NAC ‘lantern’ named for donors

The signature element of the National Art’s Centre’s $110.5-million facelift will be named the Kipnes Lantern after an Edmonton couple gave $5 million to the arts organization.

The hexagonal lantern faces the National War Memorial and will serve as the centre’s new Elgin Street entrance. Four sides will be clad in glass that’s enabled with LED technology so it can transform into a giant digital screen and livestream events from inside the building or across the country.

Dianne Kipnes, a clinical psychologist, served as a director of the NAC Foundation for nearly a decade. She and her husband, a businessman and developer, have made other gifts to the arts, health care, education and social services over the years.

The couple “represent the very best of Canada,” NAC president and CEO Peter Herrndorf said in a release.

Another $5-million donation from the foundation’s former chair, Gail Asper, and her husband, Michael Paterson, will see the NAC Theatre renamed as the Babs Asper Theatre, in honour of Asper’s late mother.

Although physical spaces are being named to recognize donors, NAC Foundation CEO Jayne Watson said their money is not for capital improvements. The money for the NAC’s architectural rejuvenation and the $114.9 million for production upgrades all came from the federal government.

Cash collected from donors as part of the Creation Campaign will be used as venture capital to provide artists and arts organizations the time and resources needed to produce new Canadian works in theatre, music and dance for NAC stages and others across the country, Watson said. The fund will begin accepting applications this fall.

Encount3rs, which had its world première in April, is an example of the creative work the fund will aim to produce. For it, choreographers from Ballet B.C., Alberta Ballet and the National Ballet of Canada were paired with composers to create three one-act ballets.

“That kind of project is the example of bold, visionary, multidisciplinary art that the Creation Fund is going to be investing in,” Watson said.

In addition to the lantern and NAC Theatre, several other new and existing spaces will be named after donors, including:

Jenepher Hooper prop shop: The estate of the late Hooper, who worked in the NAC’s prop shop in the early 1970s and died in 2015, gave $2.5 million to support education programs in English and French theatre, as well as the Indigenous Theatre Department, which will present its first season in 2019.

Azrieli Studio: A $2-million gift from the Azrieli Foundation will see the NAC Studio renamed. The Toronto-based foundation supports music and the arts, scientific and medical research, architecture, higher education, Holocaust education and quality of life initiatives for people with developmental disabilities.

Janice and Earle O’Born Room: A $1.5-million gift from the O’Borns (Janice currently serves as chair of the NAC Foundation) will see a new room of the building’s north side named after the Toronto couple. Boasting impressive views of the Rideau Canal, Chateau Laurier and Parliament Buildings, the room will be used for entertaining, rentals and hospitality purposes.

Gail and David O’Brien Atrium: A $1.5-million gift from this Calgary couple will see the atrium that links the new Elgin Street entrance to the existing Southam Hall mezzanine named for them.

Alan and Roula Rossy Pavilion: A $1-million gift will see a new programming space overlooking Elgin Street named for this Montreal couple (Alan Rossy is a NAC Foundation board member from Montreal).

That kind of project is the example of bold, visionary, multi-disciplinary art that the Creation Fund is going to be investing in.

Susan Glass and Arni Thorstseinson Staircase: A $1-million gift will see the new bleacher staircase linking the Elgin Street and terrace levels, which will also be used for informal pre- or post-show talks, named for this Winnipeg couple. Glass is vice-chair of the NAC board of trustees.

Ruddy Lounge: The NAC Foundation’s donor lounge, located in the main foyer, will be named for John and Jennifer Ruddy after the Ottawa couple donated $1 million. Ruddy owns Trinity Development.

Yulanda M. Faris Stage: A $1-million gift will see a new performance stage on the same level as the new Elgin entrance be named in honour of the late Faris, a former NAC trustee from Vancouver. Free public performances will be held on this stage.

Atelier Belle Shenkman and Desmond Smith: A new room created for school groups to gather preand post-performances will be named for this couple, after a sixfigure donation from Shenkman’s daughter, Dasha Shenkman.

The NAC will reopen in three phases.

Visitors on Canada Day can use the new, fully accessible Elgin Street entrance, visit the relocated box office and new washrooms, and catch their breath in the sunny lower atrium.

This fall, the atrium’s second floor, including several new performance and event spaces with tremendous views of iconic capital buildings, will open, as well as the transformed Fourth Stage.

An expanded banquet room overlooking the Rideau Canal reopens next February.