The National Arts Centre is Canada's pre-eminent performing arts organization, showcasing the best in Canadian talent and presenting exceptional performers from around the world. The organization was created by an Act of Parliament to be Canada's signature in the performing arts, and launched in 1969 as one of Canada's centennial gifts to its citizens.

 Download the Corporate Signature Publication. (1.2 mb)

Unique Responsibility

The National Arts Centre is unique. We have one of the world's finest classical orchestras, led by world-renowned violinist/violist, conductor and educator Pinchas Zukerman. We develop and co-produce theatre and dance works with other organizations throughout the country, and we bring the best of Canadian music, theatre and dance to the nation's capital. The organization produces original work in English and French theatre, and reaches out to the country through touring, radio and television, CD recordings, and the Internet. No other performing arts organization covers all four performing arts disciplines - music, English theatre, French theatre and dance - nor is any other legislated to operate in both official languages.

Give the Arts a Hand

Experiencing the magic of live performance is life enhancing.

With the support of our generous donors over the last eight years, the National Arts Centre has been able to uphold its tradition of high-quality performances and unsurpassed arts education programmes. It has proudly played a key role in defining and exploring the cultural fabric of Canadian society. We invite you to Give the Arts a Hand by supporting the National Arts Centre Foundation's Annual Fund. Your donation will make the difference between a mere dream and an amazing reality.

Annual gifts to the National Arts Centre Foundation have become essential to our programming. Without them, ticket prices would soar beyond the reach of most of our patrons. Annual gifts ensure that preschoolers are awakened to the arts, that first-graders experience the excitement of Southam Hall performances, and that talented high school students have the opportunity to learn from Canada's best by participating in masterclasses.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we are able to offer programming of astonishing scope and quality - performances as diverse and fascinating as the people we serve. Our donors understand that they are nurturing a national treasure; in turn, we ensure that their National Arts Centre support is superbly stewarded, and that the sense of appreciation and involvement is as strong as possible.

What Your Support Will Do For Canadians and For the National Arts Centre

Across Canada:

• Bring more superb Canadians and more superb performers together.
• Build new audiences of all ages.
• Share the magic of spellbinding performances.
• Provide outlets for Canadian expressiveness and share international ideas with Canadians.
• Invest in training and development of young people.
• Create new works in music, theatre and dance.
• Expand new media, broadband and technology capability to reach more Canadians and increase educational outreach.
• Teach more young people the value of communication and artistic expression.

• Attract and keep the best and brightest minds in Ottawa and the surrounding regions.
• Attract new investments to our community.
• Sustain and develop the performing arts with Canada's cultural symbol, the National Arts Centre.