-
NAC Superfan: Anne Hamels
July 17, 2020University of Ottawa theatre student Anne Hamels is a long-time NAC regular. Five years ago, when Anne was 13 years-old, she met artist Marie-Ève Fortier, who visited Anne’s classroom to present De plain-pied, a French Theatre project. “She was the one who got me interested in the project,…
-
Donor Open Rehearsal: Inside the Creation of a New Composition
October 9, 2019Attending open rehearsals is one of the many benefits donors receive when they support performance, creation and learning across Canada through the National Arts Centre Foundation. NAC Foundation supporters spent a wonderful September morning at a rehearsal of NAC Indigenous Theatre and…
-
The National Arts Centre at 50: Propelling Canada’s Voices
June 18, 2019By Christopher Deacon, President and CEO of the National Arts Centre. One month ago, I was sitting in the darkened hall of La Seine Musicale in Paris, overwhelmed. On three large screens, Indigenous dancers performed a choreography by the Mohawk dancer and choreographer Santee Smith in…
-
Orchestra shell assembly and installation timelapse
January 17, 2019This time-lapse highlights the complex assembly and installation of the Southam Hall orchestra shell. It is, without a doubt, the shining star of the National Arts Centre’s Production Renewal Project. Designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects, Fisher Dachs Associates, Threshhold Acoustics and…
-
National Creation Fund: An Even Better Hockey Sweater
November 13, 2018In the fall of 2017, the Segal Centre for the Performing Arts in Montreal premiered The Hockey Sweater, a musical based on the iconic story by Roch Carrier. Featuring a cast of 17, the show was a hit with audiences and critics. But the creators believed it could be even better. “If the show…
-
Q&A: Ian Cusson, Métis composer
November 13, 2018Q. In 2017 you were selected for Carrefour, a two-year residency program by the NAC and Canada Council for the Arts to mentor diverse, emerging composers. At 37, would you say you’re a late bloomer? A. Great question! Although I’ve been writing music for a long time, I came to the…
-
Renewing the NAC’s Performance Halls and Production Facilities
July 3, 2018A few hours after the artists performing at the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award left the Southam Hall stage, construction workers began work on a project that will dramatically improve the NAC’s performance halls and production facilities. Much of the NAC’s production equipment is…
-
Peter Herrndorf’s Legacy
April 4, 2018When 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…
-
Reopening the GGPAA Hall of Honour
March 8, 2018In late February the National Arts Centre officially opened the new Governor General's Performing Arts Awards Hall of Honour. The corridor features photos of laureates from the past 25 years. Created in 1992 under the distinguished patronage of the late Right Honourable Ramon John…
-
The New NAC: More National Than Ever
November 15, 2017National 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…
-
Q & A: Susan Peterson d’Aquino & Thomas d’Aquino – Southam Hall...
September 7, 2017Honorary Co-Chairs of the 2017–2018 NAC Foundation Southam Hall Seat Campaign Q. In addition to being trailblazers in Canada’s public and private sectors*, you are both long-time volunteers and donors to the arts. What compels you to give so generously? A. We just want to make people’s…
-
15 X AT NIGHT: Dance in the urban landscape
July 10, 2017Choreographer Paul-André Fortier discusses why he created a dance performance for the outdoors. "Dancing outdoors is a completely different experience from performing on stage." explains Fortier. "On stage, you’re somewhat removed. You try to conceal the effort involved. But in this…
-
Director Corey Payette speaks about creating Children of God
June 16, 2017Shocked by the way Canada sweeps aspects of its history under the rug, creator Corey Payette wrote Children of God as a way of starting the conversation; acknowledging the hurt done, and acknowledging the strength of the survivors and their descendants. In Payette’s own words, “Children of…
-
Kevin Loring announced as the first Artistic Director for Indigenous Theatre
June 15, 2017The National Arts Centre’s President and CEO, Peter Herrndorf announced today that Kevin Loring will be the first ever Artistic Director of Indigenous Theatre at the NAC, taking up his post on October 16, 2017. The first season of the Indigenous Theatre Department will coincide with the…
-
NAC Orchestra musician Charles Hamann records 15 Canadian works for oboe and piano
June 7, 2017Charles Hamann has wanted to make a solo recording for a very long time. As principal oboe for the National Arts Centre Orchestra Charles (or Chip as many in the music world know him) has worked with many of the country’s most respected composers and it was composer John Burge’s Sonata…
