January 20, 2005 -

OTTAWA -- Canada’s National Arts Centre (NAC) today announced that Jeanne and Peter Lougheed have agreed to act as Honourary Co-Chairs of the National Arts Centre Friends – Alberta initiative. The NAC also announced that well-known Alberta arts patron Gail O’Brien, a member of the National Arts Centre’s Foundation Board, had agreed to serve as the Chair of the National Arts Centre Friends – Alberta.  Names of other prominent Albertans who have agreed to join the NAC in this initiative will be announced over the coming weeks.

National Arts Centre Friends – Alberta are a group of proud Albertans who are committed to a national vision for Alberta’s performing arts. These leaders are helping to support the National Arts Centre’s work in Alberta and acting as ambassadors to promote the work of the National Arts Centre in Alberta in order to increase awareness of the impact that the National Arts Centre has on artists, arts organizations and creativity in Alberta and across Canada.

Two of the major projects the National Arts Centre Friends –Alberta will support are the Alberta Scene festival which opens in the nation’s capital in April and the National Arts Centre Orchestra’s performance and education tour to Alberta slated for November 2005.

“We are pleased to be working with the National Arts Centre. The Alberta Scene will provide hundreds of Alberta artists with exposure on a national stage. The upcoming tour of Alberta will allow audiences from across the province to experience first-hand their national Orchestra,” explained Jeanne and Peter Lougheed.

“I feel very strongly that all Canadians deserve the opportunity to be a part of their national institutions. There is much for all of us to learn from one another,” shared Gail O’Brien, National Arts Centre Foundation Board Member and Chair of the National Arts Centre Friends – Alberta.

“The National Arts Centre is proud that so many leaders from Alberta share our passion for the work of Alberta’s artists,” said Peter Herrndorf, NAC President and CEO. “Jeanne and Peter Lougheed’s dedication to the arts in Alberta and Canada is extraordinary and Gail O’Brien has shown inspired leadership in her efforts on behalf of the National Arts Centre Friends – Alberta initiative. With their support, the National Arts Centre will be able to make an even greater impact in the cultural life of the province.”

The National Arts Centre Friends – Alberta include National Arts Centre Trustees from Alberta and National Arts Centre Foundation Directors from Alberta. As noted above, names of other Albertans who have joined the National Arts Centre – Friends initiative will be made in the coming weeks.

More information on the Alberta Scene can be found at http://www.albertascene.ca/

Contact:
Jayne Watson
Director of Communications
National Arts Centre
613-947-7000 x.260