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Support your local arts community today. Support Arts Ottawa Discover the many ways you can contribute to Arts Ottawa below. Help sustain our operations, fuel vibrant programming, or play an active role in shaping how your support makes an impact. Photo: Jamaal Khaleefa Join the Giving Circle Join a community-driven effort to support the arts in Ottawa. The Arts Ottawa Giving Circle empowers donors not only to give, but to actively help decide how funds are allocated to vital arts programs. Learn More and Sign Up ARTicipate Endowment Fund Text ARTS to 20222 to give $10 to the ARTicipate Endowment Fund today! Donate to our ARTicipate Endowment Fund to support artistic activity in the professional spaces of the Shenkman Arts Centre. Whether it is a stage performance, an art exhibition in one of the Centre’s galleries or the creation of new work, your donation to the Fund will enable local artists to share their work at the Shenkman Arts Centre. Donate to the ARTicipate Endowment Fund Donate to Arts Ottawa Arts Ottawa seeks to nurture the arts, to let them bloom and spread their roots deep into the cityscape. In so doing, we endeavour to build a city that hums with life, where equity and diversity are not just present, but celebrated. Together we can deliver on our mission to drive collective action in responding to community needs and priorities, fostering a thriving arts sector. Donate to Arts Ottawa Today Arts Ottawa Fund The Arts Ottawa Fund, established through the Ottawa Community Foundation, offers a transformative opportunity for donors to make a lasting impact on our city's vibrant arts community. Your contributions to this fund will ensure sustainable growth and innovation in the arts, as annual dividends are directed towards initiatives that unite and elevate the sector as a collective. By giving today, you are not only supporting artists, creators, and cultural organizations, but also strengthening the very fabric of Ottawa's identity as a city rich in creativity and cultural expression. This is a unique chance to be part of something bigger. Join us in driving the arts forward, ensuring that they continue to thrive for generations to come. Donate to the Arts Ottawa Fund Other ways to donate to Arts Ottawa Tangible personal property Donation Matching Legacy Giving Leave a donation in your will Life insurance Property RRSPs and RRIFs Securities Contact Us Explore the new Artist Talk! Our new community hub brings together events, resources, and discussions — all in one place. Stay connected, informed, and inspired. Visit Artist Talk Subscribe to the Arts Ottawa Report! Arts Ottawa offers a bi-weekly report that will keep you up to date on all of the programs and services Arts Ottawa has to offer the Ottawa community. Learn about our newsletters here. Email* Yes, subscribe me to Arts Ottawa Report. * Submit

Calling in Leadership on Cultural Spaces and Reimagining Downtown Through Arts and Culture Shared Ground Calling in Leadership on Cultural Spaces and Reimagining Downtown Through Arts and Culture Photo by Jeffrey Eisen SHARED GROUND: A Framework for Cultural Co-Design in Downtown Ottawa Shared Ground addresses the arts sector’s priorities around arts spaces. Its aims are to develop and build readiness in the sector for current and future arts space (re)developments. In 2026, Arts Ottawa and its collaborative partners will activate research streams aimed at collecting and analyzing data to demonstrate the social, economic, and real-estate impacts of cultural spaces, informing policy, investment, and future business models. Partnerships: Memetic Media , Carleton University CIMS Lab and the Ottawa Art Gallery Arts Ottawa will invest in community expertise, equitable participation, and collaborative planning by creating a Shared Ground Cohort, to bridge the gap between cultural space needs and urban development opportunities. If you are interested participating in the cohort, please reach out to Cassandra Olsthoorn at cassandra@artsottawa.ca . Arts Ottawa is also actively applying for seed and project funding, and welcome corporate sponsorship and/or private donations for Shared Ground. Interested in supporting this important work? Please reach out to Nicole Milne at nicole@artsottawa.ca . This Action Lab is presented by Arts Ottawa in collaboration with ArtsBuild Ontario, Memetic Media, and the Ottawa Art Gallery ACE District Initiative. Downtown Ottawa is on the brink of transformation—and artists, creatives, and cultural leaders have a vital role to play. As Ottawa prepares to make major investments in redeveloping its downtown core, there is a tacit issue: we are planning the physical transformation of downtown without a coherent strategy for the cultural economy that is supposed to animate it. -Kwende Kefentse, READ KWENDE'S FULL ARTICLE HERE In response to the call for a downtown that is vibrant, resilient, and inclusive, Arts Ottawa is convening artists, community and business leaders, and creative thinkers to imagine what’s possible when arts and culture are embedded into the fabric of our city. This Action Lab aims to explore - and take action on - sector readiness for cultural space developments, and reframing underused spaces. On October 29, Arts Ottawa hosted (Un)Common Grounds and Community Living Rooms at Urban Art Collective. The event brought artists, organizers, and community members together to explore cultural space and community infrastructure in Ottawa. The evening opened with a round table conversation where panelists shared grounded insights and real world experiences. This sparked meaningful dialogue among attendees about how culture can shape more connected and resilient communities. Curious about what emerged from this session? Learn more and read the full report from the event here . Arts Ottawa launched this Action Lab with an event on June 25th at Place de Ville , a unique former cinema connected to the Lyon LRT station. Shared Ground marked our first steps—bringing the community together for a day of learning and collaborative design as we began shaping a collective vision for arts sector readiness. From these conversations, we identified clear takeaways and a path forward. For those seeking deeper context and analysis, a full formal report is available, offering comprehensive insight into our discussions and next steps. READ THE FULL REPORT HERE About June 25th → Click here to view the Recap video of our first Shared Ground even t On June 25th, Arts Ottawa hosted the first event under our Action Lab, Shared Ground —a day of learning and collaborative design , where we began shaping a collective vision for arts sector readiness. Our learning day was hosted at Place de Ville, and 300 Sparks where a unique former cinema connected to the Lyon LRT station resides. Together, we mapped, prototyped, and modeled sustainable, arts-forward space activations through community visioning and participatory design.  Learnings from the day shaped a charrette exploring how vacant urban spaces can be transformed into cultural assets. This day also launched the Shared Ground Leadership Circle, calling in community voices to contribute to this Action Lab as it identifies strategies and pathways to bridge the gap between artists and revitalization projects We explored how we can future-proof arts spaces as places for community gathering, creativity, and collaboration—grounded in cultural co-design, community expertise, and the power of imagination in city-building. CLICK HERE TO READ THE EVENT SUMMARY REPORT About the presenters at Shared Ground on June 25th: Kwende Kefentse (he/him)Memetic Media Kwende Kefentse is a creator, researcher, administrator and cultural innovator based in Ottawa. His 20+ year career bridges the worlds of creative practice, the research and development of cultural industries, and civic leadership / city building. Most recently he was the first Executive Director of CKCU-FM, reimagining the station's operations post-pandemic, focusing on technological modernization and community reconnection. In his former position as Cultural Industries Development Officer for the City of Ottawa he led the development of Ottawa's Renewed Action Plan for Arts, Heritage, and Culture (2013-2018) and the Ottawa Music Strategy (2018-2020), among other critical city-wide cultural initiatives. He serves on the Boards of the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition, Ottawa Film Office, and Carleton University Art Gallery. As DJ Memetic of the TIMEKODE collective his productions have received critical acclaim from international outlets like Vice Thump, Radio