Historic NAC Interviews Donated to LAC

The following, from a press release from the National Arts Centre, is yet another example of LAC cooperation with others, making visible an example of acquisitions that are an ongoing aspect of LAC's activities.  .

January 7, 2014 – OTTAWA (Canada) – Over 100 interviews comprising approximately 200 hours of material have been donated by arts journalist and author Sarah Jennings to Library and Archives Canada.  The recordings, along with some supporting documentation, derive from the research for her book Art and Politics: A History of the National Arts Centre (Dundurn Press, 2009). Known as “Fonds Sarah Jennings”, the collection has recently been processed and is now ready for use by other writers and researchers.  
“Ms. Jennings’ gift is an extraordinary contribution because it contains valuable insights into the founding of the National Arts Centre,” said Dr. Guy Berthiaume, Librarian and Archivist of Canada. “It will be a tremendous resource for academics, arts organizations and researchers, as the contents of this archive document the history of Canada’s largest performing arts organization over its first 40 years.”
 Ms. Jennings’ archive contains conversations with leading figures associated with the life of the NAC, including its founder, G. Hamilton Southam; former NAC artistic leaders, ranging from Founding Conductor Mario Bernardi, Robert Lepage (French Theatre), John Wood and Marti Maraden (English Theatre); dance artists such as Celia Franca, Édouard Lock and Brian Macdonald, and many others. The collection also includes interviews with senior government officials and arts administrators, including current President and CEO Peter Herrndorf, chairs and members of the NAC Board of Trustees, and various cabinet ministers responsible for the NAC in its first 40 years.
“I am delighted to donate these interviews to Library and Archives Canada because they  preserve an important part of the history of the performing arts in this country,” Ms. Jennings said. “It is my hope that they will continue to be useful for others researching Canada’s arts in the future.”  Ms. Jennings has suspended her copyright on the collection to enable users, particularly students. It is anticipated that additional material relating to the NAC’s last decade will be added to the collection in the future.