Britton Smith Foundation commits to three-year support of Grand OnStage School Performances at Kingston Grand Theatre

The City of Kingston is pleased to announce a renewal of a partnership with the Britton Smith Foundation, ensuring continued access to live performing arts experiences for thousands of local students and youth through Grand OnStage School Performances.

With this generous multi-year commitment, the Britton Smith Foundation reinforces its dedication to community enrichment and arts education by directly supporting high-quality, curriculum-connected programming for school audiences. This funding will help remove barriers to participation and broaden cultural horizons for students across the Kingston region.

“The founder of the Britton Smith Foundation, Brit Smith believed in the value of all children having the opportunity to experience the performing arts,” says Jessica Bayne Hogan, Chair of the Britton Smith Foundation. “This three-year investment is our way of continuing the foundation’s commitment to fostering imagination, critical thinking, and empathy in the next generation. The Board of the foundation are proud to support a program that provides high quality performing arts engagement to students who might not otherwise have the opportunity.”

Grand OnStage School Performances have long been a cornerstone of the City’s outreach efforts, presenting acclaimed national and international touring artists in dance, theatre, music and cirque. Each year, thousands of elementary students benefit from these performances, paired with classroom resources that deepen the educational value of the experience.

“This gift is an extraordinary endorsement of the power of the arts to impact young lives,” says Jayson Duggan, Performing Arts Manager, Arts & Culture Services, City of Kingston. “Thanks to the Britton Smith Foundation’s support, we can continue to offer enriching and affordable live cultural experiences to students from across Kingston. This partnership will help ignite creativity, build community connections and create lifelong patrons of the performing arts.”

The renewed investment from the Britton Smith Foundation will not only help to underwrite the cost of a school program but also contributes to the development of interactive engagement activities, including artist talkbacks, workshops and classroom-

ready educational materials. The funding ensures Grand OnStage can continue to prioritize accessibility, inclusion and excellence in arts programming for young audiences.

For more information on Grand OnStage’s School Performances Series or to learn how your school can participate, visit KingstonGrand.ca