Nova, and Wax Poetics. He has been requested as an opening performer for luminaries like Nas and Barack Obama. Kwende has earned a Masters of Research (MRes) from UCL's Bartlett School of Architecture focussed on modelling the spatial dynamics of cultural production in the music industry. In 2025 Kwende is establishing his consultancy Memetic Media, and launching the TIMEKODE CoLABoratory, a dynamic, interdisciplinary project that commemorates 20 years of local nightclub heritage, while charting its future through innovation, collaboration, and community engagement. Alex Glass (she/her) ArtsBuild Executive Director Alex has been with ArtsBuild for over eight years and successfully grown ABO’s programs and partnerships. Alex managed the development of the Accessibility Toolkit for Creative Spaces in Ontario and corresponding six-part webinar series, the Creative Spaces Case Study Series, and the expansion of SpaceFinder across Canada in 11 communities. Bringing 14 years of experience in the non-profit sector, Alex has previously worked with organizations such as the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, Talisker Players Chamber Music and Canterbury Hills Camp & Conference Centre. She has an honors degree in English and Cultural Studies from McMaster University and graduate certificate in Public Relations from Mohawk College. Eva Hellreich (any pronouns) ArtsBuild Program Manager They are passionate about providing under-served communities access to resources, knowledge and networks that enable and sustain self-empowerment through creative leadership and community building. They bring over 7 years of arts and funding administrative experience spanning non-profit, community arts, festivals and government funders, as well as experience as a youth and adult educator. In addition to ample experience with program development and service delivery, they served a 3 year term as a working Board member of Mayworks Festival of Working People and are currently serving a 3 year term on the Toronto Arts Council’s Creative Communities Committee. Eva has a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Arts in Immigration and Settlement from Toronto Metropolitan University, where they conducted primary research for their Major Research Paper on the experiences of newcomer artists and art as a tool for civic engagement. Eva is enthusiastic about sharing their passion for project management, collaboration and creative problem solving with community engaged artists and organizations through skill and resource exchanges, collaboration, and peer mentorship. Eva believes in art for art’s sake and challenges the influence of capitalism on determining the value of a creative practice or production. Their personal practice includes photography, textile art, and creative writing. ArtsBuild Ontario (ABO) ABO is a provincial arts service organization that provides small and medium-sized organizations with tools, training, and advice to successfully manage physical and digital creative spaces. ABO works to reimagine the future of creative spaces through dedicated research projects and an engaged network of supportive partners. Thank you to our Sponsors and Partners from June 25th Shared Ground in the Media Shared Ground: A Framework for Cultural Co-Design in Downtown Ottawa By Kelly Wilhelm New Shared Ground event explores who will lead the transformation of Ottawa’s empty spaces By Willemijn Bunskoek , apt.613 Newly formed Arts Ottawa wants artists to be involved in office conversion discussions By Mia Jensen, OBJ The Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG), engaged by the City of Ottawa, is leading the development of a downtown Arts, Culture, and Entertainment (ACE) District. This year, OAG will create a framework, brand, and implementation strategy for the District. Outlined as a key initiative in A Living Capital: Downtown Ottawa Action Agenda (May 2024), the ACE District aims to revitalize the core by fostering placemaking, cultural initiatives, and strengthening Ottawa’s creative economy. Shared Ground will help guide and inform this work. If you are interested in getting involved with this initiative or exploring partnership opportunities, please reach out to Cassandra Olsthoorn at cassandra@artsottawa.ca

Short description Introducing Arts Ottawa’s Shared Leadership Model Short description

Arts Ottawa Releases Landmark Case Study on Nonprofit Merger, 
Sector Reform, and Collective Leadership Transforming Together: Systemic Change for Community Benefit Arts Ottawa Releases Landmark Case Study on Nonprofit Merger, 
Sector Reform, and Collective Leadership Download Case Study In a bold move to reimagine how the arts sector is supported, Arts Ottawa has released a comprehensive case study titled Transforming Together: Systemic Change for Community Benefit, chronicling the historic merger between the Ottawa Arts Council and Arts Network Ottawa. This merger goes beyond structural consolidation and offers a replicable model for nonprofit transformation rooted in equity, collaboration, and community governance. The case study details how two of Ottawa’s leading arts service organizations took an innovative, human-centered design approach to dismantle silos, reframe leadership, and build a new organizational structure based on shared power. With over 450 community members engaged, Arts Ottawa is now emerging as a catalytic hub for collective action in the arts. “This isn’t just a story about two organizations merging,” says Cassandra Olsthoorn, former Executive Director of Arts Network Ottawa and now Co-Executive Director with Arts Ottawa. “It’s about shifting how we lead, who makes decisions, and how we sustain meaningful change in the arts sector.” From early trust-building to a new governance model that decentralizes authority and empowers artists as decision-makers, Transforming Together offers a transparent look into the why, how, and what next of organizational reinvention. The process included co-creation labs, artist commissions, and iterative community testing, resulting in a structure that includes Action Labs, a Community Advisory Circle, and a Core Leadership Circle. Supported by funding from the City of Ottawa, Ontario Arts Council, the Ottawa Community Foundation, Canada Council for the Arts, and others, the merger also addresses long-standing systemic issues: barriers to equity, lack of coordination in advocacy, and the need for adaptable, resilient infrastructure in a post-pandemic world. “Mergers in the nonprofit sector are often seen as a last resort,” says Nicole Milne, former Executive Director of Ottawa Arts Council and now Co-Executive Director with Arts Ottawa. “We approached ours as a generative opportunity—one to create something new, more inclusive, and more effective.” The case study is already drawing attention from municipal leaders and national arts funders as a potential blueprint for other cities. For interviews, background, or access to community participants, contact:
 Nicole Milne
 Co-Executive Director, Arts Ottawa
 nicole@artsottawa.ca | 613-983-6282 Download Case Study

What if we had better ways to calculate the social impact that the arts contribute to local communities?   Social Impact Evaluation in the Arts What if we had better ways to calculate the social impact that the arts contribute to local communities?   Photo: Brooklyn Marok Upcoming Social Impact Evaluation Learning Lab: Decolonizing Evaluation with Dr. Gladys Rowe June 26th, 12:00pm - 1:00pm Online via ZOOM Register here Decolonizing evaluation is structural, relational, and embodied work. This session invites you to deconstruct western, hierarchical evaluation structures that often prioritize administrative compliance and instead explore anti-colonial frameworks for meaning-making. Learn more The focus shifts from measuring outcomes to building Relational Accountability. We will introduce and explore the Four Rs: Respect, Responsibility, Reciprocity, and Relational Accountability (Rowe et al, 2026) as an ongoing practice for centering justice, belonging, and right relationship in the arts ecosystem. Through pre-work reflection prompts, a screening of the film “When We Say Evaluation it Isn’t the Same Thing”, and interactive framework exploration, this workshop provides a vital space to challenge and unlearn assumptions about success. Participants will actively engage with creative storytelling and intentional reflection to articulate how the 4Rs can transform their daily evaluative work, ensuring their values and goals are seen and actualized in the world around them. Pre-Work Reflections These are examples and will be finalized in