Government of Canada Announces Historic Investment to Transform and Revitalize the National Arts Centre

December 10, 2014

Ministers Baird and Glover announce investment to renew one of our national cultural institutions

December 10, 2014 – Ottawa – Department of Canadian Heritage

The Honourable John Baird, Member of Parliament (Ottawa West–Nepean), and the Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, today announced that the Government of Canada will invest $110.5 million for the architectural renewal of the National Arts Centre (NAC). This is part of the $5.8 billion investment previously announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper on November 24 to continue to build and renew infrastructure across the country.

Situated in the heart of the nation’s capital, the renewed NAC will include improved performance spaces, public areas for education and events, full accessibility for people with mobility challenges, and a magnificent glass atrium and entrance.

The overarching vision of the project is to transform the NAC into a world-class facility that is welcoming and inviting, and that proudly symbolizes the excellence of the performing arts in Canada. The NAC aims to welcome visitors through its renewed entrance by 2017, and to complete most of the project by the end of that year.

Quick Facts

Opened in 1969 as a centennial project and designated a national historic site of Canada in 2006, the National Arts Centre welcomes more than 1.2 million visitors each year .

The NAC is Canada’s only multidisciplinary, bilingual performing arts centre. It has a mandate to work not only in the National Capital Region, but also with artists and arts organizations across Canada to build a national stage for the performing arts everywhere. It presents more than 1,300 shows a year, including the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards.

The NAC showcases Canadian artists through its biennial Scene festivals. These shine a national spotlight on established and emerging artists from different regions of the country, and will culminate with Canada Scene in 2017.

Over the past decade, the NAC Foundation has raised more than $80 million to support performance, creation and learning.

Arts, culture and heritage represent close to $50 billion in the Canadian economy and over 647,000 jobs across the country.

The new infrastructure investments of $5.8 billion announced on November 24 will lead to improvements in border infrastructure, federal laboratories and research facilities, museums, national historic sites, on-reserve schools, parks and marine conservation areas, ships, small craft harbours, transportation assets, and other federal buildings and assets. The new investment will help modernize and repair important infrastructure assets, create jobs, support services to Canadians and contribute to Canada’s long-term economic prosperity.