National Arts Centre

The National Arts Centre of Canada (NAC) (in {{ll|French}}: Le Centre national des arts (CNA)) is a federal government centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada that is a venue for music, theatre, dance and other arts.

Related Topics:
Ottawa - Ontario - Canada - Music - Theatre - Dance

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One of the largest performing arts facilities in Canada, the NAC is located between Elgin Street and the Rideau Canal only blocks from Parliament Hill. It was one of a number of projects launched by the government of Lester B. Pearson to commemorate Canada's 1967 centenary. It opened on June 2, 1969 having cost $46 million (CAN) to build . The building was designed by Fred Lebensold. It is a large brown structure based around the shape of the hexagon. The roof of the building is attached to the Mackenzie King Bridge and contains gardens that are open to the public.

Related Topics:
Rideau Canal - Parliament Hill - Lester B. Pearson - 1967 - June 2 - 1969 - Fred Lebensold - Mackenzie King Bridge

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The NAC has four stages: the Opera (2,326 seats), the Theatre (969), the Studio (350) and the Salon (150). The largest stage is the home of the National Arts Centre Orchestra and the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra as well as major visiting shows and productions. The second and third stages are smaller are mostly used for theatre and dance events and have been home to the English-language and French-language theatre companies. The small fourth stage, only recently added, is home to intimate presentations of jazz music or non-mainstream works that may not draw a large audience.

Related Topics:
National Arts Centre Orchestra - Ottawa Symphony Orchestra - Jazz

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The resident theatre companies of the NAC reached their peak of prestige and influence in the early 1980s before they fell victim to the severe cutbacks of the mid-1980s, at which point there was more reliance on co-productions which had originated elsewhere, especially in the English company.

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As well as the four stages the NAC is also home to the Le Café restaurant, numerous offices, and a large underground parking garage.

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The NAC is a co-producer of the Canada Dance Festival.

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