Short description Watch the Mayoral Debate on Arts and Culture online The future of Ottawa’s arts and culture is a municipal issue, a nd your voice matters . Join Arts Ottawa for a non-partisan mayoral debate focused on the priorities, challenges, and opportunities identified by Ottawa’s arts community. This conversation is shaped by the voices of the sector through Arts Ottawa’s Community Forum process. Ottawa’s arts and cultural community has identified the issues it wants municipal leaders to address. Now it’s time to hear how the candidates would respond. Come listen. Ask questions. Compare perspectives. Make your voice heard. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DEBATE REGISTER NOW

Short description Call for Expressions of Interest: ACE District Advisory Table

Reports Explore our collection of insightful reports, articles, and studies that reflect the pulse of Ottawa’s vibrant arts community. From in-depth research on cultural trends to practical guides for artists and arts organizations, our publications provide valuable resources to support and inspire the local arts ecosystem. Stay informed and engaged with the latest updates and initiatives shaping Ottawa's creative landscape. Jump to a category: Social Impact Evaluation in the Arts Arts Correspondents Shared Ground Annual Reports Arts Ottawa Governance Model Youtube Policy and Cultural Planning Artist in Residence in Government Learning Labs Artist in Residence in Articipate Arts Awards Co-Design Process Report, 2025 read Co-Create Arts Ottawa Report: Governance, Inclusion, and Volunteer Engagement, 2025 read Shaping the Volunteer experience together, 2025 read Arts Correspondent, Ava Margueritte - Arts Ottawa’s Collaborative Strategy Session, 2025 read Transforming together: Systemic change for community benefit. The merger of Ottawa Arts Council and Arts Network Ottawa,2024 read Arts Leaders Breakfast : Feedback Analysis Report, 2024 read Co-Creation Lab Report, 2024 read Community Conversations Report, 2023 – 2024 read Arts Ottawa Impact Report, ONLINE, 2025 read Arts Ottawa Impact Report, 2025 read Arts Network Ottawa Annual Report, 2024 read Ottawa Arts Council Annual Report, 2024 read Arts Network Ottawa Annual Report, 2023 read Ottawa Arts Council Annual Report, 2023 read Arts Ottawa Governance Model Annual Reports Ottawa Has Culture. What It Doesn’t Have Is a Cultural Economy Strategy - and Downtown Will Pay the Price, Article by Kwende Kefentse, 2026 read Why Arts Spaces Matters in the Future of the ByWard Market, Article by Cassandra Olsthoorn, 2026 read Shared Ground Inaugural Learning Day, 2025 read (Un)Common Grounds and Community Living Rooms Event, 2025 read Newly formed Arts Ottawa wants artists to be involved in office conversion discussions, Article by By Mia Jensen, OBJ read New Shared Ground event explores who will lead the transformation of Ottawa’s empty spaces, Article By Willemijn Bunskoek read Shared Ground Action Lab Launch Report, 2025 read Shared Ground: A Framework for Cultural Co-Design in Downtown Ottawa, Article by Kelly Wilhelm, 2025 read Strengthening the case for the arts with Kadija De Paula, 2026 read Arts Correspondent, Etta Gerrits - Decolonizing Evaluation, 2026 read Decolonizing Evaluation with Dr. Gladys Rowe, 2026 read Get.Together with Shanice Bernicky, 2025 read Arts Correspondent, Meral Tan- Get.Together Event, 2025 read Impact Calculator feasibility study, Third Angle, Arts Ottawa, Ottawa Community Foundation, 2024 read Shared Ground Social Impact Evaluation in the Arts Arts Correspondent, Etta Gerrits - Decolonizing Evaluation, COMIC, 2026 read Arts Correspondent, Etta Gerrits - Decolonizing Evaluation, 2026 read Arts Correspondent, Murray Dineen - Community Forum: Turning Priorities into Action, 2025 read Arts Correspondent, Dillon Orr - Community Forum: Turning Priorities into Action, 2025 read Arts Correspondent, Meral Tan - Get.Together Event, 2025 read Arts Correspondent, Ava Margueritte - Arts Ottawa’s Collaborative Strategy Session, 2025 read ARTicipate Endowment Fund: Community Consultation Summary, 2026 read Arts Correspondents Artist in Residence in Articipate CWB - Pillars 4 & 5: Progressive Procurement & Fair Work Practices, 2026 read CWB - Pillar 3: Just Use of Land and Property, 2026 read CWB - Pillar 2: Locally Rooted Finance, 2026 read CWB - Pillar 1: Pluralistic Ownership, 2026 read An introduction to Community Wealth Building (CWB), 2026 read Getting vocal about local: A case for local procurement in the arts, Article by Valerie Stam, 2026 read Learning Lab 3: Redefining Volunteerism in Governance, 2025 read Learning Lab 2: Artists as Community Leaders, 2025 read Learning Lab 1: Governance Models and Advocacy in the Arts Sector, 2025 read Community Conversations Report, 2023 – 2024 read Get.Together: Jordan and Olivia in Conversation, 2024 read What Olivia has been up to, 2024 read Learning Labs Artist in Residence in Government A Liveable City for All: A New Cultural Roadmap for Ottawa 2019-22, OCA read Arm’s Length Cultural Sector Development Feasibility Study Final Report, OCA, 2019 read A Renewed Action Plan for Arts, Heritage and Culture in Ottawa, 2013-2018 read Community Wealth Building Learning Labs, 2026 watch Arts Ottawa Community Forum, 2026 watch Shared Ground Learning Day, 2025 watch Interview with Artist in Residence in Government, Olivia Onuk, 2025 watch Learning Labs: Part of Co-Creating Arts Ottawa, 2025 watch ARTicipate Endowment Fund Grant Recipients: effect of the grant, 2025 watch Community Conversations, 2023 – 2024 watch Policy and Cultural Planning Youtube

