Arts Alive

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The stage is yours!

Arts Alive is the school, youth, and family programming hub at Canada’s National Arts Centre, where theatre, dance, and music come alive. We invite you to check out our performances for families and schools, workshops for students, professional development events, free resources for educators and teaching artists, and more, both virtual and in-person. We’re so glad you’re here – the stage is yours!

Reserve your spot!

Great workshops & residencies for your students!

Play video Neige sur abdijan

Neige sur Abidjan: Representing absence

Some projects take shape within a few months, while others are carried by an artist for years, evolving along the way until they find their way to the stage almost naturally.

  • An Indigenous woman holds up her birchbark biting art. video

    Indigenous artisans tell cultural stories with their hands

    In this final season, #ReconcileThis turns to Indigenous art forms that carry stories but rarely share the spotlight with performance. In this final season, #ReconcileThis turns to Indigenous… In this final season, #ReconcileThis turns to Indigenous art forms that carry stories but rarely share the spotlight with performance.

  • Thompson stands facing his father, Tom Wilson, during a rehearsal of the musical Beautiful Scars.

    Hidden truths in beautiful scars

    The true story of how a family secret held for over 50 years shook Tom Wilson's identity, and the blood, sweat, and tears that carried it… The true story of how a family secret held for over 50 years… The true story of how a family secret held for over 50 years shook Tom Wilson's identity, and the blood, sweat, and tears that carried it from memoir to stage.

  • Theatreworks - thumbnail - mike resource

    Theatre Works: Bringing stories to life

    Learn about the professions that shape the theatre industry in this new Arts Alive resource created in collaboration with English Theatre, French… Learn about the professions that shape the theatre industry… Learn about the professions that shape the theatre industry in this new Arts Alive resource created in collaboration with English Theatre, French Theatre, and Indigenous Theatre.

Learn more from the artists

  • Videolibrary-contentcards

    Video on-demand

    Enjoy encore performances, exclusive interviews and special series captured on-stage, backstage and beyond. Enjoy encore performances, exclusive interviews and special series… Enjoy encore performances, exclusive interviews and special series captured on-stage, backstage and beyond.

  • Podcasts-contentcards

    NAC Podcasts

    Power your arts obsession with exclusive interviews, insights and artistic explorations of music, theatre and dance. Power your arts obsession with exclusive interviews, insights… Power your arts obsession with exclusive interviews, insights and artistic explorations of music, theatre and dance.

  • Artsresources-contentcards

    Arts resources

    Explore the NAC’s free pedagogical resources and learning materials including lesson plans, teacher guides, and interactive activities.… Explore the NAC’s free pedagogical resources and learning… Explore the NAC’s free pedagogical resources and learning materials including lesson plans, teacher guides, and interactive activities.

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