National Creation Fund

Dream. Connect. Create.

We fund risk

The National Arts Centre’s National Creation Fund makes investments of up to 2 million dollars a year in the development of 9 to 11 compelling new creations in the performing arts. Fuelled entirely by donors, the Fund offers Canadian artists room to realize creative dreams.

The Fund provides the necessary time, space and resources to make inspiring and impactful work.  We invest in creation.

"... it is really helping the Ottawa-based National Arts Centre live up to that “national” in its name."  

J. Kelly Nestruck, The Globe and Mail

Projects must be led by Canadian creators
and meet the following criteria:

  • Are artistically ambitious and compelling
  • Have a strong artistic team and committed producing and presenting partners
  • Are likely to have a national or international impact
Learn about our investment process

Discover our investments

Universal Child Care Quote Unquote Collective
Qaumma Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory and Vinnie Karetak
Raven Mother Dancers of Damelahamid
The Breathing Hole / Aglu ᐊᒡᓗ NAC English Theatre and NAC Indigenous Theatre
Symphony of hearts RD Créations
Aportia Chryptych: A Black Opera for Portia White Canadian Opera Company
asses.masses Patrick Blenkarn and Milton Lim
Identity: A Song Cycle Against the Grain Theatre
Human Measure Cassils
Antigone Sick + Twisted Theatre, in partnership with AA Battery and The Mariachi Ghost
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Our Season

