Event Details

Incorporated 2018, in The FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre aims to engage people in exceptional live arts experiences, and to enrich the lives of citizens of St. Catharines and the Niagara region, while providing a world class venue for local, national and international artists and community arts organizations to flourish. The 95,000 square foot cultural complex, designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects, opened in 2015 and spurred an artistic, cultural and economic renaissance in downtown St. Catharines. The PAC is comprised of four state-of-the-art performance venues (Partridge Hall, Robertson Theatre, Recital Hall, and The Film House) and one outdoor space (The Mann Raceway Plaza) which host international, national and local artists alongside community members and organizations. Since opening, the FirstOntario PAC has hosted over 5,000 events and welcomed over 600,000 visitors. The FirstOntario PAC is a cultural hub for many local arts organizations and festivals who use the facilities for their annual programming, including Niagara Symphony Orchestra, Chorus Niagara, Carousel Players, Gallery Players of Niagara, Bravo! Niagara Festival of the Arts, Garden City Comedy Festival, TD Niagara Jazz Festival, and Brock University's Departments of Music and Dramatic Arts.

This application is for the “FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre 10th Anniversary Celebration, taking place January 2025 to May 2026. Programming includes:

(1) a marquee cultural destination event around the homecoming of world-renowned media artist Edward Burtynsky where from January 30 to February 8, 2026, the PAC will present a 10-day multi-tiered, immersive experience entitled ‘Art in Action Niagara’ featuring Edward Burtynsky’s In the Wake of Progress”;

(2) marquee concerts season that may include (i) a two-show residency with locally raised Dallas Green (City and Colour, Alexisonfire); (ii) a marquee concert with Chris Botti and the Niagara Symphony Orchestra; and (iii) a partnership with Bravo Niagara! To host acclaimed dance company Ailey II; and

(3) a 10th anniversary gala event (will be looking into artists such as Sarah McLauchlan, The National Ballet of Canada, Jeremy Dutcher).