Canada’s National Arts Centre offers some of the most comprehensive and diverse programming for young artists and young audiences in the world. Educational activities are offered both in schools and at the NAC; professional development opportunities are available for young performing artists, and there is family programming to excite young minds. As promised in the National Arts Centre Strategic Plan: “Restoring the Vision, performing arts education has become a core activity of the National Arts Centre.

Programming for Schools

• Student Matinees in Music, English Theatre, French Theatre, and Dance
• Musicians in the Schools
• Student Open Rehearsals with the NAC Orchestra
• Theatre Plus! and Professional Development for Teachers in English Theatre
• Le Colloque du Théâtre français pour les enseignants
• Les Dialogues avec le Musée
• Le concours d’écriture pour adolescents les Zurbains
• Le projet pilote Les trois sauts du Kangourou
• Discount Tickets: Live Rush! programme
• ArtsAlive.ca – The NAC’s award-winning performing arts education websites

Training and Development of Performing Artists

Music

• The NAC Orchestra’s Summer Music Institute
• Young Artists Programme
• Conductors Programme
• Composers Programme
• NAC Institute for Orchestral Studies
• Masterclasses open to the public
• The NAC Orchestra Bursary Competition

English Theatre

• International Reading Series

French Theatre

• Les Laboratoires

Dance

• Masterclasses with visiting artists.

NAC Orchestra Performance and Education Tours
When the National Arts Centre Orchestra tours both nationally and internationally, education events outnumber concerts many times over. NAC Orchestra on Tour offers archived coverage of past tours.

Get involved!
Members of the public who are interested in becoming involved in the NAC’s educational and community outreach can join:

• The Friends of the NAC Orchestra
• Friends of English Theatre
• Parents for the Arts

National Youth and Education Trust

The National Youth and Education Trust is the primary resource for youth and education funding at the National Arts Centre. Supporters of the Trust help the National Arts Centre pursue priority initiatives through the performing arts that nurture and develop the creativity of young people in all regions across Canada.

The National Youth and Education Trust funds programmes such as masterclasses, internships and training programmes for emerging artists, as well as student matinees, open rehearsals and subsidized tickets to build young audiences. It helps provide resources to teachers, including resource kits, teacher information nights, and online tools (www.ArtsAlive.ca).

Contributions to the National Youth and Education Trust, in support of programmes outlined on this website are welcome. If you would like to make a gift, please contact the National Arts Centre Foundation at 613-947-7000, ext. 315.

The National Youth and Education Trust is supported by Founding Partner TELUS, Sun Life Financial, Michael Potter and Véronique Dhieux, supporters and patrons of the annual NAC Gala and the donors of the NAC Foundation’s Corporate Club and Donor’s Circle.