Topics: impact

Margaret and Adrienne’s reading list

On April 2, 2020, internationally renowned Canadian poet, novelist and essayist Margaret Atwood hosted an online literary conversation with Former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson on the National Arts Centre’s Facebook page. This event kicked off a new chapter of #CanadaPerforms, opening…

Orchestra shell assembly and installation timelapse

This 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…

Renewing the NAC’s Performance Halls and Production Facilities

A 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…

NAC Opening Ceremony and Ribbon Cutting on Canada Day

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales today cut a ribbon to officially open the spectacular new glass atrium at the National Arts Centre in the presence of His Excellency David Johnston, dignitaries, artists, architects, construction workers, NAC staff, patrons and members of the…

Kevin Loring announced as the first Artistic Director for Indigenous Theatre

The 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…

A gathering of Artist Leaders in Deaf and disability arts and inclusion

For two and a half days, 13 Artist/Leaders and 12 institutional Respondents gathered at the Stratford Festival to immerse themselves in conversations led by artists from the Deaf and disability arts community, about theatrical performance.   "We're building what we hope will be a living…

The “big beam” floats through the NAC lobby

Question: How do you move a 10 ton steel beam through the NAC lobby? Answer: On a cushion of air. In mid May PCL construction completed a significant milestone in the NAC renovation project. Members of Ironworkers local 765 installed a 10 ton (9071 kg) steel beam to support the new…

Celebrating our stories: the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards

"Telling stories about ourselves is like a highway that goes from coast to coast," says the celebrated film producer Robert Lantos, one of this year's recipients of the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards.  "It's one of the ties that bind." In a career spanning over four decades,…

My Name is Amanda Todd: telling her story through music

When Canadian composer Jocelyn Morlock began to compose the music for My Name is Amanda Todd, one of four new Canadian works the NAC Orchestra has commissioned about remarkable Canadian women, she met with Amanda’s mother Carol Todd.  "That was illuminating" Morlock said. "She feels like…

NAC Ground Breaking Ceremony

"It's another performance" says Kevin Skinner of PCL Constructors when describing the NAC's renovations. "That's what we want to make it. To make sure the public can see the whole project to completion and the ribbon cutting ceremony in 2017." Since its opening in 1969 the National Arts…

Discovering ballet with the Ottawa Inuit Children’s Centre

Never stop learning. It’s a phrase that Royal Winnipeg Ballet Outreach Coordinator Jaime Vargas lives by. A former principal dancer with the company, Jaime now channels his passion for dance into teaching and inspiring others. His gentle nature and obvious love for dance immediately puts…

Jack Charles’ story of resilience and reconnection

Jack Charles' experience as a stolen child echoes the plight of Canada's own Indigenous people. This was made clear when he and director Rachael Maza were invited to speak at the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health in Ottawa. "It's exactly the same story. It actually started so much earlier…

Franco-Ontarian Flag Flies Proudly at the National Arts Centre

Peter Herrndorf, President and CEO of the National Arts Centre, surrounded by French-speaking artists and representatives of Franco-Ontarian associations, raised the Franco-Ontarian flag today to celebrate three anniversaries: the 40th anniversary of the first raising of the flag, the fifth…

Moments on stage: A mother’s story

Celebrating Oscar Peterson’s 90th birthday

Come and wish Oscar Peterson, one of the world’s greatest jazz musicians “Happy Birthday” on Saturday, August 15 at 1:00 p.m. The National Arts Centre will be hosting a jazz concert by the Clayton Connell quartet beside the statue of Oscar Peterson on the corner of Elgin St. and Albert St.…