conversation. Please reflect on these questions prior to our session to help ground our collective work: What values are you trying to articulate and actualize in your creative work? What gifts do you bring to this circle, and why is decolonizing evaluation important to you personally? How might we challenge and unlearn what we think we "know" about measuring Success? About Dr. Gladys Rowe Gladys Rowe Dr. Gladys Rowe (she/her) is Muskego Inninew (Swampy Cree) with membership in Fox Lak Cree Nation in Northern Manitoba, Canada. She also holds relations with ancestors from Ireland, England, Norway, and Ukraine, and carries these lineages with respect and responsibility in all of her work. Gladys’ educational background is in social work, and she hold a PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies (Social Work, Indigenous Studies, and English, Film & Theatre). She is the Director of Indigenous Insights Collective. Gladys has over 19 years of experience as an Indigenous community facilitator, program designer, educator, researcher, and evaluator. She has been consulting full-time since October 2020, providing evaluation, learning, and strategic support for projects and organizations across Turtle Island. This builds on her long-standing work since 2008 in leading and supporting learning, evaluation, development, and innovation initiatives that bridge community knowledge and institutional systems. Her roots in Winnipeg are deep with her experience as the founding Research and Evaluation Director at The Winnipeg Boldness Project and her work with Huddle South Central and Huddle Manitoba being pivotal projects to support organizations serving youth and families in Winnipeg. As an Indigenous evaluator and artist, Gladys integrates arts-based methods—including poetry, collage, zine-making, and visual storytelling—to support reflection, data storytelling, and collective meaning-making. Her approach is rooted in Indigenous, decolonial, and anti-colonial frameworks. Ceremony and land-based practices shape how she designs, implements, and makes sense of evaluation processes. Gladys approaches the work as a respectful guest rather than an insider, centering accountability to the communities and lands where the work takes place. Her practice recognizes that systems transformation happens through relationships, dialogue, and creativity—holding space for complexity, healing, and emergence. She also hosts Indigenous Insights: An Evaluation Podcast, launched in Fall 2022, which has released over 50 episodes and received more than 27,000 global listens. Through this platform, Gladys uplifts stories of Indigenous and decolonial evaluators, artists, and community leaders who are reimagining what evaluation can be when grounded in values, stories, and shared humanity. Season 5 has recently launched About the Social Impact Evaluation in the Arts Action Lab In 2024, Arts Ottawa embarked on a collaborative research project with Third Angle , funded by the Ottawa Community Foundation. This project explored the value and feasibility of a regional Arts Impact Calculator: a tool that helps Ottawa arts organizations measure and communicate their social and economic impact. Together, Arts Ottawa and Stephanie Nadeau from Third Angle identified gaps and opportunities to strengthen local capacity and better communicate the social impact of the creative sectors. Stephanie and Third Angle then synthesized the findings into the Impact Calculator Feasibility Study . VIEW THE IMPACT CALCULATOR FEASIBILITY STUDY HERE PAST EVENTS IN THIS SERIES: Get.Together. December 15, 2025 Read more Strengthening the Case for the Arts March 14, 2026 Read more Why Social Impact Evaluation? We know the arts contribute to vibrant, healthy community and a thriving local economy. According to the Ontario Arts Council, Eastern Ontario’s Arts and Culture sector generates $2.7 billion in GDP. Yet still, current tools for measuring social impact lack consistency and accessibility across the sector. Why Measure Impact? Show the value of arts to partners and the community. Attract investment and build support. Advocate for funding and policy change. Through this Action lab, Arts Ottawa aims to address how we can use and build upon the Impact Calculator to capture the individual and collective impact of arts activities in Ottawa. Meet the Action Lab Prototypers MAEVE TAVAKOLI Project WARP projectwarp.ca | @projectwarp_ WARP is a paid learning and mentorship opportunity co-produced and co-facilitated by a consortium of DIY music and arts organizations in the Algonquin-Anishnaabe territory. Our goal is to equip and support early- and mid-career individuals and artist collectives with project development essentials, providing them the resources and tools needed to create safe(r), more accessible, and more sustainable experiences. NAHEEN AHMED BEING Studio www.beingstudio.ca | @beingstudio_ott BEING Studio is a Non-profit that provides accessible arts programs both online and in-studio for adults with developmental disabilities. I hope to learn how to assess impact of services and events for general public in order to secure grants that can help maintain the Studio's mission to support people with disabilities. RAE LANDRIAU Create Change Collective createchangecollective.weebly.com | @createchangecollective Create Change Collective is a community-based organization focused on environmental education using art. The aim of our work is to engage community in outdoor education and empower them to take climate action. Our goals in the Action Lab are to (1) develop more comprehensive methods to assess the impact of our work, going beyond standard quantitative data collection and (2) exploring practical frameworks for decolonizing evaluation. EMEL TABAKU Civic Imagination Lab info2047785.wixsite.com/imagination-lab | @civicimaginationlab As co-founder of Civic Imagination Lab, I help create spaces where people come together to imagine and build more just, joyful, and regenerative futures. Through creative workshops, storytelling, and collaborative dialogue, our work supports youth, artists, and community members to strengthen policy literacy, shape public conversations, and envision bold new systems from the ground up. CANDIDE UYANZE www.candide.xyz | @ candide.xyZ My name is Candide, and I'm a Creative Technologist working at the intersections of digital media, access, storytelling, and open source software. As a past WARP participant, I organized a hybrid video editing workshop series for local BIPOC artists, designers, and creatives. As an emerging event organizer, I'm eager to learn more about the tools and emerging frameworks for social impact evaluation. I also want to explore alternative, anti-colonial, and accessible approaches to the field. BLUE PETTIES Queer Arts & Culture Network @queerartsandculture The Queer Arts and Culture Network (QACN) is a community-based, by and for Queer Art Organization that serves Queer and gender-diverse artists and creators in Ottawa. QACN is dedicated to empowering creators, reimagining systems, and co-creating communities of care. We are looking to build our capacity in the areas of impact evaluation, community-based storytelling, and sustainability. MIRIAM FARAJA Integration 101 Hub integration101hub.org | @the101hub We are a team working at the intersection of art, technology, and social justice. Through visual storytelling, photography, and participatory projects, we explore memory, integration, resilience, and power within marginalized communities. Through Integration 101 Hub, we create artistic and technological programs that help youth and adults share their stories, using art as a tool for expression, healing, and connection. Our work centers lived experience and aims to foster meaningful dialogue, strengthen communities, and contribute to lasting social change. EMILY RAMSAY & MERAL TAN Digital Arts Resource Centre digitalartsresourcecentre.ca | @ digitalartsresourcecentre We are a media arts organization that supports artists and creators at every stage of the creative process, with a focus on community, collaboration, and accessibility. We also work to amplify the voices of grassroots and equity-deserving organizations, helping ensure their stories and contributions are recognized within the broader cultural landscape. By participating in this lab, we hope to strengthen our ability to document and communicate the social impact of grassroots arts initiatives, and to develop tools that help highlight the cultural and community value of this work. Meet our Action Lab Advisors These advisors will support the Action Lab as mentors to contribute expertise, findings, and