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Is your artistic practice or arts career ready for the next step? Whether you’re an artist, administrator, or cultural worker, the Arts Ottawa Mentorship Program (AOMP) provides guidance, support, and connections to help you grow. Arts Ottawa Mentorship Program Is your artistic practice or arts career ready for the next step? Whether you’re an artist, administrator, or cultural worker, the Arts Ottawa Mentorship Program (AOMP) provides guidance, support, and connections to help you grow. Photo: Deena Alsaweer ABOUT THE ARTS OTTAWA MENTORSHIP PROGRAM The Arts Ottawa Mentorship Program (AOMP) connects artists and cultural workers across Ottawa to develop skills, share knowledge, and build meaningful networks. Participants are paired with experienced mentors to address professional goals, overcome roadblocks, and gain practical insights. This year, AOMP will run two focused mentorship cohorts : Social Impact Measurement and Evaluation (onboarding late 2025) Creative Spaces Mentorship (onboarding early 2026) Each cohort includes tailored mentorship (either through mentor-hubs or 1-on-1 support), workshops, and resources designed to support the cohort’s theme and mentee-driven goals. More about each Cohort below. WAYS TO GET INVOLVED Apply as a Mentee Mentees work with experienced professionals to grow their practice or advance their career. Benefits include: $ 500 in stipends and financial support for costs associated with mentorship activities Free access to workshops and resources, including the AOMP online bulletin board and forum. Engagement with a diverse cohort of peers for learning and networking Apply as a Mentor Experienced artists, administrators, and arts leaders can guide emerging professionals. Benefits include: Contributing to the growth of the next generation of arts professionals $ 500 in financial compensation for participation Free access to workshops and resources, including the AOMP online bulletin board and forum. Connection with a diverse cohort of participants for sharing and networking MENTORSHIP COHORTS Cohort 1: Social Impact Measurement and Evaluation (onboarding late 2025) Participants at all career stages engage in reciprocal learning around social impact evaluation, community engagement, and storytelling practices across disciplines. Supported by: Canadian Institute for Social Prescribing, Toronto Arts Council, Robin Sokoloski (Mass Culture ) , Natasha Qureshi (SYMPL Solutions). Goals & Outcomes: 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 Timeline: October 14: Program launch at Ottawa Art Gallery November: Application assessments December: Notifications and onboarding January 2026: Mentorships begin Cohort 2: Creative Spaces Mentorship (onboarding early 2026) Focused on developing, managing, or revitalizing creative spaces, this cohort explores social-purpose real estate principles, cultural space management, and community readiness. Supported by: Arts Build Ontario, Carleton University’s CIMS Lab, and Ottawa-based arts and culture leaders. Goals & Outcomes: Understand diverse cultural space management models Learn sectoral trends in cultural space development and land adaptation Gain confidence in civic engagement, land-use planning, and downtown revitalization projects Contribute to open-source data and geo-spatial mapping projects Collaborate with Cohort 1 on impact evaluation frameworks for cultural spaces Timeline: October: "Get.Together”/Shared Ground Learning Lab event October–December: Promotion and communications for mentorship activities Early 2026: Mentee applications open February–March: Assessment and integration into Shared Ground ASSESSMENT CRITERIA Mentorship participant selection is based on our evaluation rubric. Successful applicants demonstrate: Clear and achievable goals Goals align with mentee’s professional or artistic trajectory or career Demonstrate impact on Ottawa-region arts and culture community OUR FUNDERS AND PARTNERS

Cassandra Olsthoorn Co-Leadership, Strategy & Community Mobilization Cassandra has been leading and developing noteworthy projects for the Ottawa arts community through different roles at Arts Network Ottawa for 15 years. Her visionary, thoughtful approach to a team-driven workplace focuses on the delivery of dynamic programming and services to the community. Her unique brand of leadership has positioned Arts Ottawa as a collaborative champion within the sector. Cassandra is passionate about Ottawa and believes that the arts help build strong, vibrant communities.

Short description Join our new Action Lab: Social Impact Evaluation in the Arts Short description

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Arts Ottawa is advocating for greater investment in the City of Ottawa's Culture Funding Envelope City Budget 2025 Arts Ottawa is advocating for greater investment in the City of Ottawa's Culture Funding Envelope Arts Ottawa delegated to the Community Services Committee on Tuesday, November 26th, 2024 to speak to the importance of greater investment in the City of Ottawa's Culture Funding Envelope, and its new Cultural Plan. We asked that the plan have an appropriate budget for the scale and scope of the work it is undertaking, with residents able to contribute and help direct the future of arts and culture. We also advocated for significant increases to the cultural funding envelope so the sector can prepare to deliver on the outcomes of the plan and support all Ottawa communities to thrive. The 2025 draft budget, approved by City Council, shows a 2% increase in the Cultural Funding Envelope, representing an additional investment of $285,000 in 2025. Learn more about what services benefit from this advocacy. Watch the Delegation

