Search Arts Ottawa

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. Arts Ottawa Programs & Services Behind every thriving arts sector is the infrastructure that holds it together. Your donation helps us build and maintain that for Ottawa. DONATE 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 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. DONATE ARTicipate Endowment Fund 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 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

ARTicipate Texto Campaign Help us support Local Artists through the ARTicipate Endowment Fund and Granting Program Click here to download social media graphics Suggested Caption: Text ARTS to 20222 to donate $10 to the ARTicipate Endowment Fund! Your gift goes directly into the fund, helping artists and arts organizations bring creative projects to life in professional spaces at the Shenkman Arts Centre. The more the fund grows, the more artists we can support. Spread the word and be part of the community that makes art possible. Find out more: articipate.ca #ARTicipate ---- Textez ARTS au 20222 pour faire un don de 10 $ au Fonds de dotation ARTicipez! Votre don va directement au fonds et aide les artistes et organismes artistiques à réaliser leurs projets créatifs dans des espaces professionnels au Centre des arts Shenkman. Plus le fonds grandit, plus nous pouvons soutenir d’artistes. Partagez le mot et faites partie de la communauté qui rend l’art possible. Pour en savoir plus : articipate.ca #ARTicipez

Arts Ottawa is engaged in strategic conversations with public and private partners in relation to emerging cultural infrastructure development opportunities across the city. This work focuses on ensuring sector-informed input is considered in broader planning processes by advocating for clear, consistent data collection and evaluation measures to be embedded throughout. The goal is to build a practical evidence base that helps the sector better understand the logistics and feasibility of opening and sustaining arts-led spaces, including what is realistically achievable for smaller organizations and what conditions support long-term sustainability in independently run arts spaces. This stream of work supports a longer-term horizon goal of positioning the arts sector to be ready to engage with, respond to, and help shape major civic cultural infrastructure as these opportunities emerge across the city. Research, Advocacy & Planning Learning Cohort Launching in fall 2026, this Learning Cohort supports people who are working toward creating physical arts and culture spaces. Through mentorship, resources, and peer learning, participants will receive practical support as they take the next steps toward bringing their vision to life. In exchange, participants will contribute to a shared learning process by documenting key aspects of their journey, helping capture what it actually takes to create and sustain an arts and culture space. Through guided reporting, the cohort will track challenges, costs, timelines, relationships, and decision-making processes involved in developing a space. This information will create valuable knowledge for the sector, helping identify barriers, gaps, and opportunities while strengthening support for future arts and culture space projects. Arts Ottawa’s Learning Labs are a key part of our commitment to building capacity across the local arts sector. Through professional development opportunities, knowledge sharing, and collaborative learning, the program supports artists and arts organizations in strengthening skills, expanding networks, and responding to evolving community needs. By investing in continuous learning, the Learning Labs help build a more resilient, connected, and sustainable arts ecosystem, enhancing the capacity of individual artists, organizations, and Arts Ottawa alike. Learing Labs This summer, Arts Ottawa will help facilitate a storefront activation and transform vacant commercial space into a public-facing arts venue. The initiative will benefit landlords by activating their vacant space, create opportunities for future tenants and help revitalize Ottawa’s streets by bringing foot traffic and community engagement while restoring energy and creativity. Vacant Storefront activation The 300 Sparks Street Pop-Up is made possible through the generous support of Crown Property Management Inc, who recognize the placemaking and engaging power of artists. This summer activation, led by Cre8, provides artists with a platform to showcase their work as well as bringing more creative life to our downtown. This pop-up will also serve as a live feasibility study. By observing how the space is used, including foot traffic, visitor engagement, and operational realities, the project will help build a clearer understanding of what it takes to activate and sustain arts and culture spaces in downtown settings. This dual purpose allows the initiative to both animate the street in the present and generate valuable insight to inform future placemaking and space activations. Sparks Street Storefront The State of the Arts Map is an evolving research tool designed to strengthen Ottawa’s arts ecosystem by making its assets, resources, and opportunities more visible and connected. The map will identify and document creative infrastructure across the city, like studio spaces, learning environments, and community hubs, while capturing key information about their features, uses, and the resources that flow through them. By providing a clearer picture of what already exists and where gaps remain, the project helps break down silos, foster collaboration, and improve access to spaces and resources. The result is a more connected, informed, and resilient arts community, better equipped to support growth, advocacy, and long-term sector development. A collaboration with Memetic Media and