January 26, 2005 -

OTTAWA -- Canada’s National Arts Centre (NAC) is pleased to announce that Gail and David O’Brien have donated $100,000.00 to the National Arts Centre Friends – Alberta initiative. Gail O’Brien, a member of the National Arts Centre Foundation’s Board, had also 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 is 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 projects the Friends will support are the NAC-produced festival the Alberta Scene, the largest-ever gathering of Alberta artists outside the province, and the performance and education tour the National Arts Centre Orchestra will undertake to Alberta this November.

“The National Arts Centre Orchestra’s performance and education tour to Alberta later this fall will be an opportunity for audiences to witness first hand the great performances of their National Orchestra,” shared Gail O’Brien, National Arts Centre Foundation Board Member and Chair of the National Arts Centre Friends – Alberta.

The National Arts Centre Friends – Alberta includes National Arts Centre Trustees from Alberta and National Arts Centre Foundation Directors from Alberta. Last week the NAC announced that Jeanne and Peter Lougheed will act as Honourary Chairs for the Friends.

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

For additional information, please contact:
Jayne Watson
Director of Communications
National Arts Centre
613-947-7000 x.260