The National Arts Centre is mourning the loss of Peter A. Herrndorf, C.C., O. Ont., one of Canada’s greatest cultural leaders, who died on February 18 at the age of 82. He was the NAC’s visionary former President and CEO who served from 1999 to 2018. Peter led the NAC for nearly 19 years…
When Peter Herrndorf arrived in 1999, he established a new strategic direction for the National Arts Centre with four clear goals – artistic excellence, re-embracing the NAC’s national role, making youth and education a priority, and dramatically increasing the NAC’s earned revenues. The…
National Arts Centre President and CEO Peter Herrndorf recently announced that he would step down in June 2018. Over the past 18 years, Herrndorf has put the “national” back in the National Arts Centre. This transformation culminated in 2017 with three different NAC tours. “I can’t ever…
On April 16, 2015 Peter Herrndorf delivered a moving speech about the importance of the arts in Canada in front of an audience of 1,000 people at the Metro Convention Centre in Toronto. He was introduced by the Premier of Ontario Kathleen Wynne and was honoured as a Canadian nation builder…
On Canada Day 2017, the re-imagined NAC will open its doors. The architectural rejuvenation project includes improved performances spaces, spectacular public areas for education and events, improved accessibility for people with mobility challenges, and a magnificent glass entrance. The…
“Pinchas not only expresses his lifetime of experience through his work, but through his commitment to excellence in his teaching, conducting and advocacy. He represents a vision, but most especially a sound of a more beautiful, hospitable world.” – Adrian Anantawan, Canadian violinist and…
The NAC is an extraordinary place. Over the past 14 years, I have been dazzled by the thousands of incredible artists working on one or more of the NAC's four stages. But the NAC is also a galvanizing idea. It's the idea that by working together with artists and arts organizations in…
The National Arts Centre is thrilled to announce that the English Theatre production of the classic musical, The Sound of Music, has now sold the most tickets of any NAC-programmed performance in the organization’s 44-year history. Tickets sales are now over 24,800 (and counting!), well…
On September 9th, The Canadian Heritage and Official Languages Minister Shelley Glover, together with NAC CEO Peter Herrndorf and the heads of 5 other cultural institutions, renewed the Collaboration Agreement for the development of arts and culture in the Francophone minority communities…
It is with great sadness that the National Arts Centre (NAC) learned of the passing of Métis actor August Schellenberg August 15th at his home in Dallas, Texas. Mr. Schellenberg was one of Canada’s greatest actors, who most recently performed as King Lear in the acclaimed all-aboriginal…
There was a party in the wings of Southam Hall on Tuesday evening. The musicians of the National Arts Centre's Orchestra toasted Music Director Pinchas Zukerman's 65th birthday, and reflected on his role in bringing out the best in them, and in musicians not only in Canada but around the…
The National Arts Centre (NAC) mourns the passing of legendary singer-songwriter Stompin’ Tom Connors. Stompin’ Tom was honoured at the National Arts Centre on November 4, 2000 when he won the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for lifetime achievement, the highest honour bestowed…
The National Arts Centre would like to thank Hilary Weston and her husband Galen for opening their their home to artists and leading philanthropists in support of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards. In a heart-warming speech from the staircase in the Weston’s home, his Excellency…
Creation spaces. Sometimes they exist as part of a well managed, state-of-the-art performing arts facility. A lot of the time, however, they don’t. They’re tucked in an old warehouse in the wrong part of town, or in a church basement with terrible light. There might be a noisy nightclub…