Carleton Immersive Media Studio (CIMS) Lab. State of the Arts Map Happening now in Shared Ground: Hover over activities and projects to learn more Back to Shared Ground Back to Shared Ground Happening now in Shared Ground: Click to learn more Learning Labs Arts Ottawa’s Learning Labs are a key part of our commitment to building capacity across the local arts sector. Through professional development opportunities, knowledge sharing, and collaborative learning, the program supports artists and arts organizations in strengthening skills, expanding networks, and responding to evolving community needs. By investing in continuous learning, the Learning Labs help build a more resilient, connected, and sustainable arts ecosystem, enhancing the capacity of individual artists, organizations, and Arts Ottawa alike. Learning Cohort Launching in fall 2026, this Learning Cohort supports people who are working toward creating physical arts and culture spaces. Through mentorship, resources, and peer learning, participants will receive practical support as they take the next steps toward bringing their vision to life. In exchange, participants will contribute to a shared learning process by documenting key aspects of their journey, helping capture what it actually takes to create and sustain an arts and culture space. Through guided reporting, the cohort will track challenges, costs, timelines, relationships, and decision-making processes involved in developing a space. This information will create valuable knowledge for the sector, helping identify barriers, gaps, and opportunities while strengthening support for future arts and culture space projects. Vacant Storefront Activation This summer, Arts Ottawa will help facilitate a storefront activation and transform vacant commercial space into a public-facing arts venue. The initiative will benefit landlords by activating their vacant space, create opportunities for future tenants and help revitalize Ottawa’s streets by bringing foot traffic and community engagement while restoring energy and creativity. Sparks Street Storefront The 300 Sparks Street Pop-Up is made possible through the generous support of Crown Property Management Inc, who recognize the placemaking and engaging power of artists. This summer activation, led by Cre:8, provides artists with a platform to showcase their work as well as bringing more creative life to our downtown. This pop-up will also serve as a live feasibility study. By observing how the space is used, including foot traffic, visitor engagement, and operational realities, the project will help build a clearer understanding of what it takes to activate and sustain arts and culture spaces in downtown settings. This dual purpose allows the initiative to both animate the street in the present and generate valuable insight to inform future placemaking and space activations. State of the Arts Map The State of the Arts Map is an evolving research tool designed to strengthen Ottawa’s arts ecosystem by making its assets, resources, and opportunities more visible and connected. The map will identify and document creative infrastructure across the city, like studio spaces, learning environments, and community hubs, while capturing key information about their features, uses, and the resources that flow through them. By providing a clearer picture of what already exists and where gaps remain, the project helps break down silos, foster collaboration, and improve access to spaces and resources. The result is a more connected, informed, and resilient arts community, better equipped to support growth, advocacy, and long-term sector development. A collaboration with Memetic Media and Carleton Immersive Media Studio (CIMS) Lab. Research, Advocacy & Planning Arts Ottawa is engaged in strategic conversations with public and private partners in relation to emerging cultural infrastructure development opportunities across the city. This work focuses on ensuring sector-informed input is considered in broader planning processes by advocating for clear, consistent data collection and evaluation measures to be embedded throughout. The goal is to build a practical evidence base that helps the sector better understand the logistics and feasibility of opening and sustaining arts-led spaces, including what is realistically achievable for smaller organizations and what conditions support long-term sustainability in independently run arts spaces. This stream of work supports a longer-term horizon goal of positioning the arts sector to be ready to engage with, respond to, and help shape major civic cultural infrastructure as these opportunities emerge across the city. Capacity Building Space Activation Advocacy Research Models

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

Arts community updates we're keeping an eye on On Our Radar Arts Ottawa will keep our community posted on outcomes from the proposed Cultural Funding Framework and Policy Report once presented to the City Council in February 2025. A larger-scale public launch for the new Municipal Culture Plan will occur in the new year. Arts Ottawa will share details once dates and times are confirmed. The City of Ottawa (Economic Development) is working with Bloomberg Associates on the creation of a framework for an Arts, Culture and Entertainment District in downtown Ottawa. This is a key action item in A Living Capital: Downtown Ottawa Action Agenda , led by the Ottawa Board of Trade in partnership with several key stakeholders, including the City of Ottawa, and developed in collaboration with the Canadian Urban Institute. Arts Ottawa will keep the community posted on the development of the framework in 2025. 1010 Somerset Complex , new Barrhaven Civic Complex, the Findlay Creek Recreation Centre planning, and the Confederation Heights project. Should other files be on our radar? Let us know!

