Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, October 10, 2012…The Shaw Festival has lost a dear friend in Walter Carsen. He will always be remembered here as a man who truly loved the arts and artists.
A visionary philanthropist, Walter Carsen was a true original and The Shaw was one of many cultural institutions to benefit from his generosity. His passionate commitment to the Shaw Festival helped to build a lasting legacy. But it was not his way simply to write a cheque: he engaged deeply to understand what an organization needed most, and worked with them to achieve it. Always, his gifts were thoughtfully directed to respond to urgent needs.
Walter Carsen was a close friend of the Shaw Festival’s founder Brian Doherty and his renovation of the Royal George Theatre stands as a tribute to his late friend. In the 1990s, Walter helped us build a much-needed training, research and creative development centre. To this day, he has provided yellow roses to decorate the lobby of the Royal George during performances – a typical gesture of grace and beauty from one of The Shaw’s best friends.
Walter Carsen died at age 100 on October 8.
Photo: Walter Carsen.
2012-10-10
Niagara-on-the-Lake: Shaw Festival remembers best friend and supporter Walter Carsen