The BreakFest Blog

News about Ottawa Festivals and our Member festivals, special events and fairs.

Call for Nominations: The CAO Mid-Career Artist Award

November 30, 2009 · Filed Under Blog, Ottawa · Comment

The Council for the Arts in Ottawa is pleased to welcome Ginsberg Gluzman Fage & Levitz, LLP, and Mann & Partners, LLP as sponsors of The CAO Mid-Career Artist Award. This award recognizes and encourages the achievements of Ottawa artists who have evolved beyond an emerging stage in their career to become recognized professional working artists contributing to the Ottawa arts community.Three finalists will be announced at the CAO Sweetheart Cocktail for the Arts with the final award presentation taking place at the CAO Arts Award Lunch presented by RBC. The recipient will receive a $5,000 award. The two other finalists in this award category will receive $1,000 awards.
The award recipient will be announced at the CAO Arts Awards Lunch in mid-April 2010. RBC is recognized as the Founding Partner for this event. In addition to the RBC Emerging Artist Award, this occasion will also showcase the presentation of the CAO Mid-Career Award and the Victor Tolgesy Arts Award.

The application deadline for the The CAO Mid-Career Artist Award is December 15, 2009 and is by nomination only.

Full information can be found on the CAO Website at www.arts-ottawa.on.ca.

Rappel – Concours Festival de Cannes 2010 – dernier jour!

November 30, 2009 · Filed Under Blog, Interesting, Ottawa · Comment

Êtes-vous enthousiaste de film avec une bonne maîtrise du français?L’Ambassade de France, SAW Vidéo et Zoom Productions VOUS INVITENT AU FESTIVAL DE CANNES 2010 !

Venez vivre un moment inoubliable au Festival de Cannes, le plus célèbre des festivals de cinéma. En compagnie de jeunes francophones du monde entier, vous pourrez découvrir la région Côte d’Azur, assister à des projections, rencontrer des professionnels du cinéma et mener la vie excitante de festivalier pendant 10 jours!

Date-limite de participation : le 1er décembre 2009
Dates du séjour à Cannes : du 14 au 23 mai 2010

Pour participer au concours, vous devez :
- Avoir la nationalité canadienne
- Résider dans les régions de l’Outaouais et Est ontarien
- Avoir entre 18 et 40 ans
- Avoir une bonne maîtrise du français
- Être intéressé par le cinéma
- Fournir un CV et une lettre de motivation en français pour nous convaincre que c’est VOUS que nous devons choisir pour partir à Cannes.

L’envoi de contenu audiovisuel est recommandé, sous forme :
d’un autoportrait vidéo (de préférence format DVD ou MiniDV)
OU
d’une vidéo ou film court récemment réalisé (de préférence format DVD ou MiniDV)
1er PRIX : voyage + logement + repas + assurance du 14 au 23 mai 2010 au Festival de Cannes, offerts par l’Ambassade de France
2è PRIX : 1 caméra vidéo offerte par Zoom Productions
3è PRIX : 1 atelier vidéo de votre choix à SAW Vidéo
4è PRIX : Livres sur le cinéma et DVDs

Envoyez votre candidature à :

Judith Zeller
Ambassade de France au Canada
Service culturel
464 rue Wilbrod, Ottawa ON
KIN 6M8

Reminder: 2010 Cannes Festival Contest – last day to enter!

November 30, 2009 · Filed Under Blog, Interesting, Ottawa · Comment

The French Embassy, SAW Video and Zoom Productions want to send YOU to the 2010 Cannes Festival!

Spend 10 days in Cannes on the Côte d’Azur in France and participate in the famous film festival. In the company of young francophones from all parts of the world, discover the region, attend film screenings, and live the life of the festival-goer!