Terms and Conditions Terms & Conditions These terms and conditions (the "Terms and Conditions") govern the use of www.artsottawa.ca (the "Site"). This Site is owned and operated by Arts Ottawa. This Site is an arts organization. By using this Site, you indicate that you have read and understand these Terms and Conditions and agree to abide by them at all times. Intellectual Property All content published and made available on our Site is the property of Arts Ottawa and the Site's creators. This includes, but is not limited to images, text, logos, documents, downloadable files and anything that contributes to the composition of our Site. Links to Other Websites Our Site contains links to third party websites or services that we do not own or control. We are not responsible for the content, policies, or practices of any third party website or service linked to on our Site. It is your responsibility to read the terms and conditions and privacy policies of these third party websites before using these sites. Limitation of Liability Arts Ottawa and our directors, officers, agents, employees, subsidiaries, and affiliates will not be liable for any actions, claims, losses, damages, liabilities and expenses including legal fees from your use of the Site. Indemnity Except where prohibited by law, by using this Site you indemnify and hold harmless Arts Ottawa and our directors, officers, agents, employees, subsidiaries, and affiliates from any actions, claims, losses, damages, liabilities and expenses including legal fees arising out of your use of our Site or your violation of these Terms and Conditions. Applicable Law These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario. Severability If at any time any of the provisions set forth in these Terms and Conditions are found to be inconsistent or invalid under applicable laws, those provisions will be deemed void and will be removed from these Terms and Conditions. All other provisions will not be affected by the removal and the rest of these Terms and Conditions will still be considered valid. Changes These Terms and Conditions may be amended from time to time in order to maintain compliance with the law and to reflect any changes to the way we operate our Site and the way we expect users to behave on our Site. We will notify users by email of changes to these Terms and Conditions or post a notice on our Site. Contact Details Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns. Our contact details are as follows: info@artsottawa.ca Effective Date: 6th day of January, 2025

Arts Ottawa Logo Use our logo to highlight your partnership, event, or collaboration with Arts Ottawa. Click here to download the Arts Ottawa Logos package.

Meet the Arts Ottawa team Meet the Arts Ottawa Team Alex Maltby Programming & Partnerships Brooklyn Marok Digital Engagement & Design Cassandra Olsthoorn Co-Leadership, Strategy & Community Mobilization Joni Hamlin Programming and Operations Nicole Milne Co-Leadership, Operations & Revenue Generation Noel Szabados Content & Impact Documentation Coordinator Advisors Leah Cogan Community Wealth Building Learning Labs Kwende Kefentse Shared Ground Initiative Board of Directors Chirag Gehani Financial Steward Emily Ramsay Chairing Member Hanna Nizman Knowledge Steward Jeff Richstone Board Member Justine Stewart Support Chair Patrick Blackman Board Member

Arts Ottawa was created as a result of a merger of Arts Network Ottawa and Ottawa Arts Council. History Arts Ottawa was created as a result of a merger of Arts Network Ottawa and Ottawa Arts Council in order to bring Ottawa’s arts community under a united voice. Learn more about all phases of the engagement process that brought us to where we are today: Read the Case Study Ottawa Arts Council Ottawa Arts Council was established in 1982 with a mandate to advocate for the arts in Ottawa, connect artists of all disciplines and backgrounds by providing information and skills development, organize an annual festival, and to establish a municipal arts centre in the urban core. Following significant financial obstacles, the Council re-examined its mandate in the nineties to focus its efforts as an arts service organization. Through increased financial resources, the Council solidified its role as an arts and culture advocate. Arts Network Ottawa Arts Network Ottawa began in 1980 as Arts Gloucester, a volunteer umbrella organization created to serve Gloucester. In 1987, Gloucester Arts Council incorporated as a non-profit charity and in 1997, signed a purchase of service agreement with the City of Gloucester to provide service and professional assistance to groups, becoming the first arts council in Ontario to do so with their municipality. The following year a similar agreement was signed with the Township of Cumberland. Following municipal amalgamation in Ottawa, the organization later