Sign up for an Action Lab to get involved with Arts Ottawa. Interested in joining an Action Lab? Arts Ottawa offers varying levels of commitment to accommodate different capacities and interests. Read through the levels of commitment participants can choose from, then fill out the form on this page to join an Action Lab. Informed Participants choose to stay updated and aware of the new organizational model and its activities. Involvement: Receive newsletters, attend informational meetings, and follow progress reports. Time Commitment: Minimal, mainly involving reading updates and occasional attendance at information sessions. Consulted Participants provide feedback and insights on specific initiatives or decisions. Involvement: Participate in surveys, focus groups, or feedback sessions. Offer opinions on proposed projects and strategies. Time Commitment: Moderate, involving periodic engagement to provide input and attend consultation meetings. Engaged Participants actively contribute to the planning and implementation of initiatives within the organizational model. Involvement: Join working groups, attend regular meetings, and contribute to specific projects or Action Labs. Time Commitment: Significant, requiring regular participation and hands-on involvement in activities and discussions. Committed Participants take on leadership roles and are deeply involved in driving the organization's strategic goals. Involvement: Lead Action Labs, serve on the Core Leadership Circle, and participate in strategic planning and decision-making. Time Commitment: Extensive, involving ongoing leadership responsibilities, regular meetings, and active participation in high-level initiatives. Champion Participants advocate for the organizational model and mobilize others to engage and support the initiatives. Involvement: Act as ambassadors for the model, promote its goals, mentor new participants, and represent the organization in external engagements. Time Commitment: Very high, with continuous engagement, public speaking, networking, and mentoring activities. Join an Action Lab First name* Last name* Email* Organization Preferred Level of Interest Informed: I want to stay updated with the latest news and developments. Consulted: I am interested in providing feedback and insights on specific initiatives. Engaged: I want to actively contribute to planning and implementing initiatives. Committed: I am ready to take on leadership roles and drive strategic goals. Champion: I am passionate about advocating for the model and mobilizing others. Additional Comments or Areas of Interest Submit

Tackle urgent issues, driving sector-wide change Action Labs and the Core Leadership Circle Tackle urgent issues, driving sector-wide change Photo: Jamaal Khaleefa 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 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 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. 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 A storefront activation on Bank Street will transform vacant commercial space into a public-facing arts venue. Aligned with the ACE District vision the project will increase the visibility of arts and culture while bringing new energy to the street. The initiative benefits landlords by activating vacant spaces, creates opportunities for future tenants, and helps revitalize the downtown core by bringing community engagement and restoring energy, creativity, and foot traffic to one of the city’s main streets. Vacant Storefront activation 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 Happening now in Shared Ground: 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.

Find upcoming ARTicipate events below!