Deadline for applications : December 1st, 2009
Travelling dates: 14- 23 May 2010

1. To apply you must be :
Of Canadian nationality
Reside in the Outaouais or East Ontarian region
Between 18 and 40 years of age
French speaking
Have an interest in film

2. Send a CV and a letter of motivation in French telling
us why we should send YOU to the Cannes Film Festival.

3. Support material is recommended and will be accepted in the form of:
Recently produced video/lm short (DVD or MiniDV preferred)
A short video interview of yourself (DVD or MiniDV preferred)

4. Why apply?
Prize #1: Travel and Accommodations to the Cannes Film Festival!
Prize #2: Video production equipment (TBD) from Ottawa University’s ZOOM Production
Prize #3: SAW Video Workshop of your choice
Prize #4: Books and DVDs on cinema

5. Send applications to:
Judith Zeller
The Embassy of France
Cultural Services
464 rue Wilbrod, Ottawa
ON KIN 6M8

More information: www.sawvideo.com

Appel de candidatures Le Prix Victor Tolgesy pour les arts

November 27, 2009 · Filed Under Blog, Ottawa · Comment

Le prix Victor Tolgesy pour les arts, créé en 1987 par la Ville d’Ottawa et le Conseil des arts d’Ottawa en l’honneur de l’artiste d’Ottawa Victor Tolgesy décédé en 1980, rend hommage aux réalisations de gens d’ici qui ont contribué de manière importante à enrichir la vie culturelle de la ville.

Le Prix Victor Tolgesy pour les arts est présenté en collaboration avec la Ville d’Ottawa et le Conseil des arts d’Ottawa. Le lauréat recevra une bourse de 5000 $. Le récipiendaire se verra remettre une copie en bronze de la sculpture de Victor Tolgesy intitulée Semence et fleur, ainsi qu’un prix en espèces.

Le nom des trois finalistes sera annoncé lors du Cocktail pour l’amour des arts et le nom du lauréat sera dévoilé lors du Déjeuner de remise des prix en arts du CAO, présenté par RBC Banque Royale.

La date limite de mise en candidature au le Prix du CAO pour les artistes à mi-carrière est le 15 décembre 2009.

Pour de plus amples renseignements, consultez le site Internet du CAO à l’adresse www.arts-ottawa.on.ca.

Call for Nominations The Victor Tolgesy Arts Award

November 27, 2009 · Filed Under Blog, Ottawa · Comment

The Victor Tolgesy Arts Award was inaugurated in 1987 by the City of Ottawa and the Council for the Arts in Ottawa to recognise the accomplishments of residents who have contributed substantially to enriching cultural life in the city. It is named in honour of Ottawa artist Victor Tolgesy who died in 1980.

The Victor Tolgesy Arts Award is presented as a joint venture of the City of Ottawa and Council for the Arts in Ottawa. A cash prize of $5,000 is associated with this award. The award recipient also receives a bronze casting special edition version of the late Victor Tolgesy’s 1963 sculpture entitled “Seed and Flower” provided by the City of Ottawa.
Three finalists will be announced at the CAO Sweetheart Cocktail for the Arts with the final award presentation taking place at the CAO Arts Award Lunch presented by RBC.

The application deadline for the The CAO Mid-Career Artist Award is December 15, 2009 and is by nomination only.

Full information can be found on the CAO Website at www.arts-ottawa.on.ca.

Holiday Traditions at the National Arts Centre

November 26, 2009 · Filed Under Blog, Ottawa · Comment

NAC Holiday Traditions performances include:

December 2-6 | Royal Winnipeg Ballet
Nutcracker with the NAC Orchestra

December 6 | Le grand bal de Noël
(Kinderconcert – performed in French only)

December 8-26 | A Christmas Carol
Based on the novel by Charles Dickens
(An English Theatre Production)

December 15-16 | Handel’s Messiah
Trevor Pinnock, conductor and the NAC Orchestra

December 18 | A Leahy Family Christmas
with the NAC Orchestra

For more information: Holiday Traditions at the National Arts Centre

Lumière Festival boxes for much-loved children’s maze disappear

August 7, 2009 · Filed Under Blog, Community, Festivals and Events, Ottawa · Comment

The Lumière Festival is calling out to any businesses or people that might have some large, appliance size boxes to donate.