rebranded to Arts Ottawa East, then AOE Arts Council, then Arts Network Ottawa. A timeline of Merging Ottawa Arts Council & Arts Network Ottawa 2000 Initial merger discussions for Arts Ottawa East and Council for the Arts in Ottawa 2012 City of Ottawa publishes Renewed Action Plan 2019 Ottawa Cultural Alliance's Cultural Roadmap encourages sector collaboration 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic: Increased collaboration between OAC and ANO 2021 Financial analysis conducted by Brynaert Brennan & Associates 2022 Phased engagement process with local consultants May 2023 Develop community co-creation framework to pursue merger October 2023 Announcement of OAC and ANO Merger and Community Feedback Survey December 2023 Community Conversations March 2024 Design thinking workshops held June 2024 Workshop Organizational Model at Arts Leaders' Breakfast and present at AGMs 2025 New Arts Service Organization and organizational model implementation Collaboration After the amalgamation of the City of Ottawa in 2000, both organizations worked collaboratively on arts advocacy, including in the early 2000s on Ottawa’s first arts and heritage master plan (Ottawa 20/20). Preliminary merger discussions were had by staff and boards at the time, but it was determined that each organization would be stronger in achieving unique goals for the community as separate organizations. Collaborative work did continue: both organizations partnered with the City of Ottawa and on Join the Crowd, an arts awareness campaign; a community-wide campaign called My Ottawa Includes Culture in 2004 that stopped a proposed 80% cut to Ottawa City Council arts funding; and again in 2008 partnered to run Our Ottawa Still Includes Culture, another rally in response to a City Council proposed 54% cut to arts funding. Both also participated on the Steering Committee and in consultations that resulted in the City of Ottawa’s 2013-18 Renewed Action Plan for Arts, Culture and Heritage. In 2015, both organizations co-formed Ottawa Cultural Alliance with five other cultural umbrella groups to undertake joint initiatives to strengthen Ottawa’s cultural sector. From 2017-2019, the Alliance completed a community-driven, community-wide Arms-Length Cultural Development Feasibility Study, hosted an Ottawa Culture Summit, and facilitated the creation of this new community-driven A Liveable City for All: A New Cultural Roadmap for Ottawa 2019-22. Building Trust Arts Network Ottawa and Ottawa Arts Council reinforced their partnership through the COVID-19 lockdowns. As the priorities and needs in the sector sharpened, a stronger unified approach continued to be taken by the organizations and consistently saw increased impact and results when working in collaboration. We actively engaged with key internal invested parties, including board members, staff and funders, to understand their perspectives. This process developed a careful yet important environment of openness to a merger between Arts Network Ottawa and Ottawa Arts Council, which generated excitement and curiosity about the process and its possibilities. On October 30, 2023 we made a formal announcement about our plans to merge into a united organization and voice for the arts in Ottawa. On October 30, 2023 we made a formal announcement about the merger. By coming together as a merged organization, we can provide a stronger, more unified response to the complex issues facing the arts community in Ottawa. We are driven by the urgent need to respond to today’s challenges in the arts sector. Learn more about all phases of the engagement process that brought us to where we are today. 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

Get in touch with Arts Ottawa. Contact Arts Ottawa Email info@artsottawa.ca Email 1 (613) 580-2767 Phone 613-580-2767 Downtown Office Arts Court 2 Daly Avenue Ottawa, ON K1N 6E2 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 Follow us

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE Want to apply? 2025-26 RECIPIENTS: Iya Carson Lalande + Doyle PROJECT OUTLINE: In-Between is a poetic exploration of Ottawa, not just its scenery, but the fleeting emotions and quiet spaces that live within and around it. This series of watercolour paintings capture the city not as a map of landmarks, but as a living memory: soft silhouettes in mist, reflections in motion, moments suspended between light and shadow. Through granulation techniques, pigments drift and settle like thoughts between breaths – revealing the textures of passing time. I walk the streets of Ottawa, absorbing the mood: hush before snowfall, golden dusk behind old rooftops and silence after rain. These are not fixed images, but impressions – fragmented, tender, intimate. JustJamaal ThePoet Events & Performances PROJECT OUTLINE: Chambers is a deeply personal and spiritually rooted poetry collection