Come and enjoy free programs in the NAC’s new public spaces

It’s early Monday morning — rush hour.  But the people gathered on the new Glass Thorsteinson Staircase at the NAC are feeling anything but rushed.  They’re here for the free Movement in Meditation class led by NAC Dance Education and Teaching Artist Siôned Watkins.

Movement in Meditation is just one of many free programs the NAC is offering in our new public spaces.  There is also Toddler Tuesdays and Wednesday afternoon programming especially for seniors.  All of the programs are arts based.

“With 70,000 square feet of additional space, we wanted to follow up on NAC President and CEO Peter Herrndorf’s vision of becoming Canada’s living room for the arts,” explains Heather Gibson, Executive Producer of NAC Presents and Variety and Community Programming at the NAC. 

Visitors to the NAC can watch a local choir rehearse on the Glass Thorsteinson Staircase or listen to the English Storytellers share stories in the Rossy Pavilion.  “We recognize there is a lot of art that goes on in the community.  We want to be part of that and host these groups.  This is as much their space as it is any other artist’s in the community,” Heather says.

All community members and visitors to the Nation’s Capital are encouraged to visit the NAC and enjoy the free programming.  A list of programs is available on our website.

Heather also urges you to bring your children and grandchildren.  “As arts programs get cut in schools, as kids have less exposure to the arts, an institution like ours can fill in the gaps,” she says.  “That requires us to create opportunities for families to come for free.”