Festival Updates and News
News about Ottawa Festivals and our Member festivals, special events and fairs.
WINTERLUDE’S ICE HOG FAMILY WELCOMES BONHOMME CARNAVAL TO CANADA’S CAPITAL REGION
The National Capital Commission (NCC) welcomed today the Ice Hog family, Winterlude’s official mascots, to Canada’s Capital Region. Papa and Mama Ice Hog and their twins Nouma and Noumi arrived at the Capital Infocentre accompanied by their winter friend from Québec City, Bonhomme Carnaval.
“The reunion between the Ice Hog family and Bonhomme Carnaval reflects the spirit of collaboration that has existed for several years between two major Canadian winter celebrations,” said the CEO of the NCC, Marie Lemay. “This reunion also demonstrates the strong relationship between members of the Canadian Urban Winter Festivals Coalition.”
“The Québec Winter Carnival is proud to have created a coalition comprised of dynamic and professional people who want to focus on raising Canada’s visibility around the world,” said Jean Pelletier, Executive Director of the Québec Winter Carnival. “The Canadian Urban Winter Festivals Coalition is an integral part of our desire to promote the development of powerfully attractive Canadian tourism events.”
Prairie artists taking over Ottawa
Alison Mayes, Winnipeg Free Press
Francophone pop singer Daniel ROA, Michael Nathanson’s play Talk, dancer Freya Bjorg Olafson’s “duet with technology” called Avatar and a multi-generational art show from the Plug In gallery will be part of the blizzard of Manitoba talent that will blow into Ottawa next spring for the Prairie Scene festival.
At a news conference on Friday at Plug In, organizers from the National Arts Centre unveiled some of the festival’s programming. The event runs from April 26 to May 8 in more than 30 venues in Ottawa-Gatineau.
The 13-day celebration of Manitoba and Saskatchewan culture, billed as a “Prairie invasion of the nation’s capital,” will showcase 500 artists in 80 events encompassing music, theatre, dance, visual and media arts, literature, film and culinary arts.
Full story on the Winnipeg Free Press website: Prairie artists taking over Ottawa
Prairie invasion at NAC: $2.8-million festival to present 80 events this spring, from Buffy Sainte-Marie to Royal Winnipeg Ballet
Steven Mazey, Ottawa Citizen
Photo: Mike Carroccetto, The Ottawa Citizen
Singers Buffy Sainte-Marie and Suzie Vinnick, violinist Erika Raum, productions from Saskatoon’s Persephone Theatre and Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers and art shows presented by the Winnipeg Art Gallery and the Saskatchewan Craft Council will be among more than 80 events the National Arts Centre will present as part of the Prairie Scene Festival April 26 to May 8.
Created to celebrate performing and visual artists as well as writers, filmmakers and chefs from Manitoba and Saskatchewan, the festival will be presented in more than 30 venues across the Ottawa area. In Regina Thursday, NAC officials announced part of the lineup and said more performances will be announced in February.
The festival has a budget of $2.8 million, with 60 per cent of that coming from private fundraising, donors and ticket sales and the rest coming from the Manitoba and Saskatchewan governments and the federal government.
Full story on the Ottawa Citizen website: Prairie invasion at NAC
The National Arts Centre announces Prairie Scene – 500 artists, 80 events, 30 venues, 13 days
Canada’s National Arts Centre (NAC) has announced the first programming details of Prairie Scene, an eclectic, multi-disciplinary arts festival featuring 500 of the best established and emerging artists from Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Prairie Scene will present 80 different events in music, theatre, dance, visual and media arts, literature, film and culinary arts in more than 30 venues in Ottawa-Gatineau from April 26 to May 8, 2011.“We’re planning a Prairie invasion of the nation’s capital,” said Heather Moore, Producer and Executive Director of Prairie Scene. “It’s the largest gathering of Prairie artists ever assembled outside of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and we’re proud to present their performances and work on the national stage.”
Prairie Scene is the fifth in a series of national festivals produced by the NAC showcasing the wealth of arts and culture in different regions of the country. It all began in 2003 with Atlantic Scene, then Alberta Scene in 2005, Quebec Scene in 2007, and BC Scene in 2009. Now the NAC and its partners – including Presenting Partner MTS Allstream – will be turning over their performance and exhibition spaces to Prairie artists.
Part of the goal of the Scene festivals is to propel the careers of young artists by introducing them to a group of well known presenters from all over the world. Since 2003 the NAC has invited 314 presenters from 27 countries to travel to the Scene festivals to discover and book new talent, which has resulted in over 275 performance bookings and more than $1 million in fees for artists. More than 50 national and international agents, presenters and talent scouts will be there to see Prairie talent in action. Their sole mission is to find new artists for their audiences across Canada, the U.S., Europe and Asia.