that journeys through six stages of artistic and human transformation — mirroring the arc of the hero’s journey. In this official book launch concert , JustJamaal ThePoet will present a dynamic spoken word performance interwoven with live readings, music, and audience engagement. Each “chamber” explores themes of identity, healing, resistance, and purpose, offering the audience both introspection and celebration. Rooted in Black oral tradition, Afro-Caribbean sacred wisdom, and hip-hop cadence, the performance becomes a communal rite of passage, affirming the sacred power of language to restore and ignite. Rag'n'Bone Theatre Events & Performances PROJECT OUTLINE: Rag & Bone Puppet Theatre will present a new family audiences show, based on a series of classic books. Freddy the Detective, a fan of Sherlock Holmes, enjoys detecting and business is booming, but who stole the toy train? How do you incarcerate a misbehaving fly? And how can a diverse group of animals with unique cultures, needs, and personalities learn to get along? Four performing artists – two puppeteer, a dancer and a musician – will ponder these questions while making puppets, props, a set, and developing dance and music pieces, before their community outreach tour, and performances at the Shenkman Arts Centre. Ghost Rooster Collective Creation & Development PROJECT OUTLINE: Nutcracker Remix is a disability-led reimagining of The Nutcracker, a holiday ballet that has often excluded many. Ghost Rooster Collective invites diverse voices, bodies, and styles into this story. A version that is emotional, visually rich, and built on access and care. While traditionally limited to ballet-trained, non-disabled children, the production will welcome disabled artists, children, and community members across Ottawa. With the aim to create a Nutcracker everyone can see themselves in—on stage, backstage, and in the audience. Using the dreamlike spirit of the original, they’ll explore transformation, grief, and the connection between human and animal. Familiar scenes become symbols of emotion and difference, grounded in lived disability experience. Armin Shohrati Creation & Development PROJECT OUTLINE: After immigrating to Ottawa in 2022, Iranian filmmaker and visual artist Armin Shohrati began experiencing disrupted sleep—a common condition among immigrants adjusting to new environments. Working closely with two fellow Iranian collaborators, a sound designer and the other an emerging performer, Shohrati aims to bring to life Deep Sleep, a collaborative multimedia project that includes live performance, live sound design, and video installation. Deep Sleep is an immersive performance, set on a mattress and layered with recorded sounds, pre-composed music, and a looped video projection. Through this layered environment, and through audience participation, Shohrati creates an immersive space of reflection—drawing attention to the often-unspoken emotional weight immigrants carry during quiet, sleepless nights. Bengal Untold Events & Performances PROJECT OUTLINE: Seasons of Bengal will be a cultural and artistic exploration of Bengal’s six distinct seasons — Grishsho (Summer), Borsha (Monsoon), Shorot (Early Autumn), Hemonto (Late Autumn), Sheeth (Winter), and Boshonto (Spring). Through music, poetry, visual presentations and storytelling, the project brings each season to life, capturing the emotions, traditions, and creativity they inspire. Rooted in heritage and reimagined for today, the event will be presented in English to foster intergenerational connection and cross-cultural engagement, while highlighting Bengali culture. Songs and dances will remain in Bengali, preserving the language’s poetic power and authenticity. With the use of visual presentations, lights, stage décor, music, dance, and poetry, the event aims to create a one-of-a-kind experience, transporting the audience into the heart of Bengal’s seasonal rhythms. This is both a celebration and an invitation – for Bengalis and non-Bengalis, to experience the spirit and soul of Bengal through its most expressive lens: the changing seasons. Integration 101 Hub Lalande & Doyle PROJECT OUTLINE: Polyphonie of Muses is a striking bilingual photographic exhibition that reclaims the “muse” as a force of creation, resistance, and cultural authorship. Curated by Miriam Faraja and photographed by Jean Stevenson Louis, this bold series of large-format portraits explores womanhood through poetic captions and audio storytelling accessible via QR code. Each image is a visual essay, celebrating resilience, identity, and diasporic memory across languages, generations, and traditions. Themes range from the hyper-sexualization of Black women to gender-based violence in conflict zones, offering a powerful lens into intersectional lived experiences. Rooted in a multicultural, decolonial framework and incorporating