National Arts Centre
Encyclopedia
The National Arts Centre (NAC) is a centre for the performing arts located in Ottawa
, Ontario
, between Elgin Street
and the Rideau Canal
. The National Arts Centre was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2006.
. Performers and orchestras visiting the capital were required to use the stage of the Capitol Cinema
, which had been designed for vaudeville and films. In 1963, an organization named the National Capital Arts Alliance was founded by G. Hamilton Southam and Levi Pettler. They successfully convinced the city and government to build the new centre.
The NAC was one of a number of projects launched by the government of Lester B. Pearson
to commemorate Canada's 1967 centenary. It opened on 2 June 1969 having cost $46 million (CAN) to build. The site had at one time been home to Ottawa City Hall
, and the city donated the land to the federal government. Conductor Jean-Marie Beaudet
served as the NAC's first music director (1969-1971).
. Its outer walls are made of a pebbled concrete that from a distance appears a flat brown colour, but on closer examination is made of thousands of small pebbles buried in concrete. Inside the building the hexagon theme is much in evidence. As well as the dramatic arts the centre is also a showcase for several major pieces of visual art that are displayed in the lobbies and stairwells.
In 2000, the NAC was named by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
as one of the top 500 buildings produced in Canada during the last millennium.
and is the venue for the Ottawa International Animated Film Festival.
The National Arts Centre is home to the National Arts Centre Orchestra
, considered one of the world's leading classical-size orchestras. Pinchas Zukerman
, a conductor, violinist, violist, and teacher, has been the orchestra's Music Director since 1999. The Artistic Director of English Theatre is Peter Hinton; the Artistic Director of French Theatre is Wadji Mouawad; Cathy Levy is the Artistic Producer Dance; Heather Moore is Producer and Executive Director of the Scene Festivals; Simone Deneau is Producer, Variety and Community Programming; and Michael Blackie is the Executive Chef.
The National Arts Centre is a co-founder of the Magnetic North Theatre Festival
, which it operates in partnership with the Canadian Theatre Festival Society. The Magnetic North Theatre Festival is an annual event first held in Ottawa
in 2003, where it is held every second year, being held in other Canadian cities in the alternating years. The festival offers not only productions and performances for the theatre-going public, but offers workshops and seminars aimed at theatre students and theatre professionals.
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, between Elgin Street
Elgin Street (Ottawa)
Elgin Street is a street in the Golden Triangle of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Originally named Biddy's Lane, it was later named after Lord Elgin....
and the Rideau Canal
Rideau Canal
The Rideau Canal , also known as the Rideau Waterway, connects the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on the Ottawa River to the city of Kingston, Ontario on Lake Ontario. The canal was opened in 1832 as a precaution in case of war with the United States and is still in use today, with most of its...
. The National Arts Centre was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2006.
History
Ottawa had not had a major performing arts venue since 1928 when the Russell Theatre had been expropriated and demolished to make way for Confederation SquareConfederation Park
Confederation Park is a park in downtown Ottawa and a National Historic Site of Canada. It is bordered on the south by Laurier Avenue and Ottawa City Hall; on the east by the Rideau Canal; on the north by the Mackenzie King Bridge, the Rideau Centre and the National Arts Centre; and, to the west,...
. Performers and orchestras visiting the capital were required to use the stage of the Capitol Cinema
Capitol Cinema (Ottawa)
The Capitol Cinema was the largest movie theatre ever built in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and was the city's only true movie palace. Opened in 1920, the 2530-seat cinema was regarded as one of the best cinemas designed by famed theatre-architect Thomas W...
, which had been designed for vaudeville and films. In 1963, an organization named the National Capital Arts Alliance was founded by G. Hamilton Southam and Levi Pettler. They successfully convinced the city and government to build the new centre.
The NAC was one of a number of projects launched by the government of Lester B. Pearson
Lester B. Pearson
Lester Bowles "Mike" Pearson, PC, OM, CC, OBE was a Canadian professor, historian, civil servant, statesman, diplomat, and politician, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for organizing the United Nations Emergency Force to resolve the Suez Canal Crisis...
to commemorate Canada's 1967 centenary. It opened on 2 June 1969 having cost $46 million (CAN) to build. The site had at one time been home to Ottawa City Hall
Second City Hall (Ottawa)
Ottawa, Ontario's second city hall was built in 1877 on Elgin Street between Queen and Albert Streets and next to Ottawa's First City Hall.Built by architects Horsey and Sheard of Ottawa, the Second Empire French and Italian Style had one tall tower and three smaller ones...
, and the city donated the land to the federal government. Conductor Jean-Marie Beaudet
Jean-Marie Beaudet
Jean-Marie Beaudet was a Canadian conductor, organist, pianist, radio producer, and music educator. He had a long career with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, serving variously as a music producer, programing director, conductor, and administrator...
served as the NAC's first music director (1969-1971).