We’ve reimagined governance at Arts Ottawa, centering collaboration, transparency, and community input in everything we do.  Arts Ottawa Governance Model We’ve reimagined governance at Arts Ottawa, centering collaboration, transparency, and community input in everything we do.  Photo: Quest 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 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 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. 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 A storefront activation on Bank Street will transform vacant commercial space into a public-facing arts venue. Aligned with the ACE District vision the project will increase the visibility of arts and culture while bringing new energy to the street. The initiative benefits landlords by activating vacant spaces, creates opportunities for future tenants, and helps revitalize the downtown core by bringing community engagement and restoring energy, creativity, and foot traffic to one of the city’s main streets. Vacant Storefront activation 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 Happening now in Shared Ground: Building Arts Ottawa’s Shared Leadership Model   During our Co-Creation Labs, we heard a clear message from artists, arts workers, and community members: governance should reflect the values of the community it serves.   Participants called for more clarity, connection, and equity across our decision-making structures. They also highlighted the need for paid opportunities, better communication between groups, and stronger support for community-led voices.  In response, Arts Ottawa is deepening its commitment to shared governance by defining the roles and responsibilities of our three key leadership bodies:  Community Advisory Members (CAM)   Our Community Advisory Members (formerly Membership) are artists, cultural workers, and arts organizations who help guide our work. They’re invited to share insights on what’s most urgent in the arts community, helping shape our priorities and focus. CAMs can engage by attending events, joining working groups, completing surveys, and more. Through it all, they serve as a key checkpoint, making sure our actions reflect the needs and priorities of the arts community. LEARN MORE AND BECOME A CAM HERE. Core Leadership Circle (CLC)   The Core Leadership Circle acts as a catalyst for activation, formed around each of our Action Labs. As each Lab explores a key issue in the arts, a dedicated CLC is brought together to support and shape the work—then dissolved once that phase of the work evolves. These temporary, purpose-driven groups bring together individuals, organizations, and advisors from across and beyond the arts, offering insight, strategy, and connections. The CLC helps guide our approach, support momentum, and champion the outcomes that emerge. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CLC AND ACTION LABS HERE. Board of Directors   The Board remains a crucial part of our governance structure, providing legal, financial, and strategic oversight. Their primary focus is on fiduciary responsibilities, ensuring financial stability, compliance, and supporting long-term planning. While they will be less involved in day-to-day operations, we heard the need for this group to stay connected to community voices — so we’re building stronger links between the Board and our advisory and leadership circles, with some members participating directly in the Core Leadership Circle (CLC). MEET THE BOARD. Our Next Steps   To make sure this shared model works in practice, we are taking the following steps:  Clarifying Roles and Authority: We’re developing formal decision-making protocols to define what each group can decide, influence, or recommend.  Investing in Capacity: We’re implementing paid stipends, and more accessible options to remove barriers to participation.  Training and Orientation: We’re designing onboarding and mentorship pathways to support emerging leaders from all communities.  Linking Governance Bodies: We’re creating formal feedback loops between the Board, Staff, CLC, and CAM to keep everyone aligned and accountable.  Why This Matters   This governance model, created with the community we serve, is about trust, equity, and real collaboration. By making space for lived experience, shared decision-making, and community leadership, we’re building an organization that better serves artists and reflects the values of our city.  Timeline: 2023 - 2024 : Community Conversations → Read the report here → Watch the sessions online 2024 : Co-Creation Workshops → Read the report here January 2025 : Transforming together : S ystemic Change for Community Benefit → Read our Merger Case Study here February - April 2025 : Learning Labs → Learn more and watch online here April 2025 : Co-Creation Labs → Learn more here June 2025 : Shared Ground → Learn more here Stay Involved   We’ll continue to share updates as these next steps roll out. If you want to learn more, or have ideas to share, get in touch with us here. Co-Creating Arts Ottawa is funded by:

Outcomes and next steps Arts Ottawa's First Community Forum - Outcomes and next steps

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.

Alex Maltby Programming & Partnerships alex@artsottawa.ca Alex is a musician, arts administrator and programmer, living and working on unceded Algonquin Anishnaabe territory. He has played an active role in the local music and arts scene for nearly two decades, with a focus on community engagement, equity, and relationship building. At Arts Ottawa, Alex collaborates with various interest holders to develop and expand programs and strategic partnerships that support Ottawa's arts community. Past artistic experience includes programming and performing at renowned festivals across Canada, such as Pop Montreal, Megaphono, Bluesfest, CityFolk, Westfest, Arboretum Arts Festival, Ottawa International Animation Festival, as well as participating in international events like PATIOS in León, Spain.

Short description Why Arts Spaces Matters in the Future of the ByWard Market | Article by Cassandra Olsthoorn