Shaw Festival Theatre

A Home for Imagination

The James A. Burton & Family Foundation is pleased to support the Shaw Festival Theatre in establishing the Burton Centre for Lifelong Creativity, a meaningful new initiative that will enhance the theatre's role as a space for human connection, learning, and imaginative growth.

The Burton Centre for Lifelong Creativity will be the first of its kind in North America. It will explore how performing arts can enrich lives at every stage and in all fields. Seniors, students, teachers, physicians, first responders, artists, and professionals across many sectors will have opportunities to participate in programmes that foster communication, empathy, and collaboration. The Centre reflects a belief that creativity is not a luxury, but a vital part of how people learn, connect, and thrive together.

“Our Foundation’s work has always focused on strengthening the communities we call home,” said Jim Burton, Chair of the James A. Burton & Family Foundation. “We see the arts as a practical way for people to come together, to understand one another better, and to build skills that matter in everyday life. The Burton Centre for Lifelong Creativity will give people space to connect and keep learning throughout their lives.”

This support continues the Foundation’s long-standing, often quiet partnership with the Shaw Festival, helping build leadership capacity, extend outreach to young people, and contribute to the cultural life of Niagara-on-the-Lake. The Foundation remains committed to projects that elevate human potential and enrich the places in which we live.

The Burton Centre for Lifelong Creativity will stand as a lasting expression of that commitment. It will be a home for imagination, communication, and meaningful engagement — and a place where theatre continues to inspire connection, understanding, and shared experience for many years to come.

Our relationship with Shaw reflects a shared commitment to reimagining how the arts can bring people together. Through our support, we are helping Shaw evolve as a hub of innovation, storytelling, and deep community engagement. 

Our commitment is also to invest in people. Through our funding, Shaw has been able to expand its leadership capacity by creating key roles, including a Director of Engagement and Outreach and an Associate Executive Director. These positions strengthen Shaw’s ability to connect with the broader community while also fostering mentorship and cultivating the next generation of leaders in Canadian theatre. 

We are proud to be a supporter of Shaw’s Embedded Artist Program, a groundbreaking initiative that provides full-time opportunities for artists to work at the heart of Shaw’s productions. By investing in stable, creative employment, this program empowers artists to take risks, experiment, and collaborate in ways that are transforming Canadian theatre.