The National Arts Centre (NAC), with the help of Presenting Sponsor Sun Life Financial and generous partners and donors, is bringing the magic of live performing arts this holiday season and throughout the year to hundreds of deserving children and their families in the Ottawa-Gatineau region.

This is the ninth year for Share the Spirit, an initiative aimed at families who, for economic or health reasons, may not have the opportunity to enjoy live performances at the NAC. Share the Spirit will allow them to attend free performances of holiday classics such as Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Nutcracker and the NAC English Theatre’s A Christmas Carol. Families will also attend performances by the NAC Orchestra including Disney in Concert: A Dream is a Wish, Joshua Bell’s Christmas with the NAC Orchestra and Handel’s Messiah, French Theatre’s Traversée, NAC Presents’ The Next Generation Leahy, and many other wonderful productions throughout the NAC’s entire performance season.

Share the Spirit welcomes back returning community partners: Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Club, Candlelighters, CHEO Foundation, Children’s Aid Foundation of Ottawa, Christie Lake Kids, The Ottawa Food Bank, Interval House, the Snowsuit Fund, United Way, Refugee 613, and the YMCA-YWCA of the National Capital Region.

“Share the Spirit has touched so many hearts in 2016-2017.” said Jayne Watson, CEO of the NAC Foundation. “We’re proud of the success of the program over these last eight years and hope to reach even more deserving families this holiday season and throughout the entire year. We’re delighted to be working with a dedicated group of community partners whose clients are benefiting from the program.”

"Sun Life is incredibly proud to once again support the National Art Centre’s Share the Spirit program as the Presenting Sponsor," said Paul Joliat, Assistant Vice-President, Philanthropy & Sponsorships, Sun Life Financial. "We believe arts and culture should be made accessible to everyone regardless of their means. The holiday season is the perfect time to celebrate the magic of the arts with loved ones."

Share the Spirit is made possible through the support of Presenting Sponsor Sun Life Financial, a donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation of Ottawa at the Associate Partner level, and Supporting Partners The Honourable John Manley, P.C. O.C. & Mrs. Judith Manley, Glenview Management Limited and the Leacross Foundation, as well as other donors who have contributed to Share the Spirit through the NAC Foundation Donors’ Circle.

Returning for an exciting third year as Share the Spirit Honorary Chair is the Ottawa Redblacks mascot Big Joe! On December 14, Big Joe will be at the NAC to take part in the festivities and share his joy with the little ones. Big Joe will be interacting with guests in the NAC lobby before NAC Orchestra’s performance of Disney in Concert: A Dream is a Wish, and will also be making an appearance on the Southam Hall stage during the welcome speeches.

Visit nac-cna.ca/en/foundation/sharethespirit to donate.

-30-
 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Carl Martin
Communications
National Arts Centre
613 947-7000 x560
carl.martin@nac-cna.ca