Canada's National Arts Centre celebrates B.C. artists in new ad campaign

Canada’Äôs National Arts Centre celebrates B.C. artists in new ad campaign

Magazine ads part of NAC’Äôs extensive focus on B.C. artists this season

Vancouver, British Columbia ’Äì Canada’Äôs National Arts Centre (NAC) has launched a series of ads in Vancouver Magazine and Western Living to celebrate British Columbia’Äôs vibrant art scene and pay tribute to its outstanding artists. The first ad featuring Crystal Pite, one of Canada’Äôs most exciting dancer-choreographers, appears in the October edition of Vancouver Magazine, now on newsstands.

A total of 11 ads, produced for the NAC by acclaimed photographer Shin Sugino and the award-winning design firm of Scott Thornley and Company, will be published between now and October 2009 in Vancouver Magazine. Six of the ads appearing in Vancouver Magazine are also slated to run monthly from October 2008 to April 2009 in the B.C. edition of Western Living.

The campaign was made possible thanks to the generous partnership of Transcontinental Media, publisher of Vancouver Magazine and Western Living.

The first ad in the series shows Crystal Pite in her Vancouver home. The image reflects a certain intimacy and captures the dynamic energy exuded by the dancer when she performs on stage. (Visit http://www.nac-cna.ca/en/allaboutthenac/canada_pite.html to see the ad)

NAC Dance Producer Cathy Levy is quoted in the ad: ’Äú(Crystal Pite) burst onto the international scene with kinetic physicality, humour and theatricality ’Äì revealing a balance of the intellectual and the sensual. Simply put, Crystal moves audiences.’Äù

Ms. Levy and the National Arts Centre were among the first to recognize the artist’Äôs dazzling talent by co-producing three of her new works. The fourth will have its world premiere in Ottawa as part of the Dance season at the NAC’Äôs BC Scene festival in April 2009.

Last May, Ms. Pite was chosen by legendary prima ballerina Veronica Tennant as the inaugural participant in the Governor General’Äôs Performing Arts Awards Mentorship Program. Ms. Pite’Äôs electric performance at the Governor General’Äôs Performing Arts Awards Gala at the NAC was the highlight of the event.

The subjects of the remaining 10 ads ’Äì all of them leaders in B.C.’Äôs performing arts community ’Äì will be revealed as the campaign continues over the next year.

’ÄúThe National Arts Centre belongs to all Canadians, including British Columbians,’Äù said Peter Herrndorf, President and CEO of the National Arts Centre. ’ÄúThe Vancouver Magazine and Western Living initiative is one of the many ways the National Arts Centre is bridging the geographic distance between British Columbia and our stages in Ottawa.’Äù

The campaign is part of a series of NAC initiatives this coming season that are putting the spotlight squarely on British Columbia and its outstanding art scene.

Just last month, the NAC announced the preliminary programming details of BC Scene, a dazzling multi-disciplinary arts festival that will take place in Ottawa-Gatineau from April 21 to May 3, 2009. BC Scene will be the largest gathering of British Columbia artists ever presented outside of the province. For more information about BC Scene, please visit www.bcscene.ca.

From October 24 to November 12, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, with Music Director Pinchas Zukerman, will head to British Columbia and other cities in Western Canada for its 2008 tour. The Western Canada Tour will feature pianist Jon Kimura Parker and composer Alexina Louie (both Vancouver-born) and will include 13 orchestral concerts in 10 cities, among them Vancouver, Victoria and Prince George.

The National Arts Centre opened its doors in 1969. Since then it has become a leading showcase for the performing arts, presenting Canada’Äôs and the world’Äôs best in classical music, English theatre, French theatre, dance, variety, and community programming.

Over the years, the NAC has welcomed many of B.C.’Äôs most creative artists, including
Mr. Kimura Parker, Ms. Louie, Ms. Pite and countless others. The NAC has also collaborated with numerous B.C. performing arts organizations, including Ballet British Columbia, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Playhouse Theatre Company, Belfry Theatre, Green Thumb Theatre and many more.