symbolic references to Mohawk worldviews, the project invites reflection and dialogue. First exhibited during International Women’s Rights Month and at Saint Paul University, this evolved presentation invites new audiences into a layered conversation on art, power, and truth. Polyphonie of Muses doesn’t ask to be viewed — it demands to be witnessed. Multicltural Artist's Coalition Lalande & Doyle PROJECT OUTLINE: Decolonize This Place is an art exhibition by Alejandro Salgado Cendales and presented by the Multicultural Artists’ Coalition (MAC-CAM). It features Indigenous artists from Kitigan Zibi and Timiskaming First Nations who explore the boundaries between Fine Arts and Crafts through a decolonial lense. The exhibition will include beadwork, moccasins, digital illustration, and painting. Alongside the exhibition, community-engaged programming such as beading and moose hide tanning workshops and an opening ceremony led by an Algonquin Elder will foster cross-cultural dialogue. This project challenges colonial hierarchies in art institutions and supports Indigenous resurgence in the Ottawa arts. Lia Keech & Lucie Raymond Lalande & Doyle PROJECT OUTLINE: Through Our Eyes: What Lies Beneath is the second installation in an evolving mother-daughter collaboration between Lia and Lucie. This piece traces key life transitions that have shaped their bond: birth, separation, re-blending, pandemic and adulthood. Each panel presents a dual perspective: how mother and daughter individually experienced each moment, revealing both connection and contrast. Movable elements built into the artwork invite viewers to uncover hidden layers symbolizing the emotions that often go unspoken in family relationships. Deeply personal yet universally relatable, Through Our Eyes: What Lies Beneath is an invitation to reflect on our own relationships with those who raised us: what was said, what wasn’t, and what still lingers beneath the surface. Théâtre du village Orléans Events & Performance PROJECT OUTLINE: Rumors is a comedic play by Neil Simon, translated and adapted by Normand Chouinard. Set in an upscale New York home, the play follows a dinner party gone hilariously wrong when the first guests arrive to find their host wounded and his wife missing. As more guests show up, a tangled web of cover-ups, confusion, and escalating chaos unfolds, as everyone scrambles to protect their reputations, and avoid scandal. Packed with sharp wit, rapid-fire dialogue, and physical comedy, Rumors is a wildly entertaining exploration of miscommunication, and the absurd lengths people will go to keep up appearances. 2007 Established in $ 1,077,590 Given to artists 253 Projects funded How to Apply About Past Recipients View the Spaces FAQ Contact The Articipate Endowment Fund was established in 2007 by Arts Ottawa (formerly Arts Network Ottawa) in partnership with the City of Ottawa to support artistic programming in professional spaces at the Shenkman Arts Centre.  Arts Ottawa is the steward of the Fund and is responsible for its promotion, administration. Each year, the interest earned on the Articipate Endowment Fund is distributed in the form of grants to Resident Arts Partners (Gloucester Pottery School, MIFO, Ottawa School of Art – Orléans Campus and Ottawa School of Theatre), and as Articipate Project Grants to local artists and arts organizations that will present or exhibit their work in professional spaces at the Centre. Project Grant recipients use funding toward rehearsal and production costs, to enhance their creative team, to create original work or to support promotional efforts. Project Grants are determined through a jury process. The Articipate Endowment Fund is made possible through the generosity of the Province of Ontario, foundations, local businesses and individuals. Donate 2024 2,250 1,750 1,750 5,000 2,250 2,000 2,250 2,000 5,000 2,250 2,250 2023 2,500 2,500 2,250 2,250 2,250 4,000 2022 2,500 2,500 2,500 4,000 4,000 5,000 4,000 5,000 2020 - 2021 10,000 10,000 5,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 8,260 9,350 8,000 10,000 10,000 2019 Tara Luz Danse 2,500 Tina Petrovicz 1,250 Chamber Opera Company Ottawa 2,500 Aroha Fine Arts 2,500 Dyanne Wilson 1,000 Carrie Brummer 1,000 John Voordouw 1,000 Karen Goetzinger 1,250 Sons of Scotland Pipe Band 1,500 Anjali Patil Dance Creations 2,500 Zac Pulak 1,000 Sandy Sharkey 1,250 Ginny Fobert 1,000 Théâtre du Village Orléans Inc 2,500 Cumberland Community Singers 300 Danielle Beaulieu 500 2018 East End Theatre 1,400 Cumberland Community Singers 1,425 Théâtre du Village Orléans inc 2,500 MDA Productions 2,500 Tara Luz Danse 2,500 Rag & Bone Puppet Theatre 2,500 Windows Collective 2,500 Aroha Fine Arts 2,500 Mark Stephenson 1,250 Jessie M Parker 1,100 Gail Bourgeois and Pira Pirani 2,500 Deirdre Hierlihy 1,250 2017 Rag & Bone Puppet Theatre 2,500 Cumberland Community