Support Arts Ottawa Photo: Eric Reid

At Arts Ottawa, we believe that the arts thrive when communities have a voice in shaping them. That’s why we’re launching the Arts Ottawa Giving Circle, an innovative initiative that invites you to invest in the arts AND play an active role in deciding how funds are used to support artists and cultural programs across the city. Giving Circle: Help Shape the Future of the Arts in Ottawa At Arts Ottawa, we believe that the arts thrive when communities have a voice in shaping them. That’s why we’re launching the Arts Ottawa Giving Circle, an innovative initiative that invites you to invest in the arts AND play an active role in deciding how funds are used to support artists and cultural programs across the city. Here’s the reality: → The need for arts funding is growing, but resources remain limited. → Artists and arts organizations need our support now more than ever. → We can’t do this alone. We need a community of committed supporters who believe in the powerof the arts and want to ensure their future. That’s where the Giving Circle comes in. What is the Arts Ottawa Giving Circle? The Giving Circle is a community-led philanthropy initiative with a goal of raising $10,000 to sustain key Arts Ottawa programs. As a member, you won’t just donate—you’ll help determine how the funds are allocated through a collaborative, transparent decision-making process. How It Works: 1. Join the Giving Circle – Beginning in June 2025, make a monthly ($100+) or annual ($1,200+) contribution and receive a tax receipt. 2. Engage in Shared Decision-Making – Meet with fellow supporters 3 to 4 times a year (1-2 hours) to discuss funding priorities and collectively allocate where resources are needed most. 3. See the Impact – Receive transparent, regular updates on how your contributions are strengthening the arts community. To join the Giving Circle, contact: Nicole Milne Co-Leadership, Operations & Revenue Generation Thank you to our current Giving Circle Members: Barbara and Glenn McInnes Family Fund – Ottawa Community Foundation The Blue Pearl Foundation Fund – Ottawa Community Foundation Bill Staubi Jeff Richstone Rob Henderson Anne Jolicoeur

Arts Ottawa’s programming and services are designed to address critical gaps and challenges in Ottawa’s arts landscape. Explore what we offer here. Learning and Professional development Join the Arts Ottawa team for casual, in-person monthly drop-ins. Open Office Hours View Program Is your artistic practice or arts career ready for the next step? Whether you’re an artist, administrator, or cultural worker, the Arts Ottawa Mentorship Program (AOMP) provides guidance, support, and connections to help you grow. Arts Ottawa Mentorship Program View Program What if we had better ways to calculate the social impact that the arts contribute to local communities?   Social Impact Evaluation in the Arts View Program Community-Engaged Arts Calling in Leadership on Cultural Spaces and Reimagining Downtown Through Arts and Culture Shared Ground Learn More Enacting sustainable, meaningful change in communities is a complex and ongoing challenge. That’s why Arts Ottawa and the City of Ottawa have launched the Artist-in-Residence in Government (AIRG) program. This initiative connects artists with municipal government staff and the community to tackle unique civic challenges and reimagine traditional approaches. By embedding an artist within a city department, their creative perspectives and lived experiences help co-create transformative models of community engagement—addressing pressing local issues in innovative ways that push beyond the status quo. Artist in Residence in Government View Program Takeover our Instagram and showcase your work! Artist Takeovers View Program Funding, recognition and showcasing opportunities Applications for the newly redesigned Arts Ottawa Awards will go live November 12th! Find more information on the event below. Arts Ottawa Awards View Program ARTicipate Project Grants View Program Programs & Services Arts Ottawa’s programming and services are designed to address critical gaps and challenges in Ottawa’s arts landscape. Through a lens of mentorship and peer-support, we provide a range of opportunities to engage, build careers, expand networks, and access funding. At the forefront, we are committed to platforming the voices of artists in our community to inform and shape our programs and services - working together to achieve a vibrant and sustainable sector.

Ways you can get involved with the Ottawa arts community. Get Involved Be part of shaping Ottawa’s arts community. Your involvement amplifies creativity, builds connections, and drives collective action. Together, we can create a thriving, inclusive cultural landscape. Explore ways you can get involved below. Photo: Shannon Hawn Membership Connecting communities to action and amplifying arts voices. Become a Member Arts Ottawa Governance Model We’ve reimagined governance at Arts Ottawa, centering collaboration, transparency, and community input in everything we do.  Learn More Learning and Co-Creation Labs Exploring governance, advocacy, and artist-led collaboration to design a Shared Leadership Model. Learn More Action Labs and the Core Leadership Circle Tackle urgent issues, driving sector-wide change Take Action Volunteer Connect with local artists and give back to your community Volunteer Sponsorship Sponsor the arts in our local community Become a Sponsor Support Arts Ottawa Your contributions fuel the growth of our local arts sector Donate Today

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