The Shaw Festival raises $150MM to spark a movement for real human connection

Learn how The Shaw Festival is over 70% of their way to a complete rebuild of their theatre.

The Shaw Festival is one of North America’s leading repertory theater companies, located in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. With a rotating company of actors performing multiple plays each season, Shaw has become a destination for theater lovers, drawing visitors from across Canada and the United States. Every production is built in-house, from costume design to set construction, offering audiences not only a unique artistic experience but also a behind-the-scenes view into the creative process.

The Festival’s capital campaign — All.Together.Now. — was conceived not just as a facilities upgrade, but as a commitment to deeper public engagement and long-term impact through the arts.

The Challenge:

Originally scoped as a $50 million effort to rebuild the aging Royal George Theatre, the campaign quickly grew in ambition. A newly available adjacent property sparked a broader vision: one that included expanded programming, artist housing, and a new facility — the Burton Center for Lifelong Creativity. That shift nearly tripled the goal to $150 million.

Cindy Mewhinney, Director of Advancement, and her team faced a number of hurdles:

• Key funding from government sources was uncertain
• The new property had not yet been secured
• Construction in a small town required careful public and stakeholder communication
• The expanded vision had not yet been fully introduced to donors or the board

“We had to get comfortable working with a lot of ambiguity,” said Richard Quinn, Senior Advisor at Capital Campaign Pro. “The path wasn’t fully clear, but the team was willing to move forward while still figuring things out. That’s rare.”

The Solution:

Cindy and her team had already completed a feasibility study, and with campaign leadership and the board fully engaged, they were ready to begin the quiet phase. They partnered with Richard Quinn from Capital Campaign Pro to guide the effort.

One of Richard’s first priorities was helping the team embrace the campaign as a process of discovery. “The campaign that launched wasn’t the one they ended up with — and that’s the point,” Richard said. “They stayed open to the evolution of the work. That mindset made all the difference.”

Board involvement was strong from the start. The campaign had grown out of a strategic planning process that the board had approved, and their participation continued through every phase of the campaign. Cindy recalled a pivotal board meeting in December 2021 where the expanded $150MM vision was approved:

“Richard was with us. The board needed to hear from someone who had seen campaigns like this before. His presence helped turn uncertainty into confidence. That was the turning point.”

Cindy Mewhinney, Director of Advancement

In addition to managing board and donor strategy, the team made a smart decision early on: to integrate legacy giving as a core part of the campaign. Cindy further explained:

“Every donor conversation included legacy. We were talking about the future of the Festival, so it made perfect sense to offer people a way to invest long-term. That has turned out to be one of the most rewarding parts of the campaign.”

To date, more than $30 million in legacy commitments have been secured, with additional gifts still in process. Many of those gifts came from donors who had never made large contributions before.

“Some donors have stepped up with a scale of giving they never thought possible — combining current and future gifts. It’s powerful to see that level of connection.”

Cindy Mewhinney, Director of Advancement

The Impact:

By the time All.Together.Now. went public, the campaign had already raised more than $110 million, clearing the 70% threshold. The expanded scope includes:

• A complete rebuild of the Royal George Theatre
• The acquisition and transformation of a neighboring property into artist housing and workshop space
• Creation of the Burton Center for Lifelong Creativity
• Substantial growth in the Festival’s endowment and legacy commitments

More than just a capital project, the campaign has become a rallying point for something bigger: a call for real human connection through the arts.

“The name All.Together.Now. is more than a slogan. It reflects what we’re trying to build — a place where people can be present with one another, share ideas, and find common ground.”

Cindy Mewhinney, Director of Advancement

The public phase of the campaign is now focused on deepening relationships with mid-level and grassroots donors. The team is actively engaging members, offering town halls, and leveraging strong volunteer support to widen the circle of participation.

“There was a moment when one of our campaign volunteers said, ‘This has taken longer than we expected — but we’re better for it.’ That’s stuck with me. The extra time gave the team space to dream bigger and build deeper relationships. The results speak for themselves.”

Richard Quinn, Senior Campaign Advisor

With $40 million left to raise, the Shaw Festival’s campaign continues — now with a public audience and a sharpened message. What began as a necessary construction project has turned into a movement centered on creativity, community, and connection.

“I can’t overstate the value of having the right people around the table. This work is long. It’s hard. There are moments of doubt. But when you have a team that can hold each other through those moments, you come out stronger.”Cindy Mewhinney, Director of Advancement