Take a seat through our new three year, $3 million campaign and you will have your name on a new seat in our newly renovated Theatre for 10 years or more. Your support will allow us to invest in the creative process of Dance, English Theatre and French Theatre through three distinct funds: the New Works Fund, the Performance Fund and the Behind the Scenes Fund.

Yes, I/We would like to "Take A Seat" to support the
2003-2005 Theatre Renewal Campaign.Go!

The National Arts Centre is in the midst of a three-year, $3 million campaign to rejuvenate its beloved Theatre with both a physical and artistic renewal.

The first step, seamlessly executed last summer, was a renovation to the auditorium that has vastly improved the quality of the space for our patrons, as well as for the artists and craftsmen who use it. On September 9, 2003, we opened the Theatre with our most successful event to date: an exclusive performance of the NAC production of Arms and the Man for all those who had donated to the Theatre Renewal Campaign. It was our way of saying, Thank you for all your support!

Those who "Took a Seat," at $3000 or more, were thanked with a plaque bearing their name(s), a dedication to a loved one or a quotation.

View a QuickTime Virtual Reality 360° image of the recent NAC Theatre renovations.
August 31, 2003 - 800k

With the stage set for the future, we can now begin to concentrate on the next phase of our Theatre Renewal Campaign: an artistic renaissance. The $3-million dollar campaign is divided into four different areas. Each contributes to the renewal of the Theatre in a different way.

Where Do Donations Go?
(PDF) 400k

NEW WORKS FUND $850,000
All classics began as new works. Without an investment in our new and visionary artists, we cannot create an artistic future. Among many other projects, the New Works Fund will help finance:

• the commissioning of Canadian playwrights to develop scripts for English and French Theatre;
• the annual On the Verge Festival where new scripts from across Canada are showcased;
• the development of talented Canadian choreographers, hosted and co-produced by the NAC through the Canada Dance Festival; and
• the commissioning of new dance works.

PERFORMANCE FUND $650,000
A performance is only as good as the investment made in it at all levels. This Fund seeks to find the best and showcase it here at the NAC. This Fund will:

• help to attract the best in Canadian and international dance to our stage;
• help finance the staging and presentation of theatre and dance productions;
• allow the NAC to explore projects with larger casts;
• enable the artistic team to extend rehearsal time; and
• make it possible to keep hiring the finest artists.

BEHIND THE SCENES FUND $500,000
The backbone of any good performance is the costume, set and lighting design. It is these elements that create the mood of the show without the utterance of a single word, or even a glimpse of a solitary movement. Support of this Fund will, for example:

• enable us to keep the best stage designers in the business;
• elevate our set and costume designs to new heights;
• help pay for the artistry that puts the finishing touches on a performance; and
• provide outstanding apprenticeship experiences for young professionals.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND $1,000,000
The Capital Improvement Fund is being funded by the NAC through its capital budget. This is the first time the Theatre has been renovated since the NAC opened in 1969. The renovations include;

• new seats, carpeting and handrails;
• greater legroom;
• improved sightlines;
• a brand new stage;
• two new vomitoriums
• introduction of new multi-media equipment; and
• improved stage access for performers.