Singers 1,159.50 Windows Collective 2,500 Théâtre du Village Orléans inc 2,300 Tara Luz Danse 2,500 Rapscallion Diversion 2,000 Gharana Arts 2,300 Marc Léger 1,000 Jessica Ruano & Amelia Griffin 2,325 Jeannine Robertson 1,250 Anjali Patil / Nick Storring Collective 2,300 2016 Jeannine Robertson 1,250 Chinh Nguyen 1,000 Windows Collective 2,500 Théâtre du village Orléans Inc. 2,300 Tara Luz Danse 2,500 Jessica Ruano & Amelia Griffin 2,325 Rapscallion Diversion 2,000 Rag & Bone Puppet Theatre 2,500 Anjali Patil & Nick Storring Collective 2,300 Gharana Arts 2,300 2015 Tara Luz Danse 2,500 Windows Collective 2,500 Théâtre du Village Orléans inc 2,500 Rag & Bone Puppet Theatre 2,500 MDA Productions 2,500 East End Theatre 1,425 Cumberland Community Singers 500 Tale Wagging Theatre 1,500 Coro Vivo Ottawa Inc 2,500 Susan Toman, Tess McManus, Dawn Bailey 1,000 Ralitsa Tcholakova 1,250 Karen Miller 775 Karen Goetzinger 1,250 Cynthia O'Brien 1,250 2014 Rag & Bone Puppet Theatre 2,000 Theatre Théâtre du Village d’Orléans 1,500 Music Ralitsa Tcholakova 1,000 Tara Luz Danse 2,000 Aroha Fine Arts 2,000 Vintage Stock Theatre 1,500 Jennifer Stewart 750 Anjali Patil 1,000 Alena Liapko 695 Ralph Nevins 1,000 Michel Luc Bellemare 750 John F. Marok 1,000 2013 Vintage Stock Theatre 1,500 Théâtre du Village Orléans Inc. 2,000 Tara Luz Danse 2,000 Tale Wagging Theatre 1,250 Aroha Fine Arts 2,000 Virginia Dupuis 750 Sayward Johnson 750 Raymond John Clements 1,000 Miguel De Armas 2,000 Doris Lamontagne 1,000 Anjali Patil 1,000 2012 Orléans Festival 2,000 Vintage Stock Theatre 1,500 Théâtre du Village Orléans 2,000 Tara Luz Danse 2,000 Tale Wagging Theatre 1,500 Rag & Bone Puppet Theatre 1,905 Aroha Fine Arts 1,500 One Word Dialogue 1,000 Michel Luc Bellemare 500 Michael Parkin 1,000 Mary Kritz 750 Karen Goetzinger 1,000 Anjali Patil 750 2011 Rag & Bone Puppet Theatre 1,505 Vintage Stock Theatre 2,000 Théâtre du Village Orléans inc 2,000 Dr. L's Music and Counterpoint Players 2,000 Gloucester Community Concert Band 500 Bytown Beat Chorus 1,000 Gharana Arts Festival 2,000 Tara Luz Danse 2,000 The Gumboots Dance Project 1,000 Asif Rehman 750 2010 Digi60 Film Festival 2,000 Alanna Baird 1,000 Propeller Dance 2,000 Blink Gallery 2,000 Gharana Arts 2,000 Vintage Stock Theatre 2,000 National Capital Suzuki School of Music 2,000 Ottawa Theatre School 2,000 Lalande + Doyle Exhibition Space Creation & Development Events & Performances IM A VISUAL ARTIST/GROUP INTERESTED IN EXHIBITING MY WORK IM AN ARTIST/GROUP LOOKING TO EXPLORE AND DEVELOP NEW WORK IM AN ARTIST/GROUP INTERESTED IN HOSTING A FESTIVAL, CONCERT OR EVENT APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN! There are three ARTicipate Project Grant funding streams available. Please make sure you select the correct funding stream for your project and meet all eligibility criteria for that specific stream before applying. Please ensure you have reviewed our TERMS AND CONDITIONS prior to submitting your application. Still have questions about which stream is right for you or your project? We encourage you to consult our FAQ page or contact us at alex@artsottawa.ca to discuss your application. Harold Shenkman Hall Richcraft Theatre Ottawa Citizen Dance Studio Learn more Learn more Learn more Emmy and Victor Abboud Music Studio Upper Lobby Reception Space Agora Minto-Orleans Outdoor Plaza Learn more Learn more Learn more Ottawa School of Theatre Studios Lower Lobby Reception Area LaLande + Doyle Exhibition Space Learn more Learn more Learn more FAQs About the grant Why do I need to use the Shenkman Arts Centre for funding received through the ARTicipate Project Grant? The Articipate Endowment Fund was established in 2007 by Arts Network Ottawa (now Arts Ottawa) in partnership with the City of Ottawa to support artistic programming in professional spaces at the Shenkman Arts Centre. Each year, the interest earned on the Articipate Endowment Fund is distributed in the form of grants to local artists and arts organizations that will present or exhibit their work in professional spaces at the Centre. While ARTicipate Project Grants are intended to fund local artists and arts organizations, these grants also work to animate/showcase the Centre. How will I know you have received my Project Grant application? When the online application form is completed and successfully submitted, a message will pop up confirming your submission. I have received an ARTicipate Project Grant in the past, am I eligible to apply this year? Projects that have previously been funded through ARTicipate are ineligible BUT previous ARTicipate Grant recipients are eligible to apply for new projects, provided they meet eligibility criteria. About the Use of Space and Resources at Shenkman Arts Centre Who will come to my event or performance? Does ARTicipate or Shenkman Arts Centre promote my event for