resources from their work in research, evaluation, or practical tools. Robin Sokoloski From Mass Culture Robin Sokoloski (she/her) is a dedicated arts and culture professional based in Tkaronto/Toronto with over two decades of experience in the field. Currently serving as the Director of Research and Programming at Mass Culture, she collaborates with academics, funders, and arts practitioners to mobilize the creation, amplification, and community-informed research that supports the arts sector’s growth and sustainability. At Mass Culture, Robin has spent the last three years project managing Research in Residence: Arts’ Civic Impact, a national research initiative that led to the development of three qualitative arts impact frameworks. These tools help arts organizations better understand their civic impact through qualitative indicators. She also leads Mass Culture’s Evaluative Thinking Initiative, which supports a culture of reflection and continuous learning across the arts sector, and stewards the DNA: Data Narratives for the Arts program, which integrates data practices into the daily work of arts organizations through training, tools, and collaborative learning. Robin currently serves on the Board of the Toronto Arts Council and as a member of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Centre for Free Expression’s Steering Committee. She has recently taught a course on Art Policy, Equity, and Activism for Centennial College’s Arts Management program, and developed and taught a course on Cultural Entrepreneurship for MacEwan University’s Arts and Cultural Management program. Shanice Bernicky From Mass Culture Shanice Bernicky (she/her, elle) is a media maker and PhD student at Carleton University’s School of Journalism & Communication. She completed a Master’s research-creation thesis in Media Studies at Concordia University, as a non-linear documentary exploring themes of domestic violence, heritage, and multi-racial identity from the axis point of natural Black hair. As a freelance video editor, she has worked on a myriad of projects on rich topics such as Indigenous laws and practices outside the settler-Canadian legal framework, feminist commentary on science and technology studies, and environmental issues connecting the East and the West. At Carleton, Shanice researches equity practices in the settler-Canadian public arts institutions with the continued support of Mass Culture. When she’s not working, she can be found knitting or with her hands in earth. Natasha Qureshi From Sympl Solutions Natasha Qureshi is the Founder and Principal of Sympl Solutions, a Toronto-based consultancy that bridges strategy, finance, and data for the arts and nonprofit sectors. She is also the Co-Creator of ArtMetrica, a platform helping arts and culture organizations measure and communicate their impact through intuitive dashboards and shared data frameworks. A Fulbright Scholar with a background in Computer Science and an MBA from Cornell University, Natasha combines technical and strategic expertise to help the arts and culture sector tell its stories through data, strengthen its value to communities, and shape a more sustainable and equitable creative ecosystem. Action Lab Goals and Outcomes The Action Lab will strengthen conversations, shape practical outcomes, and build approaches that benefit the entire arts community. We aim to: Develop skills to process, articulate, and report qualitative and quantitative data   Build confidence in tracking and implementing impact indicators   Address roadblocks like HR capacity or skill gaps in evaluation   Leverage impact-evaluation skills for fundraising and advocacy   Engage with national and regional networks, aligning work with other impact-indexes, like the United Nation’s 16 Sustainable Development Goals During the introductory session to our Arts Impact Evaluation Action Lab on December 15th, 2025, Meral Tan, one of our CAMs, joined to observe the session and share their experience and key takeaways as an Arts Correspondent. Read the article here. LEARN MORE ABOUT ARTS OTTAWA'S ACTION LABS

Tackle urgent issues, driving sector-wide change Action Labs and the Core Leadership Circle Tackle urgent issues, driving sector-wide change Photo: Jamaal Khaleefa ACTION LABS IN PROGRESS:→ Shared Ground Initiative (click to learn more) → Social Impact Evaluation in the Arts (click to learn more) Arts Ottawa is listening closely to the local arts community. We are working to understand how we can collectively address the opportunities, challenges and priorities the sector is facing, that shape the sector’s role in city building. Arts Ottawa held three Collaborative Strategy Sessions to pilot a Core Leadership Circle (CLC) in late fall 2025. Community advisory members, partners, and sector leaders—those actively engaged in addressing challenges around spaces, local economic development, and impact measurement—shared experiences, tested ideas, and explored ways to coordinate collective action. By convening this CLC, we began building stronger connections across the sector to ensure Arts Ottawa’s work is informed by and reflects the realities of , Ottawa’s arts community. During our Collaborative Strategy Session on November 27, 2025, Ava Marguerite, one of our CAMs, joined to observe the session and share their experience and key takeaways as an Arts Correspondent. You can read the full article here. From these conversations, we and the CLC identified three Strategic Priority Pillars. Arts Ottawa is reframing these as interconnected components of Ottawa’s civic infrastructure. Physical Infrastructure: Artists need clearer pathways to engage with physical spaces, along with practical guidance on civic systems (planning development, zoning), and capital projects. Knowledge Infrastructure: Capturing and communicating sector impact is critical. Currently, data and storytelling are fragmented, and participants emphasized the need for simple, shared tools to make this work more effective. Economic Infrastructure: The sector is exploring ways to strengthen local economic development by supporting fair work, local ownership, equity, and long-term sustainability. Effective coordination and shared messaging are key to making this possible. Together, these layers create the infrastructure of cultural life — physical, economic, and social systems that sustain creativity and civic connection. Through this work, Arts Ottawa’s role in the sector has become clear: we serve as a backbone, convener, knowledge hub, and capacity builder, centering equity and representation. Looking ahead to 2026–2027, we will focus strategically on these core roles, engaging in project leadership selectively to maximize collective impact, support sustainable and coordinate sector growth. More about the Core Leadership Circle The Core Leadership Circle acts as a catalyst for activation, formed around each of our Action Labs. These purpose-driven groups bring together individuals, organizations, and advisors from both within and beyond the arts to support, shape, and champion the work being done. Each CLC is dedicated to exploring a key issue in the arts, offering insight, strategy, and connections, and is dissolved once that phase of the work evolves. Through its leadership, the CLC will help guide outcomes from Action Labs such as Shared Ground (which explores the potential of underused spaces as cultural hubs) and the Arts Ottawa Awards ( which celebrate and elevate the contributions of local artists and cultural leaders). More about Action Labs Action Labs are central to how we address key issues in the arts community. Each Lab focuses on a specific topic identified as important to artists and the community by our CAM. They may take the form of research groups, planning teams, advocacy hubs, or spaces for idea-sharing and collaboration. Each Lab is supported by a Core Leadership Circle, a group that helps guide the work and ensure its impact is shared with those who can drive broader change. Labs are formed in response to clear needs and conclude once their objectives are achieved, such as completing a project or sharing insights with the community. A Dual Approach to Change Project-Based Labs: These labs are designed to achieve specific goals, such as organizing a campaign or launching a new initiative. They have defined timelines and objectives and disband once the project is completed, or the goals are successfully met. Issue-Based Labs: These labs focus on ongoing challenges or policy-related issues. While they often operate on longer timelines, their purpose and impact are regularly reviewed to ensure they remain relevant and effective.

