertainment for a Spanish/American joint venture on projects for the 1992 Sevilla World’s Fair.  During that time he produced Canada’s Grands Ballet Canadien in a special performance in the ruins of the largest Roman Coliseum outside of Rome and was Executive Producer for both the Canada Day Celebrations with Celine Dion and the $35 million nightly multi-media closing production.

Martin is honoured to have the opportunity to partner with an artist of the international stature of Jean Grand-Maître.  When appointed to his position with the ballet in June 2010, he stated; “We have an amazing group of artists, a committed staff, one of the best training schools in the country and a passionate Board of Directors.  This is a Company that knows how to blend innovation on the stage with sound financial management – both things that make it a major success story for Alberta.   With the ongoing artistic success of the Company I believe that Alberta Ballet is poised for even bigger success here in Alberta, across Canada and soon around the world.   I am excited that I will have the chance to be part of that journey. “