me? While the Shenkman Arts Centre and Arts Ottawa provide general support with promotion through newsletters and social media posts, we do not have the capacity to adequately promote and generate audiences for all ARTicipate-funded public events, performances, and exhibitions. Promotional materials and marketing campaigns are the responsibility of grant recipients. Successful applicants will be onboarded and provided additional resources to support promotion of their project. Where can I find out more about the spaces at the Shenkman Arts Centre You can find more information under "View the Spaces" or on their website or by contacting Booking Agents at: locationshenkmanrentals@ottawa.ca or telephone 613-580-2424 ext. 15930. I have received ARTicipate funding. Am I able to change the dates of my project? Yes, pending the availability of spaces and approval from Shenkman Arts Centre Booking Agents, project dates will be allowed to change. If you would like to change your dates please contact staff at Arts Ottawa or the Shenkman Arts Centre: locationshenkmanrentals@ottawa.ca   or telephone 613-580-2424 ext. 15930 alex@artsottawa.ca Budget What other costs or details should I include in my budget expenses? Artist fees (here are some resources to help you determine the amounts: Canadian Artists’ Representation/Le Front des artistes canadiens , Canadian Actors’ Equity Association ) Project Costs (E.g., Supplies, materials, access support for disability-related services and supports required to complete the project, equipment, and venue rentals, etc.). This might include additional costs for technicians or resources at the Shenkman Arts Centre (not applicable for the LaLande + Doyle Exhibition Space). Dissemination and Promotion (E.g., Digital tools and software for project dissemination, design of promotional materials, photo, and video documentation of the project, etc.) Administration (E.g., Insurance, administration personnel for the project, etc.) Access (Public access costs – e.g., Sign language interpretation, captioning, audio description, childcare, translation, etc.) Other costs specific to your project. What should I include in my budget revenues? The amount you are requesting from this grant If you have other confirmed or anticipated grants/donations, etc. Potential/estimated ticket sales Is it okay if the only source of revenue included in the budget is this grant? Yes. Liability Insurance options: Why do I need this, and who do I talk to? Arts Ottawa will arrange insurance with successful applicants through the City of Ottawa’s insurance program. This will not be an expense for grant recipients. The City of Ottawa typically requires anyone who uses their facilities to have liability insurance coverage to a minimum limit of $2,000,000, naming the City of Ottawa as an additional insured. Insurance is not required in the LaLande + Doyle Exhibition Space. What liability insurance does is protect you against claims resulting from injuries and damage to other people or property resulting from your project activities. By naming the City of Ottawa as an additional insured means that they will also benefit from your coverage should there be an incident. The cost of liability insurance can vary, depending on the nature of your activities. Still have questions? Applicants are encouraged to contact the Program Manager with any questions they may have regarding the ARTicipate Project Grant guidelines or their application: alex@artsottawa.ca Contact Us Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions or would like to talk with our organization about the grant program, the application process, or how to become a donor. Be sure to read our F.A.Q. for answers to many of the common questions we get from applicants and donors! Alex Maltby Programming & Partnerships alex@artsottawa.ca Articipate Endowment Fund c/o Arts Ottawa Arts Court 2 Daly ave. Ottawa, ON K1E 0A1 Donate Donate to the Articipate Endowment Fund and help build the cultural life in Ottawa! Your donation builds a stable source of funding for artists and arts organizations. Through grants, the Fund supports the artistic activities at the Shenkman Arts Centre and will do so for generations to come, not to mention benefiting the local economy. DONATE NOW Take a look at our Donor Wall ! Resident Art Partners Rag & Bone Puppet Theatre Project Outline: Start Now Cumberland Community Singers Project Outline: Start Now Windows Collective Project Outline: Start Now Théâtre du Village Orléans inc Project Outline: Start Now Tara Luz Danse Project Outline: Start Now Rapscallion Diversion Project Outline: Start Now Gharana Arts Project Outline: Start Now Marc Léger Project Outline: Start Now Jessica Ruano & Amelia Griffin Project Outline: Start Now Jeannine Robertson Project Outline: Start Now Anjali Patil / Nick Storring Collective Project Outline: Start Now