Ottawa International Children’s Festival turns 25
Dan Lalande, Ottawa Performing Arts Examiner
Over the years, it is endured more bumps and scrapes than a toddler mastering a tricycle. But the Ottawa International Children’s Festival, skinned knees and all, is still standing – and standing tall, too, as turns 25.
Read more: Ottawa International Children’s Festival turns 25
Children’s Festival inspiring and just plain fun
Performers ‘respect imagination and critical instincts’ of children
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Children’s Festival inspiring and just plain fun
Patrick Langston, The Ottawa Citizen
Want to give your children a leg up in the information economy while teaching them to be solid citizens? Take them to the Ottawa International Children’s Festival, May 26-30 at LeBreton Flats Park.
It’ll prime their imaginations, says the festival’s artistic producer Catherine O’Grady — precisely what the tykes will need a couple of decades down the road.
“Teaching kids an arts vocabulary is important, and they’re not getting it in school. Education panders to numeracy and literacy at the early stages, but our kids are going to have to have a role in the creative economy. Theatre teaches you to engage your mind and engage with the community.”
Read more: Children’s Festival inspiring and just plain fun
Ottawa festivals and events receive more than $1.5-million in funding from Province
Funding will help Canada’s Festival Capital come to life with improved offerings.
OTTAWA – The Province has announced the recipients of 2010 Celebrate Ontario funding grants, and more than $1.5-million is being invested in festivals and events taking place in Ottawa.
Twelve Ottawa Festival members that include Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest, Tim Horton’s Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival, Ottawa Folk Festival, Ottawa International Animation Festival, Ottawa International Children’s Festival, Ottawa International Writers Festival, Rideau Canal Festival, Summer Solstice Aboriginal Arts Summer Festival, TD Canada Trust Ottawa International Jazz Festival, WESTFEST, Festival Franco-Ontarien, and Canadian Tulip Festival received funding this year.
“This is very exciting news,” says Barb Stacey, Executive Director of Ottawa Festivals, a not-for-profit organization that represents more than 50 not-for-profit festivals, special events and fairs that take place in the National Capital Region, “this represents a substantial investment in our community, especially considering that these investments are leveraged many times over through private investment, sponsorship and funding available from other levels of government.
“This investment will improve our offering to visitors and further Ottawa’s reputation as being Canada’s Festival Capital. This will help attract new visitors to our internationally renowned premier events, and our supporting events will certainly enhance the city’s many tourism and cultural attractions,” Stacey continues, “These events animate the city. They add colour, life and excitement.”
Awarded by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Celebrate Ontario funding helps communities realize the potential benefits associated with increased tourism and visitor spending. “Festivals and events are important drivers of tourism in Ontario. This support will help enhance their offerings and bring more jobs, visitors and spending to communities throughout our province,” said Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism and Culture.
Company of Fools’ Scott Florence at Ottawa Int’l Children’s Festival
By Bruce Deachman
The Ottawa Citizen
Always the wise guy: 20 Questions with Scott Florence
Scott Florence will be playing the fool at the [Ottawa International] Children’s Festival later this week. But first he brings the funny to 20Q.
To read Scott’s interview with Bruce Deachman, click on Always the Wise Guy.
The Ottawa Children’s Festival presents: Beauty and the Beast
Presented by: Ottawa International Jazz Festival
To repay a debt that her father has brought upon himself, Beauty has agreed to live in a castle with its owner and sole occupant – an ill-tempered beast. He’s not exactly the kind of housemate that a young woman would choose. But what should Beauty do when she begins to actually like the Beast?!
Language: English
Dates: January 31, 2010
On: 1 and 3 pm
Cost: $12; 4 or more tickets: $10.75 each
At: Ottawa Little Theatre
400 King Edward Avenue
Ottawa, ON
Event Info: www.ottawachildrensfestival.ca
Phone: 613-241-0999
E-mail: info@ottawajazzfestival.com
Angel Square – Fundraiser for the Ottawa International Children’s Festival
Date: Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Dominion-Chalmers United Church
Cost: Adults $25, Children (14yrs & under) $12
Contact Info: 613-241-0999
info@ottawajazzfestival.com
Join us in celebrating our second annual staged reading of the beloved classic Angel Square! Written by internationally acclaimed Ottawa author Brian Doyle and directed by acclaimed Ottawa writer-director Jan Irwin.
A seasonal favourite for the whole family, Angel Square is a celebration of the best the community has to offer – its writers, actors, musicians, an exciting director, and some of our most talented young actors all together for this spectacular family event – in support of the Children’s Festival.
The Story: It’s Christmas 1945 and 12-year-old Tommy lives in Ottawa’s tough, multi-ethnic neighborhood of Lowertown, where his best friend’s father has just been attacked. Adopting the role of “the Shadow,” his favourite radio persona, Tommy teams up with some friends to try and crack the case, leading them all around Ottawa and through Angel Square – a daily battleground for fights between Protestant, Catholic and Jewish kids. As we view the world through Tommy’s eyes, a small segment of Ottawa’s history is brought to life with a story about tolerance, acceptance and the difficulties of growing up.
