March 07, 2005 -

OTTAWA -- Canada’s National Arts Centre (NAC) is pleased to announce that Margaret and David Fountain have donated $25,000.00 to the National Arts Centre Friends – Alberta initiative. Aware of the great opportunity local artists had in the spring of 2003 when the National Arts Centre hosted Atlantic Scene, the first in a series of biennial festivals to celebrate Canada’s arts and culture, Margaret and David Fountain want to support a similar opportunity for Alberta artists.

“Having been involved and witness to the success of the Atlantic Scene, we are looking forward to supporting Alberta artists in the upcoming Alberta Scene. Artists across this country deserve the type of opportunity the National Arts Centre is providing to them to perform on a national stage,” shared Margaret and David Fountain.

The Fountain’s gift will be dedicated to the all-Albertan opera, FILUMENA, produced by The Banff Centre. Also joining in to support FILUMENA is a one-time unique gift from the British Columbia-based Martha Lou Henley Charitable Foundation which usually supports initiatives within the province. Names of other prominent Albertans who have agreed to join the NAC in this initiative will be announced over the coming weeks.

An all-Canadian, new work performed in English and Italian FILUMENA is a truly Canadian story, based upon the compelling tale of Filumena Lassandro, a young Italian immigrant to the Crowsnest Pass region of Alberta, who became involved with the bootlegging trade between Alberta and British Columbia in the 1920s. She was the last woman to be hanged in Alberta. Filled with passion, romance, drama and tragedy, FILUMENA is the perfect story for the grand themes and production values of opera.

National Arts Centre Friends – Alberta is a group of proud Canadians who are committed to a national vision for Alberta’s performing arts.  They really are committed to supporting the work of Alberta’s artists and believe the NAC can be a powerful catalyst for them in furthering their work and careers. They also believe that Canada’s artists can be a powerful uniting force for the country and that the NAC fosters nation building.

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 Friends – Alberta includes National Arts Centre Trustees from Alberta and National Arts Centre Foundation Directors from Alberta. In weeks past it was announced that Jeanne and Peter Lougheed will act as Honourary Chairs for the Friends. It was also announced that Gail and David O’Brien have become part of the Friends network and their donation of $100,000.00 was announced last month.

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