About the PAC

The FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre (PAC) is located in downtown St. Catharines, Ontario at the corner of St. Paul and Carlilse Streets on the shared traditional lands of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, the Neutral Peoples and many other Indigenous people from across Turtle Island. We offer our sincere gratitude and respect to the original and continued stewards of this land. We also acknowledge Indigenous, Black, People of Colour and 2SLGBTQQAI+ People that have been marginalized for centuries and more - and our collective responsibility to take action for a better world free from oppression, discrimination and racism. 

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. 

Following five years of loving care directly managed by the City of St Catharines, the PAC came under the management and stewardship of the Board of Directors in January 2020, functioning independently as a Municipal Service Board. In May of 2020 the PAC welcomed, Colleen A. Smith in the role of CEO.

As a convenor of arts, culture, and creativity, we are stewards of the beautiful multi-venue facility that is the FirstOntario Performing Arts centre, and uphold a mandate which encompasses the following three pillars: 
•    To advance the development of, and access to, arts and culture as a proud and sustainable developer, presenter, supporter and incubator of talent, creativity, and knowledge building for our diverse community. 
•    To provide infrastructure, support, growth and innovation opportunities for local and regional artists, arts workers, and community organizations. 
•    To contribute to the enhancement of a vibrant, healthy, and creative downtown St Catharines.

Designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects, our 95,000 square foot cultural complex opened in November 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 – our backyard) which host international, national and local artists alongside community members and organizations.

As a key catalyst for downtown development and economic driver for Niagara, over 40 new businesses have opened with an economic spin-off of $17 million since opening our doors in 2015. The PAC employs 23 full-time staff, approx. 70 part-time staff, a pool of IATSE union workers and over 80 engaged and dedicated volunteers.

Since opening, the FirstOntario PAC has hosted over 5,000 events and welcomed over 600,000 visitors. We showcase and host music, dance, theatre, film, comedy, speakers, meetings and community gatherings ranging from 120-person capacity to 780.

Our annual presentation season consists of over 70 annual curated events of the highest quality and variety with a base of close to 600 dedicated annual members.

The Film House is simply Niagara's best place to experience choice new and classic cinema on the big screen. The Film House features unique films in a modern, cinematic environment with licensed concessions. We screen the latest documentaries, new features and classic films. 

Our imPACt Education Series  invites students to make the stage their classroom with diverse programming and countless ways to complement and teach Ontario’s curriculum from Pre-K to Grade 12. 

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, Essential Collective Theatre, Suitcase In Point, In The Soil Festival, Yellow Door Theatre Project, TD Niagara Jazz Festival, and Brock University's Departments of Music and Dramatic Arts, Encore Professional Music Series and Tuesday's free Music@Noon concerts.

The FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre acknowledges the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, the City of St. Catharines, our long-time partnership with Brock University and our donors, sponsors and members for their ongoing support.  

STRATEGIC PLAN 2025-2030

2024 REPORT TO COMMUNITY

This Report highlights the collective efforts of our team and partners, and the many ways our work is strengthening Niagara’s cultural ecosystem. It offers a meaningful snapshot of the progress we’ve made, and a glimpse of the exciting future ahead.
View the 2024 Report here

2023 REPORT TO COMMUNITY

2022 ANNUAL REPORT

The FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre’s 2022 Annual Report demonstrates our commitment to our purpose – making every day come alive through inspiring and engaging artistic experiences for, and with, our community – while remaining resilient in the face of a global pandemic.
View the 2022 Annual Report here
 

2022-2024 STRATEGIC RECOVERY PLAN

The FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre is pleased to share with you our inaugural 2022-2024 Strategic Recovery Plan (SRP)  Shaped by events of the last 19 months in a time of great uncertainty, this plan creates a clear yet flexible path for the PAC to pursue a purpose-driven approach to our work with artists, partners, and patrons. Rooted in the themes of recovery, discovery and sustainability, this plan acknowledges those behind the first five years of the PAC, and the visionaries behind the building and the possibilities. 
View the Strategic Recovery Plan here. 

#ForTheLoveOfTheArts #FirstOntPAC
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