By Brian Doyle
Directed by Jan Irwin and Paul Griffin
Special Guests Brian Doyle, Todd Duckworth*, Mary Ellis*, Andy Massingham*, Sarah McVie*, Alix Sideris*, and CBC Radio One’s Alan Neal
With: Students from the Drama Program at Canterbury High School
*Appearing with the permission of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association
[mappress]
Angel Square is a seasonal favourite for the whole family – and it’s back!
The Ottawa International Children’s Festival is proud to present its second-annual staged reading of Brian Doyle’s Angel Square, adapted and directed by Ottawa writer-director Janet Irwin.
This special performance fundraiser for the Children’s Festival will take place on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at Dominion-Chalmers United Church (355 Cooper Street at O’Connor).
It’s Christmas 1945 and 12-year-old Tommy lives in Ottawa’s tough, multi-ethnic neighbourhood of Lowertown, where his best friend’s father has just been attacked. Adopting the role of “the Shadow,” his favourite radio persona, Tommy teams up with some friends to try and crack the case, leading them all around Ottawa and through Angel Square – a daily battleground for fights between Protestant, Catholic and Jewish kids. As we view the world through Tommy’s eyes, a small segment of Ottawa’s history is brought to life with a story about tolerance, acceptance and the difficulties of growing up.
The Children’s Festival is very excited to be working with acclaimed writer Brian Doyle and celebrated director Janet Irwin. Angel Square features actors Todd Duckworth, Mary Ellis, Andy Massingham, Sara McVie and Alix Sideris. Special guests include Alan Neal (host of All in a Day on CBC Radio One) and 23 students from the Drama Program at Canterbury High School, directed by the head of Canterbury’s Drama Department, Paul Griffin.
Come and enjoy a pre-show reception with refreshments and kid-friendly treats. As well, after the show, author Brian Doyle will be signing copies of Angel Square. This very special project is a fundraiser for the Children’s Festival, so please join us for a wonderful evening to celebrate the community and its history, and help us bring the magic, wonder and excitement of live performing arts to young people for many years to come.
Tickets can be purchased through the Festival Office by calling 613-241-0999, by visiting the office at 294 Albert Street, Suite 602 (Mon-Fri, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm), or online at ottawachildrensfestival.ca. Tickets are $25.00 for adults and $12.00 for children 14 and under.
Ottawa festival exposes youngsters to performing arts
Denis Armstrong, SUN MEDIA
Over the next five days, companies from Asia, Scandinavia and Canada will perform cutting-edge theatre, music, dance and circus activities aimed at growing kids. Performances include: Denmark’s famous Gruppe 38 and Run Chicken Run, their delightful play about a day at a farm; demonstrations of drumming from Korea called Dulsori; the eye-popping acrobatics of Thrice Upon a Time by Montreal’s DynamO Theatre; the sublime puppetry of Denmark’s Teater Reflecksion’s Boxy George; and for the younger theatregoer, Roseneath Theatre’s Rocket and the Queen of Dreams and Oz by Ottawa’s Vox Theatre.
There will also be art stations, open-air jesting by Ottawa’s Company of Fools, Kromatic face paintings and circus workshops.
“I think people understand the value of exposing children to the performing arts. This is seriously creative stuff for children ages four to 12, very popular in Europe but barely done here. We need to give our kids more options.”
Read full story: Ottawa festival exposes youngsters to performing arts
The Government of Canada Supports Ottawa International Children’s Festival
On behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, Shelly Glover, Parliamentary Secretary for Official Languages and Member of Parliament (Saint Boniface), today announced funding for the 2009 Ottawa International Children’s Festival.From May 27 to 31, the Festival will feature both Canadian and international artists performing live theatre, music, and dance for children and people of all ages. The performances will take place in several Ottawa venues, including LeBreton Flats and the Canadian War Museum.
“This annual celebration of live music, theatre, and dance inspires the minds and imaginations of our country’s younger generations,” said Minister Moore. “Our Government is proud to support the Ottawa International Children’s Festival and applauds the valuable contribution it makes to this community by bringing artists and children and their families together for exceptional cultural programming.”
“This wonderful festival attracts people of all ages to its stages,” said Mrs. Glover. “I am pleased that our Government is providing funding for this cultural event and wish the Festival every success.”
“The Ottawa International Children’s Festival is deeply indebted to the Government of Canada for its support,” said Catherine O’Grady, Artistic Producer of the Ottawa International Children’s Festival. “The creators of theatre for young people in our country and around the world are among the finest talents you’ll find anywhere. It is the festival’s distinct privilege to bring creative excellence to the children, teachers, and families and in our community. We are extremely grateful for this support because, quite simply, the Festival could not happen without it.”
Established in 1985, the Ottawa International Children’s Festival is an annual celebration of innovative live performing arts and related activities for children. Festival organizers also undertake community outreach initiatives, such as the Adopt a School program, which provides an opportunity to nearly 1,000 children from lower-income families to attend the festival.
The Government of Canada has provided $130,000 through the Arts Presentation Canada program of the Department of Canadian Heritage. This program gives Canadians increased access to the diversity and richness of Canada’s culture through professional arts festivals, presentation of live professional performances, and other artistic experiences.
This news release is available on the Internet at www.canadianheritage.gc.ca under Media Room.