  1. Presented by Danse Danse
    Murmuration Le Patin Libre
    Apr 16 - Apr 21, 2024 Arena Mont-Royal (Montreal)
    Project page
  2. Presented by Théâtre La Licorne
    La traversée du siècle A collaboration with seven Montreal theatres
    Apr 20 2024 Théâtre La Licorne
    Project page
  3. Presented by Internationaal Theater Amsterdam
    Assembly Hall Kidd Pivot
    Apr 22 - Apr 24, 2024 Internationaal Theater Amsterdam
    Project page
  4. Presented by Culture 3R
    Projet Polytechnique Porte Parole
    Apr 23 - Apr 24, 2024 J.-Antonio-Thompson (Trois-Rivières)
    Project page
  5. Rhapsodie Sylvain Émard Danse
    Apr 25 2024 Théâtre de la Ville (Longueuil)
    Project page
  6. Presented by TO Live and Fall for Dance North
    Murmuration Le Patin Libre
    Apr 25 - Apr 28, 2024 Leaside Community Memorial Gardens (Toronto)
    Project page
  7. Presented by Salle Odyssée
    Projet Polytechnique Porte Parole
    Apr 26 - Apr 27, 2024 Salle Odyssée (Gatineau)
    Project page
  8. Presented by Steps Dance Festival
    Assembly Hall Kidd Pivot
    Apr 28 2024 LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura (Lugano)
    Project page
  9. Presented by Maison des arts Desjardins Drummondville
    Projet Polytechnique Porte Parole
    Apr 30 2024 Maison des arts Desjardins Drummondville
    Project page
  10. Presented by Steps Dance Festival
    Assembly Hall Kidd Pivot
    May 3 2024 Theater 11 (Zurich)
    Project page
  11. Presented by Schauspielhaus Bochum
    The Storyville Mosquito Kid Koala
    May 7 - May 8, 2024 Bochum (Germany)
    Project page
  12. Presented by Festspielhaus St. Pölten
    Assembly Hall Kidd Pivot
    May 9 2024 Großer Saal (St. Pölten)
    Project page
  13. Presented by Ruhrfestspielhaus Kleines Haus
    The Storyville Mosquito Kid Koala
    May 10 - May 12, 2024 Recklinghausen (Germany)
    Project page
  14. Presented by TO Live
    SKéN:NEN Kaha:wi Dance Theatre
    May 10 - May 11, 2024 St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts (Toronto)
    Project page
  15. Presented by Espace Go
    Nigamon/Tunai ONISHKA
    May 14 - May 30, 2024 Espace Go (Montreal)
    Project page
  16. Presented by Shakespeare International Festival
    Jusqu’à ce qu’on meure Transthéâtre
    May 16 - May 26, 2024 Craiova, Romania
    Project page
  17. Presented by Théâtre de Quat’Sous
    La traversée du siècle A collaboration with seven Montreal theatres
    May 25 2024 Théâtre de Quat’Sous
    Project page
  18. Presented by Festival TransAmériques
    asses.masses Patrick Blenkarn and Milton Lim
    May 25 2024 Centaur Theatre (Montreal)
    Project page
  19. Presented by NAC Dance
    Symphony of hearts RD Créations
    May 30 2024 Southam Hall (Ottawa)
    Project page
  20. Presented by Festival TransAmériques
    Survival Technologies PME-ART
    May 30 - Jun 3, 2024 Édifice Wilder - Espace Bleu (Montreal)
    Project page
  21. Presented by Festival TransAmériques
    asses.masses Patrick Blenkarn and Milton Lim
    Jun 1 2024 Centaur Theatre (Montreal)
    Project page
  22. Presented by Festival TransAmériques
    ODE Catherine Gaudet
    Jun 1 - Jun 4, 2024 Theatre Jean Duceppe (Montreal)
    Project page
  23. Presented by Théâtre du Rideau Vert
    La traversée du siècle A collaboration with seven Montreal theatres
    Jun 8 2024 Théâtre du Rideau Vert
    Project page
  24. Presented by the Canadian Opera Company
    Aportia Chryptych: A Black Opera for Portia White Canadian Opera Company
    Jun 14 - Jun 16, 2024 Canadian Opera Company Theatre (Toronto)
    Project page
  25. Presented by Théâtre Duceppe
    La traversée du siècle A collaboration with seven Montreal theatres
    Jun 15 2024 Théâtre Duceppe
    Project page
  26. Presented by FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
    Kimiko’s Pearl Bravo Niagara! Festival of the Arts
    Jun 22 - Jun 23, 2024 Partridge Hall (St. Catharines)
    Project page
  27. Presented by the Montreal International Jazz Festival
    The Storyville Mosquito Kid Koala
    Jun 27 - Jun 29, 2024 Cinquième Salle (Montréal)
    Project page
  28. Presented by Théâtre du Nouveau Monde
    La traversée du siècle A collaboration with seven Montreal theatres
    Jun 29 2024 Théâtre du Nouveau Monde
    Project page
  29. Presented by La Strada
    Jusqu’à ce qu’on meure Transthéâtre
    Jul 30 - Aug 4, 2024 Graz, Austria
    Project page
  30. Presented by Stratford Festival
    Salesman in China Stratford Festival
    Aug 3 - Oct 26, 2024 Avon Theatre, Stratford
    Project page
  31. Presented by SFJAZZ
    The Storyville Mosquito Kid Koala
    Aug 8 - Aug 11, 2024 Miner Auditorium (San Francisco)
    Project page
  32. Presented by Edinburgh International Festival
    Nigamon/Tunai ONISHKA
    Aug 15 - Aug 18, 2024 The Studio (Edinburgh)
    Project page
  33. Presented by the Edinburgh International Festival
    Assembly Hall Kidd Pivot
    Aug 22 - Aug 24, 2024 Festival Theatre (Edinburgh)
    Project page
  34. Presented by Cultura Nova
    Jusqu’à ce qu’on meure Transthéâtre
    Aug 24 - Aug 31, 2024 Heerlen, Netherlands
    Project page
  35. Presented by NAC French Theatre
    La traversée du siècle A collaboration with seven Montreal theatres
    Sep 7 2024 Babs Asper Theatre
    Project page
  36. Presented by Persephone Theatre
    The Invisible - Agents of Ungentlemanly Warfare Catalyst Theatre
    Oct 23 - Nov 3, 2024 Remai Arts Centre (Saskatoon)
    Project page
  37. Presented by Canadian Stage
    Mahabharata Why Not Theatre
    Apr 8 - Apr 20, 2024 Bluma Appel Theatre (Toronto)
    Project page
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