Using the Arts to address change on social issues
Art Place was a 3-year community-engaged artists-in-residence program organized by Arts Network Ottawa that paid local artists and arts groups to work with non-profit community organizations across Ottawa.
Art Place was an embodiment of community engagement, one of our core values. We designed this program to create opportunities that brought artists together with different groups in our communities to share ideas, raise understanding on social issues and foster support for the arts in the way it can have a profound impact on resident’s lives.

Artists-in-residencies, from 10-15 weeks, took place in areas where there was a gap in artistic programming, such as immigration service facilities, community centres, and seniors’ organisations. We saw first-hand how Art Place artists have brought out personal stories of courage and perseverance.
Read Case Studies
Sharing and Learning from Community-Engaged Arts
Art Place projects were created through various art practices including theatre, music, storytelling and visual art. At the end of each year, artists, the arts community and the participating non-profit organizations came together to showcase the projects.
On March 31 and April 1, 2017 Arts Network Ottawa hosted a Community-Engaged Arts Symposium where artists, community leaders and arts managers took part in best practices learning and insightful exchange.
See Art Place Symposium 2017 album
Photo: Henry Brynkus
Art Place Projects 2016-17
Art Place Projects 2016-17 Brochure (link to PDF)
Blog posts, interviews and project overviews:
- Kathy Armstrong: drumspeak
- Marie Bilodeau: storytelling
- Sasha Dominique: theatre creation
- Brenda Dunn: sculpture and storytelling
- Naomi Tessler: theatre creation
- Marc Walter: land art sculpture
- Bozica Radjenovic: paper making art
Art Place 2016-17 Showcase Album
Third year of Art Place has strong impact on the community (link to news release)
Third year of Art Place Artist-in-residence Program Amplifies Voices in the Community (link to news release)
Art Place Projects 2015-16
Art Place Projects 2015-16 Brochure (link to PDF)
Blog posts, interviews and project overviews:
- Karen Balcome: theatre
- Kat Clarida: expressive art
- Marley Giunta: music
- Maria Gomez Umana and Alicia Borisonik: visual art and music
- Alisdair MacRae: visual art
- Abel Maxwell: music
- Ottawa Stilt Union: theatre
- Marta Singh: storytelling
- Tara Luz Danse: dance
Second year of Art Place has strong impact on the community (link to media release)
Art Place 2015-16 Launch Album
Art Place Projects 2014-15
Art Place Projects 2014-15 Brochure (link to PDF)
Blog posts, interviews and project overviews:
- Naomi Tessler: forum theatre
- Rachel Kalpana James: book arts
- Ottawa StoryTellers: performing arts
- STO Union Theatre Co. Ltd: performing arts
- Christine Mockett and Karina Bergmans: textile arts
- Marc Walter: land art
Art Place 2014-15 Showcase Album
Public invited to see Art Place give voice to the community (link to press release)
Art Place opens doors of creative social expression to Ottawa residents (link to press release)
Arts Network Ottawa creates artist opportunities with new program Art Place (link to press release)
Thank you to those who made this special Art Place three-year project a reality:
- Ontario Trillium Foundation
- Ottawa Community Foundation
- Shenkman Family Foundation
- Trinity Development Foundation
- Danbe Foundation
- Ontario Arts Council
- Community Arts and Social Engagement, City of Ottawa
- Harry P. Ward Foundation