Online Auction Fundraiser for Music and Beyond
Looking for a unique item for that special someone? How about a piano lesson with Angela Hewitt, a week in France, the beach in Barbados, a new CD, or an original piece of art that has been “Inspired by Music”? We already have over 130 lots and are adding more items daily. You’ll find something for everyone on your shopping list and a special treat for yourself too!
Visit the auction to support Music and Beyond, Canada’s newest classical music and multi-disciplinary arts festival and help make sure that next year’s festival (July 7 to 17) is better than ever!
Inspired By Music, An Art Auction Fundraiser for Music and Beyond
November 27th – Mark your calendars!
Exhibition: Inspired By Music, An Art Auction Fundraiser for Music and Beyond
21 visual artists contribute work to support Music and Beyond!
Location: Wall Space Gallery, Westboro Village 358 Richmond Road, Ottawa, ON
Dates: Saturday, November 27th, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
* Doors open at 6:30.
* Tickets $25 (includes reception)
* November 20-27, preview of the art for auction
Wall Space Gallery is hosting “Inspired by Music”, an Art Auction Fundraiser on November 27th. In collaboration with Julian Armour, Artistic Director of Music and Beyond, local and gallery artists have been asked to create pieces that link their visual art with music that has affected their work. The artists who are involved to date include David Alexander, Anne Barkley, Laura Culic, Alison Fowler, Barbara Gamble, Katherine Jeans, David W. Jones, Carmella Karijo Rother, Orli Kessel, Andrew King, Isaiah King, Tanya Kirouac, Guy Lemaire, David Merrit, Dan Metcalfe, Lori Richards, Paul Robert Turner, Anthony Tremmaglia, Marjolyn van der Hart and Nava Waxman.
Ottawa Dragon Boat Foundation raised $344,000 from 2010 Pledge Challenge
The Ottawa Citizen
Photo Courtesy of Kashmera on Flickr, unded under Creative Commons
The water’s a lot colder now, and the dragon boats are put away for the winter, but the good the Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival does continues to warm the hearts of local charities.
The mission of the Ottawa Dragon Boat Foundation is to help build, strengthen and enhance community life in Ottawa by raising, managing and distributing funds to charitable organizations.
The Ottawa Dragon Boat Foundation was established in 2003. To date more than $2.5 million has been raised through the Ottawa Dragon Boat Pledge Challenge and those funds have benefited more than 28 Ottawa area charities.
Full story via Ottawa Citizen website: Ottawa Dragon Boat Foundation raised $344,000 from 2010 Pledge Challenge
Winterlude needs private funding: NCC chief: Festival won’t move forward unless outside help is brought in, Lemay tells lecture crowd
Kristy Nease, The Ottawa Citizen
National Capital Commission CEO Marie Lemay warned Friday morning that the popular Winterlude festival is no longer sustainable — unless private business moves in to take part.
“If we want to continue to have a Winterlude and if we want to get it to where we think it should be — better, vibrant, exciting — then we need to have partners and we need to involve the private sector and we need to do it differently.”
“As we’re trying to move the event from a celebration of winter in the capital to a celebration of the capital of winter … we have to move out of the sole producer role. That’s very evident for us. OK, we can’t do it all. We’ve got to share this, we’ve got to share this brand.”
Full story: Winterlude needs private funding
NCC plans campaign to market Ottawa to the country
ctvottawa.ca
The National Capital Commission is planning an aggressive campaign early next year to sell the capital to Canadians who feel Ottawa is a remote and unfamiliar place.
NCC Chair Marie Lemay laid out the plan Friday, saying more needs to be done to build tourism and convince Canadians the capital belongs to them.
Lemay also wants to extend Canada Day celebrations by keeping the stage up on Parliament Hill for more programming after July 1.
Full story: NCC plans campaign to market Ottawa to the country
Bridge over troubled water: Bluesfest takes over Folkfest
Chris Cobb, The Ottawa Citizen
In what amounts to a friendly takeover, Ottawa Bluesfest has bailed out the financially troubled Ottawa Folk Festival.
The Citizen has learned that the surprise move, instigated by Ottawa Bluesfest executive and artistic director Mark Monahan, means the Folkfest will likely move from its current location at Britannia Park.
A signature aspect of the Folk Festival are workshops where musicians sit informally with each other swapping tunes and communing with audience members.
Those will stay, promises Monahan, who sees the deal as a win-win.
Full story on the Citizen website: Bridge over troubled water: Bluesfest takes over Folkfest
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