Architecture
The building, designed by Fred Lebensold, is a large brown structure based on the shape of the hexagon. The roof of the building is attached to the Mackenzie King Bridge and contains gardens that are open to the public. Much of the building is below ground on Elgin Street, with the lower level looking out on the Rideau CanalRideau Canal
The Rideau Canal , also known as the Rideau Waterway, connects the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on the Ottawa River to the city of Kingston, Ontario on Lake Ontario. The canal was opened in 1832 as a precaution in case of war with the United States and is still in use today, with most of its...
. Its outer walls are made of a pebbled concrete that from a distance appears a flat brown colour, but on closer examination is made of thousands of small pebbles buried in concrete. Inside the building the hexagon theme is much in evidence. As well as the dramatic arts the centre is also a showcase for several major pieces of visual art that are displayed in the lobbies and stairwells.
In 2000, the NAC was named by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada , founded in 1907, is a Canadian association representing over 3,600 architects, and faculty and graduates of Canadian Schools of Architecture.RAIC is the voice for architecture and its practice in Canada...
as one of the top 500 buildings produced in Canada during the last millennium.
Artistic aims and performances presented
One of the largest performing arts facilities in Canada (at 1.158 million square feet), the NAC works with thousands of artists, both emerging and established, from across Canada and around the world, and collaborates with dozens of other arts organizations across the country. The NAC operates in the performing arts fields of classical music, English theatre, French theatre, dance, variety, and community programming. The NAC supports programs for young and emerging artists and programs for young audiences, and producing resources and study materials for teachers. The NAC is the only multidisciplinary, bilingual, performing arts centre in North America, and one of the largest in the world. The NAC is a coproducer of the Canada Dance FestivalCanada Dance Festival
The Canadian Dance Festival is an annual Ottawa, Ontario event founded in 1987. Held in June, it sets the stage for Canada's most contemporary, innovative and leading edge dance choreographers and dance companies...
and is the venue for the Ottawa International Animated Film Festival.
The National Arts Centre is home to the National Arts Centre Orchestra
National Arts Centre Orchestra
The National Arts Centre Orchestra is an orchestra in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada's capital. It is a classically-sized ensemble currently conducted by Pinchas Zukerman.-Description:Since 1998, Pinchas Zukerman has been the Music Director. Mario Bernardi C.C...
, considered one of the world's leading classical-size orchestras. Pinchas Zukerman
Pinchas Zukerman
Pinchas Zukerman is a world-renowned violinist, violist, and conductor. He is considered one of the greatest violinists of the 20th and 21st centuries, and his ongoing 45-year career has seen him perform with the world's best-known orchestras and record over 100 works...
, a conductor, violinist, violist, and teacher, has been the orchestra's Music Director since 1999. The Artistic Director of English Theatre is Peter Hinton; the Artistic Director of French Theatre is Wadji Mouawad; Cathy Levy is the Artistic Producer Dance; Heather Moore is Producer and Executive Director of the Scene Festivals; Simone Deneau is Producer, Variety and Community Programming; and Michael Blackie is the Executive Chef.
The National Arts Centre is a co-founder of the Magnetic North Theatre Festival
Magnetic North Theatre Festival
The Magnetic North Theatre Festival is an annual festival celebrating theatre and related performing arts in Canada operated by the Canadian Theatre Festival Society in partnership with the National Arts Centre. The festival is held Ottawa every two years, with it being held in other Canadian...
, which it operates in partnership with the Canadian Theatre Festival Society. The Magnetic North Theatre Festival is an annual event first held in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
in 2003, where it is held every second year, being held in other Canadian cities in the alternating years. The festival offers not only productions and performances for the theatre-going public, but offers workshops and seminars aimed at theatre students and theatre professionals.
Performance facilities
The NAC has four stages:- Southam Hall, with 2323 seats, is the largest stage and is home to the National Arts Centre OrchestraNational Arts Centre OrchestraThe National Arts Centre Orchestra is an orchestra in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada's capital. It is a classically-sized ensemble currently conducted by Pinchas Zukerman.-Description:Since 1998, Pinchas Zukerman has been the Music Director. Mario Bernardi C.C...
and the Ottawa Symphony OrchestraOttawa Symphony OrchestraThe Ottawa Symphony Orchestra is a full size orchestra in Ottawa including professional, student and amateur musicians. With around 100 musicians, the OSO is Ottawa's largest orchestra, which allows it to perform large symphonic repertoire of the 19th and 20th centuries, including works by...
, Opera Lyra OttawaOpera Lyra OttawaOpera Lyra Ottawa is a professional opera company founded in 1984 by soprano Diana Gilchrist after the demise of the National Arts Centre's summer festival opera productions. The company's current leadership team is General Director, Elizabeth Howarth and Artistic Director Tyrone Paterson...
, as well as ballet and other major visiting shows and productions. - The Theatre, with 897 seats, is mostly used for theatre and dance events. It has been home to the English-language and French-language theatre companies.
- Studio, with 300 seats, is also a theatre venue.
- The Fourth Stage, with 150 seats, opened in 2001 and is home to a wide variety of community programming.