Get involved with Arts Ottawa: sign up to volunteer today! Sorry, but this form is now closed. Volunteer Info Form First name* Last name* Preferred Pronouns Phone Email Tell us about yourself! What interests you about volunteering with Arts Ottawa? Areas of interest (please select all that apply) Event Support (e.g. guest welcome / check-in / info; setup / decor; logistics / misc.) Communications (e.g. photography / videography; writing / editing; translation; graphic design) Administration (e.g. file organization; data entry; IT / technical support) Please select any events and activities you'd be interested in volunteering for. Conferences / larger scale events Community events (workshops, panels, town halls, community-engaged art) Annual General Meeting Events and activities in the Shenkman Arts Centre Board subcommittees, Young Arts Leaders Collective (YALC), and other committees Please indicate any previous experience that might be relevant. General availability (please select all that apply) Weekdays Evenings Weekends It's complicated (please provide additional details below) Additional availability details Type of commitment (please select all that apply) Ongoing, short-term Ongoing, long-term Occasional / one-off events Event type (please select all that apply) In-person Virtual Additional details if needed Please confirm you’ve read our Safer Spaces Policy. * Do you have any accessibility requirements we should know about? Please list them here. Submit

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Cabral Margaret-Jane Campbell Judith Cane, Ian and Sam Fisher Capital Chordettes CAPITAL SOUND AND LIGHT Margaret Carver Arlette Castonguay Centre Séraphin-Marion d’Orléans David Chadala Mélanie Champagne Patrick Champagne Les Chansonniers d’Ottawa Diane et Richard Charlebois Denis et Julie Chauret Chénier Family Chhangur Family John H. Chibuk Chorum Chamber Choir Richard F. Clark Famille Jean-François Claude Family Club Photo Orléans Photo Club Connie Collette-Cole John Cook Coro Vivo Ottawa Inc. Yvonne and Fern Côté Aline et Michel Coulombe Irelande M. Finsten Crossan Jacqueline H. Finsten Crossan Rachel et Séan Crossan Cuisine et Passion Cumberland Community Singers Michael & Catrina Curran Laura Cyr Julia Scarlett Dan Stephen Decker Family Dennee Family Erika Déruaz Domenic Di Loreto Matthieu Doell Famille Shawn Doherty Family Betty Dolan Conseiller Clive Doucet Councillor In Memory of Caroline Ann Doyle Jean-Guy Doyon Marie-Jeanne Drew Yvan R. Dubeau André et Carmen Dufault Frances Dunn and Paul Caron Ernie and Virginia Dupuis Leonard Dupuis Stephanie Dupuis Cecilia Dwyer John Dwyer Liam Joseph Dwyer Doreen Dyet Noëlla Dyet Virginia Dyet Renée Dykeman East End Theatre Renée Edmunds Audreen M. Ellis Richard C. Ellis Christina Embleton Peter and Jacquie Embleton William Embleton Brad Evans In Memory of Flo & Ted Fancott Fédération des Femmes Canadiennes-Françaises d’Orléans Wendy Feldberg Alison & Anna Feltmate Françoise Ferguson Brazeau Susan Flemming Donna Fleras Margo & Don Ford Guy et Claudette Forget Marilyn Foster Sean Freill Friend of the Orléans-Cumberland Community Resource Centre Judith Froome Barbara & Paul Fulford Elizabeth Galindo-Bloch Anne Pallascio Galipeau Claude Antoine Galipeau Louis Pallascio Galipeau Miriam “Mimi” Galipeau Paul Mathieu Galipeau Cody Oatway In Memory of Sheila Hanson In Memory of Susan Ruth Bowen Jahn Fawcett Jeffrey Richstone Julie Mercier Oded Ravek Family Adrian Marc Olsthoorn Johannus Olsthoorn Logan Ethan Olsthoorn Orleans Gardens Chiropractic Keith O’Rourke Ottawa Artisans Guild The Ottawa School of Speech & Drama Ottawa Voyageurs Walking Club / Club de marche des voyageurs d’Ottawa Marc Ouimet-McPherson Out of the Box Fibre Art Group Geneviève Painchaud Nicolas Pantieras & Family Alenka Paquet En mémoire de Denise J. Parent Karine Parent-Girard Louis et Nicole Patry Bronte Patterson Kashtin Patterson Tristan Patterson Emily Pearlman Lise & Denis Perrault Émélie Perron-Clow Jonathan Perron-Clow Hugh V.W. Phillips Norman Pirollo Susan & Dennis Pitt Linda Platt Marc Poirier Thérèse Poulin Kaitlyn Poupore Keri Poupore Adam T. B. Pyne Jana A. B. Pyne Sevren B. Pyne Terrence F. Pyne Stephen Quick Rag & Bone Puppet Theatre Jessica Reeve Martha Reeve Terry Rempel-Mroz Martin Rice Amanda Ricketts Éric et Lorraine Robineau Famille Frank Rodgers Family Francine & Yvon Rodrigue James & Lise Rody Roney-Heney Family Maureen Rooney Mitchell Helen Rosseau Anik Roy Daniel Roy Donald et Lise Roy Martin Roy Michel Roy Shawnah Roy Linda Russell Eliane Saheurs Joe Salazar In Memory of Joan Salgo Lydia Salgo Salon Funéraire Heritage Funeral Home Royal Galipeau, MP Stephen & Margie Lee Gallagher Allan & Jocelyne Garbutt Victor R. & Linda Mae Garbutt Jenna Gasper Sharron Gebert Christine Gendron GENIVAR Fiona Gilfillan Rachna & Ian Gilmore Sophia Giroux-Radisch Gloucester Community Concert Band Gloucester Pottery School Norm Goddard Mélanie Gosselin Stéphane Gosselin Thérèse et Léonard Gosselin Bernard et Mariette Grandmaître Gray / Coughlan Family Zachary T. Gray Carol-Anne Grenier Kaera Griffin Groupe S&S Bolton Group Laura Grunder Marguerite Grünwald Lucía Guerrero Maria Guevremont Louisa Haché Marion Jean Hall Lucie Hallé Joya and Drew Halpenny Shirley Hamre Richard Hancox Doreen Hardiman The Harding Family Luvai Hassanali Zaahra Hassanali In Memory of Ann Heard Chris and Sandy Heard Phyllis Heath Heron / Ebery Family Heron / Hopkinson Family Betty Hoff Herbert G. Hoff Marlene Hoff Samantha & Christina Hollands Katherine Howarth Shannon Howarth Sophia Hullin In Memory of Charles Maddison Innescents Floral Design Ruby Ireland Frances Isaac In Memory of the Hon. Donald and Barbara Jamieson Johanna Jansen April Jarrett Jennifer Jarvis Laura Jellett Catherine Jellett Conseiller Rob Jellett Councilor Susan Jellett James Jette Melanie Rose Jette Aline Joanis Sonia Joanis Micheline Joanisse Johnston Family Johnstone Family Jayne Jonker Anne Jutras Marc Thivierge Megan Piercey Monafu Rachel Horsley Roger Trudel Stephen Adler Terrie Kember Fried Kemper John Kemper Michael & Lynda Kemper Francis & Katie Kenny Sheila King John and Joan Klenavic Barbara Kloepfer David Knight-Martin Chantal Lafontaine & Martin Patterson Steve Langlois Jessi Langston Pappy Langston Patrick Langston Irfôna Larkin Marie Larocque Cazabon Roger Larose Ned & Diane Lathrop Laureate Gamma Sigma Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi Yves Le Gal Guy-Michel Lebel Richard Lebel Émilie Lebel-Lessard