Attendance increase of more than 15 per cent at the National Arts Centre in 2007-08

Attendance increase of more than 15 per cent at

the National Arts Centre in 2007-08

Annual Report highlights also include a ninth surplus in 10 years

Ottawa (Canada) ’Äì The National Arts Centre (NAC) announced today that paid attendance for performances and events had increased by more than 15 per cent in 2007-2008 compared to the previous year. The NAC also announced it had ended its 39^th season with a surplus of $204,000 ’Äì the Centre’Äôs ninth surplus in the past 10 years.

The increase in paid attendance and the surplus are some of the highlights of Voices of Canada, the NAC’Äôs 2007-2008 Annual Report, which was tabled in Parliament yesterday by the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.

’ÄúOver the last decade, the National Arts Centre has strengthened its reputation as a catalyst for the performing arts across Canada,’Äù said Julia E. Foster, Chair of the National Arts Centre’Äôs Board of Trustees. ’ÄúThe NAC’Äôs pursuit of artistic excellence is solidly grounded in its commitment to sound and efficient financial management.’Äù

The Annual Report ’Äì which covers the period from September 1, 2007, to August 31, 2008 ’Äì highlights the NAC’Äôs progress against its strategic goals: artistic expansion and innovation, an increased emphasis on the NAC’Äôs national role, greater commitment to youth and educational activities and an increase in earned revenues.

Highlights of the 2007-2008 Annual Report include:

• Paid attendance for performances and events at the NAC in 2007-2008 was 554,534 ’Äì an increase of 88,108 (or more than 15 per cent) compared to the previous year.

• The NAC collaborated with the Royal Shakespeare Company in the United Kingdom to bring Margaret Atwood’Äôs novel The Penelopiad to the stages of both organizations.
  
  
• The NAC Orchestra presented a tribute to Canadian composing legend R. Murray Schafer on his 75^th birthday for its second annual, week-long eXpressions new music festival.

• Renowned playwright, director and actor Wajdi Mouawad began his tenure as Artistic Director of the NAC French Theatre.

• Ninety exceptionally talented young musicians, composers and conductors from Canada and 14 other countries around the world were invited to participate in the
  10th annual NAC Summer Music Institute.

• World-renowned choreographer of contemporary dance-theatre Pina Bausch and her company Pina Bausch Tanztheater Wuppertal brought Nefˆ©s, an homage to Istanbul, to the NAC in an exclusive Canadian engagement.

• The NAC undertook extensive consultations with artists, arts organizations, arts educators and public funders in communities across Canada to help create the NAC’Äôs new Strategic Plan.

• The National Arts Centre’Äôs total revenues were $69,894,000, an increase of $263,000 from the previous year.

• The National Arts Centre again received significant support from individual donors and corporate sponsors. The National Arts Centre Foundation raised
  $8.3 million this past year ’Äì $6.6 million of which were transferred to the National Arts Centre.

• Revenues from the NAC’Äôs commercial operations such as the Le Cafˆ© restaurant and hall rentals were up significantly.

• The 2007-2008 surplus of $204,000 brings the NAC’Äôs accumulated surplus to $675,000.

The full text of the annual report is available on the NAC’Äôs website at
http://www.nac-cna.ca/ar.