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Title

Fonds consists of

13 lower level description(s)

Arrangement structure

Bilingual equivalent

Fonds de la Société du Centre national des arts [document textuel, document cartographique, dessin d'architecture]

Date(s)

1964-1990

Place of creation

Canada

Extent

Language of material

English
Added language of material: French

Scope and content

Fonds consists of records created and/or maintained by the National Arts Centre Corporation and its predecessors. Researchers are cautioned that unprocessed textual records and records in other media are not reflected in this description. The fonds also consists of approximately 4,000 National Arts Centre posters used in advertising events and activities of the National Arts Centre from its opening in 1969 up to 1997. These posters include poisters published by the National Arts Centre itself, or produced by other organizations to accompany travelling shows or entertainments. These latter posters are usually copyrighted to the other organization, rather than NAC.

Conditions of access

Terms of use

Copyright belongs to the Crown. Credit Library and Archives Canada.

Finding aid

Finding aids are available. See lower level descriptions and accession records in ArchiviaNet (the NA website). (Other)

Creator / Provenance

National Arts Centre (Canada)

Biography / Administrative history

The National Arts Centre Corporation came into being with the passage of the National Arts Centre Act (14-15 Elizabeth II, Chap. 48, assented to 15 July 1966). Despite minor amendments to this legislation since 1966, the fundamental objectives and administrative structure of the Corporation, as set out in the Act, have remained unchanged to the present. The Corporation currently (1997) reports to Parliament through the Minister of Canadian Heritage although earlier in its history it had reported through, first, the Secretary of State and, later, the Minister of Communications.

The Corporation, with its head office located in Ottawa, consists of a Board of Trustees composed of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, the mayors of the cities of Ottawa and Hull, and six other members appointed by the Governor in Council. The Director of the Centre, appointed by the Board of Trustees, is the chief executive officer of the Corporation and has supervision over and direction of the work and staff of the Corporation. G. Hamilton Southam served as the first Director (1967-1977). Successors to this post have included: Donald MacSween (1977-1987); Bruce Corder (Acting Director, 1987); Yvon DesRochers (1987-1994); J. M. (Jack) Mills (Acting Director, 1994); Joan Pennefather (1994-1995); John Cripton (appointed September 1996).

The objectives of the Corporation, as set out in the Act, are to operate and maintain the National Arts Centre (opened in June 1969), to develop the performing arts (drama, music, and dance) in the National Capital Region, and to assist the Canada Council in the development of the performing arts elsewhere in Canada. To further these objectives, the Corporation is empowered to arrange for and sponsor performing arts activities at the Centre; encourage and assist in the development of performing arts companies resident at the Centre; arrange for or sponsor radio and television broadcasts from the Centre and the showing of films in the Centre; provide accommodation at the Centre for national and local organizations whose objects include the development and encouragement of the performing arts in Canada; and arrange for performances elsewhere in Canada by performing arts companies and arrange for performances outside Canada by performing arts companies resident in Canada.

The administrative structure of the institution has evolved over three decades. Currently (1997) there are three permanent committees of the Board of Trustees - the Executive Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Audit Committee - in addition to ad hoc committees. Operations are carried out through a number of departments which relate to Artistic Direction (e.g., the National Arts Centre Orchestra, English and French language theatre, dance and variety) and Administration (e.g., marketing, patron services, communications, property management, restaurants and catering, development, finance, and human resources).

Additional information

Subject heading

1. Music.
2. Theatre.
3. Opera.
4. Entertainment.
5. AWARDS.

Source

Government

Other system control no.

0FD811

MIKAN no.

406