Annette et Wilbrod Leclerc Alton Legault Denis, Nathalie et Sophie Legault Isabella Lévêque Dr. Todd R. Lewis Dentistry Professional Corporation Tom and Mary Little Marie Lizotte Loch Murray Dancers The Loveridge Family Erin MacDonald Sam MacDonald Macdonnell-Hopkins Family Denyse Mageau Carter Malette Jordan Malette Lise Malette Eric Manherz Manoir Portobello Manor Alan and Pam Marjerrison Jag Maru Dr. Mike Mattinen & Dr. Lyne Rivet Marie McCormack Famille Eric McKay Family Phil & Anna Marie McNeely Mi Casa Theatre Louise Michaud Elena Milito Sofie Milito Sue Mills Conseiller Bob Monette Councillor Andrew Moore Renata Morawiecka Alan Morissette Marjorie Mueller Robert Murrell Jérémy Nantel-Saint-Fort Albert-Nicholas Nassrallah National Capital Network of Sculptors The Nevins Family AnnMarie Nielsen M. Santerre Kellie Sarazin Hellmut & Margaret Schade Karen J. Scott Thomas Scott Carolle Séguin and David Edmunds Ann Seman Margaret Shaw Fred Sherwin and Family Lois Siegel Sinclair Chicago de Hildebrand Diane Smith Hayden Alexander Smith Sydney Smith Tyler Smith Cassia Snyder Gwen Snyder Michel & Chantal Soucy Jackie Squires Lynne Stacey Nicole St-Amand Victoria Steele Josette et Jean Ste-Marie Sterling Family Hailey Stewart Peter and Cynthia Stewart En mémoire d’Elizabeth St-Jean Savoie Frances M. Stronach Dawn Stroz Alastair Swan Kira Swan Rosemary Swan Tara Luz Danse Katherine Taylor Mike Taylor TECH EXPERTS Automotive The Promenade Théâtre du Village d’Orléans inc. Patricia Thibault Richard Thibault Sean Thibault Trejo Letechipía Family Christopher Tremblay Karina Tremblay & Christian Abbott-LeBlanc Sidney K. Treml Louise Valle Jeannine van Berkel Cathy Velazquez Vintage Stock Theatre Chloé Vuicic George Vuicic Jessica Vuicic Wall Space Gallery David N. Ward Hon. Jim Watson, MPP Fiona Watts Gordon Watts Patricia Watts Wealth Strategies Barbara Welke Sue Widyaratne Peter & Gerri Wilkes Gerda J. Wolker Olivia Woods Robert Woods In Memoriam of Dorothy Wynes You Deserve It The Yuill Family Nicole Zuger Take a bow! On behalf of Articipate Grant Recipients who benefit from your private and public financial support, thank you to all donors of the Articipate Endowment Fund. This electronic Donor Wall pays tribute to the vision and leadership shown by a community who support of a flourishing local art scene. All annual gifts, bequests and gifts in memorial of $50 and more are included because together , we’ve built a strong cultural legacy for years to come! Donor Wall

Sign up for the Arts Ottawa newsletters to stay up to date with the arts community. Newsletters Read more about Arts Ottawa's three newsletters here and sign up below. Arts Ottawa report Bi-weekly updates The Arts Ottawa Report will keep you up to date on all of the programs and services Arts Ottawa has to offer the Ottawa community. This newsletter is to inform you on all of our programs, job opportunities and staff changes within the organization, workshops, fundraising and reports, as well as the services Arts Ottawa offers. WKND Bulletin Community news every Thursday The Weekend Bulletin’s purpose is to help you unwind after a long week. It will go out on Fridays and act as your guide to an active weekend in Ottawa! It will showcase all kinds of activities happening in the city, ways to stay creative, as well as new trends, articles, and even recipes, that may spark interest. artist talk Bi-weekly artist resources The Artist Talk newsletters will feature opportunities in Ottawa that may help advance your artistic career. It will be a spotlight on opportunities outside of our organization, and through this newsletter you will be notified of local resources, calls to artists, requests for proposals, paid opportunities, grant opportunities, volunteering, and so on. This newsletter will also provide a space for Arts Ottawa to feature local Artists and their work. Subscribe to the Arts Ottawa Newsletters Arts Ottawa offers three different newsletters that will keep you up to date on the Ottawa Arts Community. Learn More and Subscribe

Arts Ottawa supports and connects the local arts community, fostering collaboration and empowering creativity. We champion the arts as a vital force in Ottawa’s cultural, social, and economic life. About Arts Ottawa Arts Ottawa supports and connects the local arts community, fostering collaboration and empowering creativity. We champion the arts as a vital force in Ottawa’s cultural, social, and economic life. Our History Meet the Team Photo: Jamaal Khaleefa Mission To drive collective action in responding to community needs and priorities, fostering a thriving arts sector. Vision A dynamic cultural capital where the practice of art is meaningful and contributes positively to the development of the city and the quality of life of its citizens. Values Care and respect for artists, engagement with community, integrity and accountability, inclusiveness and collaboration. Explore the new Artist Talk! Our new community hub brings together events, resources, and discussions — all in one place. Stay connected, informed, and inspired. Visit Artist Talk Subscribe to the Arts Ottawa Report! Arts Ottawa offers a bi-weekly report that will keep you up to date on all of the programs and services Arts Ottawa has to offer the Ottawa community. Learn about our newsletters here. Email* Yes, subscribe me to Arts Ottawa Report. * Submit

Land Acknowledgment We acknowledge that our offices are on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation. Today, many Indigenous communities continue to be denied the opportunity and resources to make and experience their traditional art on this land. We pledge to make justice and reconciliation a priority through our work by amplifying Indigenous voices and their experiences. Arts Ottawa is committed to meaningful reconciliation, not only in words, but in actions. We are dedicated to amplifying Indigenous voices within Ottawa’s arts and culture sector, creating space for Indigenous artists and communities to lead, shape, and define the work we do together. We acknowledge that this commitment requires ongoing learning, deep listening, trust-building and accountability to the communities whose stewardship of this land we honour. Learn more about whose land you're on Learn more about the Chiefs of Ontario Learn more about the Anishinabek Nation The Indigenous People of the Ottawa Valley are Algonquin By Aimee Bailey, Algonquin Citizen Read the article here Who We Are Arts Ottawa was established through