Today, at least 50 jumbo size boxes (refrigerator size) were taken from outside the Stanley Park field house in New Edinburgh. Every year staff cut the boxes into a maze that is always a big hit with the children in attendance. The Fest is scheduled to take place on Saturday night. “We can’t figure it out” says organizer Joanne Hughes. The boxes were neatly stacked outside the field house and our staff were inside. When we went back out, they were all gone.” Thinking that perhaps a garbage crew had taken the boxes, Hughes called the City but was told that this was unlikely.

In order to save the maze, the Festival is putting an emergency call out to businesses and people that might have some giant boxes to donate. Boxes may be dropped off at the Stanley Park field house, located in New Edinburgh just off Stanley Ave by the playground. Call the festival at (613) 745-CRIC (2742) for more info.

The boxes must be gathered before the end of the day on Friday, August 7.

Cartoons! Part of the Ottawa brand?

July 9, 2009 · Filed Under Blog, Community, Industry, Ottawa, Travel · Comment

Last night a group of people congregated at Power House Memphis to take in “Micro Cinema Club No. 53: The Best of Ottawa 2008,” as part of a mini-film festival devoted to the art of the short film that is hosted by Indie Memphis. On the bill were shorts culled from the 2008 edition of the Ottawa International Animation Festival.

This is a great example of how festivals and events occurring in Ottawa can extend well beyond the boarders of the National Capital Region while helping to define Ottawa’s “sense of place” and contributing to the “Ottawa brand”. These are important factors in positioning Ottawa as a cultural and creative hotbed – often cited as key factors in both people’s decision about where to visit and where to live.

How important was the availability of cultural experiences in your decision to relocate or remain living in Ottawa?

If you have recently visited Ottawa, was it due to our cultural attractions and events? What role did that play in your decision to visit Ottawa?

A capital idea for the whole family

July 2, 2009 · Filed Under Blog, Ottawa, Travel · Comment

Came across this article highlighting some of Ottawa’s attractions. A good start, and there’s a lot more to do while you’re here! In addition to so many other attractions, let’s not forget that Ottawa has been coined as “Canada’s Festival Capital” for a reason. ;)

PHIL RABY, SPECIAL TO SUN MEDIA

If you’re looking for a family vacation this summer that is easy on the budget and will allow you to ditch the car for a few days, try Ottawa.

The downtown core of our nation’s capital is both pedestrian and bike-friendly, so getting around isn’t a problem. In no time you’ll see your carbon footprint become smaller while your wallet gets thicker with all the cash you’ll be saving on attractions, gas and parking.

Full article: A capital idea for the whole family

Ottawa ranked ‘happiest’ international vacation spot

February 27, 2009 · Filed Under Blog, Industry, Ottawa, Travel · Comment

And here I thought “The Happiest Place on Earth” was a little farther to the South. Nice to see that people are recognizing all that Ottawa has to offer.

Here is a quote from an article that appeared in the OBJ:

Helsinki-based online search service HappyTellus.com has ranked Ottawa the “happiest” all-year-round holiday destination in the world, thanks to what the organization said is “the happiness of the country, the variety of nature and the supply of activities offered to visitors.”

“The result was a slight surprise, because Ottawa does not enjoy extremely high popularity as a travel destination,” said Markky Vettenniemi, CEO of HappyTellus.com parent company Info Center International Ltd. “Its strengths, however, are an exceptionally large supply of both urban and outdoor activities combined with one of the happiest people in the world.”

“We just saw with three solid Winterlude weekends that our capacity to provide an outstanding winter experience is unsurpassed,” added Ottawa Tourism’s Jantine Van Kregten.

“We’re already starting to promote the Canadian Tulip Festival and our great summertime music festivals and outdoor activities. We truly are blessed to enjoy both the amenities of a G8 capital and extremely easy access to outdoor adventure.”