The National Arts Centre in Ottawa is Canada’s home to some of the country’s most creative artists. Through each of its disciplines, the NAC Orchestra, Dance, English Theatre, French Theatre, Indigenous Theatre and NAC Presents programs. Centre strives to live up to its motto: “Canada is our Stage.”
As with all Arts programming across the country, the doors are closed to theatres and stages but the NAC is working to continue to bring performing arts to Canadians, albeit via digital means to keep us safe at home. Partnering with Facebook Canada, #CanadaPerforms is a newly created $700,000 short-term relief fund that pays professional Canadian artists and professionally published authors for their online performances. Also supported by Slaight Music, Sirius XM and RBC, the fund was launched to help ease the financial strain on Canadian artists impacted by the cancellation of shows and the closure of performance venues across Canada as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Helping to lift the spirits of Canadians during the crisis, artists who are selected will receive $1,000 and their online performance will be broadcast on the NAC’s Facebook page.
Some of the upcoming #CanadaPerforms online performances include the following: (click the links for livestream details and times)
April 6, 2020
Rag & Bone Puppet Theatre: Felicity Falls
NACO Lunch Break with Douglas Burden
April 7, 2020
Skinnamarink with Sharon and Randi
April 8, 2020
Meaghan Blanchard & Thomas Webb