the 2025 merger of the Ottawa Arts Council (est. 1982) and Arts Network Ottawa (est. 1980)—two organizations that individually shaped the city’s cultural landscape for decades. Together, as Arts Ottawa, we carry forward a combined legacy of over 80 years of service to artists, arts workers, and arts organizations across the region. Arts Ottawa operates from a foundational belief: that the arts are not a luxury or a cultural add-on, but a form of civic infrastructure, as essential to a functioning, vibrant city as transit, housing, or public green space has been. Our theory of change holds that when artists and arts organizations are well-resourced, well-connected, and well-represented in civic decision-making, the entire city benefits through stronger communities, a more resilient economy, and a more inclusive public life. LEARN MORE ABOUT ARTS OTTAWA 2025 Impact Overview COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 796 total participants across 32 labs, events, meetups, and collaborative sessions. 31 sector leaders, experts, and knowledge holders contributed as speakers and facilitators. 27 volunteers supported program delivery and community activities. Total Audience & Engagement Reach (2025) DIGITAL REACH & COMMUNITY GROWTH 6,219 Social Media Followers 336 Members 316,112 Social Media Views 2,684 Email Subscribers 125 Artist Talk Subscribers 14,862 Website Views Total Audience & Engagement Reach (2025) DIGITAL REACH & COMMUNITY GROWTH 316,112 Social media views 6,219 Social media followers 2,684 Email subscribers 336 Members (CAMs) 125 Artist Talk subscribers 14,862 Website views INVESTMENT IN ARTISTS & CREATIVE PRACTICE Total Financial Distribution to Artists: $201,163 total distributed across programs and supports ÁjgqÎ|QWERTYqwerty CLICK HERE! CLICK HERE! Funding & Support Breakdown ARTicipate Project Grants and Shenkman Arts Centre Resident Arts Partners Artist in Residence in Government (AIRG) Program Photography/Videography Production Arts Correspondents & Writing Contributions Arts Ottawa Awards Performances and Production Social Impact Evaluation Prototypers Artist and Community Member Stipends Instagram Artist Takeovers Speakers and Facilitators 12 Shared Ground Advisors and Leaders 33 Arts Ottawa Awards CAM Advisory Group 11 Social Impact Evaluation in the Arts Advisors and Leaders 36 Community Consultation Session Participants LEADERSHIP CIRCLE & COMMUNITY ADVISORS Total Leadership Circle Participation: 92 Advocacy for Systems Change Community Voices Our Work In 2025, Arts Ottawa organized its programs and initiatives around four interconnected pillars, each reinforcing the others in service of a single goal: a stronger, more equitable arts sector in Ottawa. The work Arts Ottawa delivered in 2025 can be mapped across six core areas of focus: Building Community Power Learning and Knowledge Sharing Arts as Civic Infrastructure Recognition and Celebration Our Work In 2025, Arts Ottawa organized its programs and initiatives around three interconnected pillars, Physical, Economic, and Knowledge Infrastructure, each reinforcing the others in service of a single goal: a stronger, more equitable arts sector in Ottawa. The work Arts Ottawa delivered in 2025 can be mapped across six areas of focus in relation to these pillars: Building Community Power, Learning and Knowledge Sharing, Arts as Civic Infrastructure, Recognition and Celebration, Community Voices, and Advocacy for Systems Change. BUILDING COMMUNITY POWER Through a series of Learning Labs and Co-Creation Labs held between January and April, we invited sector leaders, artists, arts workers, and community members to help us prototype what a truly community-driven organization could look like. The process was iterative, at times messy, and deeply generative. LEARN MORE ABOUT ARTS OTTAWA’S LEARNING AND CO-CREATION LABS EXPLORE WHAT WE LEARNED By July, we had arrived at a governance structure that reflects the genuine priorities and values of the people it serves. The result is a circle-based leadership model built around three interlocking components: Co-Leadership Circles, Community Advisory Members and Action Labs. Hear what the community had to say ARTS OTTAWA’S SHARED GOVERNANCE MODEL CO-LEADERSHIP CIRCLES COMMUNITY ADVISORY MEMBERS ACTION LABS ARTS OTTAWA AS A LEARNING ORGANIZATION A central conviction of Arts Ottawa’s work is that the expertise needed to strengthen Ottawa’s arts sector already exists within the community, and that our role is to convene it. In 2025, our Learning Labs series gave form to that conviction. Across 5 sessions spanning governance models, advocacy strategies, artist leadership, trust-building, and cross-sector collaboration, the Learning Labs brought together 142 sector professionals and community members to learn from one another. Watch the Learning Lab and Co Creation Lab Videos See the full playlist September saw the launch of one of Arts Ottawa’s most ambitious initiatives: the Social Impact Evaluation in the Arts Action Lab. Developed in direct response to a challenge surfaced repeatedly in community conversations (the difficulty of measuring and articulating the value of artistic work) LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR WORK AROUND SOCIAL IMPACT IN THE ARTS ARTS AS CIVIC INFRASTRUCTURE If there is a single issue that defined Arts Ottawa’s first year of advocacy, it is space . Access to affordable, accessible, and stable space is the single largest constraint facing Ottawa’s arts community, and in 2025, Arts Ottawa stepped forward to lead a sector-wide response. Shared Ground, our first Action Lab dedicated to cultural space, launched in June with a focus on reimagining vacant and underused spaces in downtown Ottawa as vibrant cultural hubs. Conversations continued throughout the year, generating new models and new coalitions through events including the (Un)Common Grounds Community Living Rooms. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SHARED GROUND INITIATIVE JUNE 25TH EVENT REPORT AND KEY FINDINGS (UN)COMMON GROUNDS EVENT REPORT AND KEY FINDINGS The Artist in Residence in Government (AIRG) program represented another dimension of Arts Ottawa’s civic engagement, embedding an artist within a City of Ottawa department to apply creative practice to a concrete civic challenge. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ARTIST IN RESIDENCE IN GOVERNEMENT PROGRAM VIEW OLIVIA ONUK'S WEBSITE OLIVIA'S CLOSING STATEMENT PROJECT - MAPPING JOY VIEW JORDAN DANGER'S WEBSITE Recognition, Celebration & Sector Visibility In its inaugural merged year, Arts Ottawa’s Awards program was reimagined through a 28-member Community Advisory Group, which led a process to rethink recognition and centering accessibility, inclusion, and sector representation. Launched in November, the refreshed awards reflect the diversity of Ottawa’s arts community. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ARTS OTTAWA AWARDS The ARTicipate Project Grants program continued to provide direct support to artists and arts organizations, distributing $ 29,200 across 10 grants in 2025. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ARTICIPATE ENDOWMENT FUND STAY UP TO DATE WITH ARTICIPATE PROJECTS ON INSTAGRAM The Artist Takeover series showcased individual artists across Arts Ottawa’s digital platforms, offering insight into creative practice and reaching a wide online audience. 4 artists participated in 2025, collectively reaching a social media audience of 17,598. The Giving Circle launched as a new donor engagement model, inviting supporters to help guide funding decisions and strengthening the connection between donors and the community while supporting a more sustainable funding approach. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE GIVING CIRCLE Community Voices The most meaningful measure of Arts Ottawa’s impact is the experience of the community we serve. Here, in their own words, are the people who make this work matter. “These shared conversations are an important reminder of the collective strength of our creative community and the value of coming together to shape the future of the arts.” 
- Jennifer Prevost What stood out most was the energy in the room — ideas shared, frameworks discussed, and stories brought forward [...] a powerful reminder that governance isn't just about policy—it's about people, passion, and purpose.”
 - Zoha Khalid Advocacy & Systems Change In 2025, Arts Ottawa advanced a focused advocacy agenda, participating in and contributing to some of the most consequential civic conversations shaping Ottawa's cultural future. Through Shared Ground, Arts Ottawa led a community-driven response to one of the sector's most pressing challenges: access to affordable and stable cultural space. Arts Ottawa also joined the City of Ottawa’ Nightlife Council, bringing an arts and culture lens to conversations about Ottawa's evening economy and the conditions that allow creative communities to thrive. Through years of sustained advocacy, Arts Ottawa helped lay the groundwork for the City of Ottawa's upcoming Culture Plan, ensuring that the priorities of artists, arts workers, and arts organizations are embedded in the policy framework. And through formal City Council Delegations, we ensured that the arts sector's perspective was heard directly by elected decision-makers at critical moments in the city's planning and budgeting processes. These initiatives reflect an organization that is actively shaping the civic decisions that matter most to the community it serves. Looking Ahead: 2026 Priorities The foundation we built in 2025 exists to be built upon. As we look toward 2026, Arts Ottawa is focused on deepening the impact of our inaugural year while expanding our reach and influence across Ottawa’s arts and culture sector. The goal is a sector that is better equipped to measure, articulate, and advocate for its own value. Stay Connected and follow along: info@artsottawa.ca Vision: Arts Ottawa is accountable to the community and to the public trust. The following summary reflects the organization’s financial activity in 2025, highlighting the sources of support that made our work possible and the areas where those resources were invested. These figures reflect Arts Ottawa’s commitment to directing the majority of its resources toward programs and community impact. Financial Summary THANK YOU Arts Ottawa’s work in 2025 was made possible by the generosity, partnership, and dedication of a remarkable community of funders, donors, board members, staff, members, volunteers, and partners. We are grateful to each of them. Our Community Advisory Members Your lived experience and sector expertise shaped every program, priority, and decision Arts Ottawa made in 2025. BECOME A MEMBER Our Funders Your investment made it possible to build a unified, community-driven organization with the capacity to advocate, convene, and lead on behalf of Ottawa's entire arts sector. SEE MORE Giving Circle Members & Individual Donors By investing directly in Ottawa's arts community and participating in the decisions about where that investment goes, you helped us model a new kind of relationship between donors and the sector they support. DONATE NOW Our Board of Directors Your governance leadership through a year of significant organizational transformation provided the stability and strategic direction that made everything else possible. LEARN MORE Staff Team You built Arts Ottawa from the ground up in a single year: the programs, the relationships, the governance structures, and the community trust that now define this organization. LEARN MORE Key Partners & Collaborators Your willingness to show up at the table, in the room, and in the work gave Arts Ottawa's programs the depth, credibility, and reach that no single organization could achieve alone. SEE MORE Our Community Advisory Members Your lived experience and sector expertise shaped every program, priority, and decision Arts Ottawa made in 2025. Our Funders Your investment made it possible to build a unified, community-driven organization with the capacity to advocate, convene, and lead on behalf of Ottawa's entire arts sector. Giving Circle Members & Individual Donors By investing directly in Ottawa's arts community and participating in the decisions about where that investment goes, you helped us model a new kind of relationship between donors and the sector they support. Board of Directors Your governance leadership through a year of significant organizational transformation provided the stability and strategic direction that made everything else possible. Staff Team You built Arts Ottawa from the ground up in a single year: the programs, the relationships, the governance structures, and the community trust that now define this organization. Key Partners & Collaborators Your willingness to show up at the table, in the room, and in the work gave Arts Ottawa's programs the depth, credibility, and reach that no single organization could achieve alone.