2:35 p.m.
Art Comes to Life During Festive Opening WeekendRe-distributed as one of the intended
recipients for any interest you may have.
Jim Roy
Ottawa Blues, Jazz & Swing Guide
Phone: (613) 829-3725 www.ottawabluesjazz.ca
Art Comes to Life During Festive Opening Weekend
(Ottawa, ON - April 27, 2009) - The doors of the Shenkman Arts Centre will be thrown wide
open on June 18th, 2009. That is the first of a four-day Grand Opening celebration during
which artists, arts organizations and the community will come together to commemorate the
most monumental achievement of the local arts scene of the past 20 years. Thousands of
revelers are expected for the celebrations, which will run from June 18th to 21st.
The Grand Opening celebrations will feature an inaugural ceremony, a gala reception, a
balance of bilingual, English and French performances; as well as hundreds of visual, new
media, literary and performing arts activities. In total, approximately 1,000 artists will
participate in the festivities.
Grand Opening Weekend Itinerary (Highlights):
(Further details will be posted on the website.)
Thursday, June 18
Official Opening Ceremony (Public Event) - 4:15 p.m.
Opening activities will begin with a lively, artistic personification of the Shenkman Arts
Centre's theme - "Where Art Comes to Life". Media is advised to arrive
promptly by 4:15 for this performance, which will be a surprise to the public. Details
will be provided to the media during the days leading up to the event.
Community, dignitaries and stakeholders will then gather for a ribbon cutting ceremony and
speeches. During this time the Centre's public art commissions (by Adrian Göllner and
Muskull Lasserre), will be unveiled and some performing arts acts will be featured.
Interview opportunities will follow the ceremony (details to follow).
Outdoor Performance by Contemporary Dance Company (Public Event) - 6:30 p.m.
The Orléans based Tara Luz Dance Company will highlight the versatility of the Minto Agora
Outdoor Plaza with Carrefour, a performance including works by Anik Bouvrette, Sylvie
Desrosiers and Caroline Barrière.
Evening Reception - 6:30 p.m. and Showcase in Harold Shenkman Hall - 8 p.m. (Ticketed
Event)
A reception will take place in the upper and lower lobbies of Shenkman Arts Centre.
Following the reception, the outstanding, state-of-the-art visual and acoustic features of
the 506-seat Harold Shenkman Hall will be revealed through a bilingual variety show
featuring spoken word, choral, theatrical, solo and ensemble performances by Holmes Hooke,
Julian Armour, Joanie Charron, Third Wall Theatre Company with a bilingual scene from
Henry V, performers of the Leonard Cohen Songbook (see details for Friday), and featuring
charismatic showman, singer/songwriter Daniel Bélanger who will close the show. The
evening's events are open to the public. Tickets: $75. On sale May 25th.
Friday, June 19
Front + Centre presents - The Leonard Cohen Songbook - 8 p.m. (Ticketed Event)
The new Leonard Cohen Songbook will launch with the World Premiere at Harold Shenkman Hall
before continuing across the continent. The show features celebrated singers and
musicians: Lorraine Segato, Lynn Miles, David Sereda, Rebecca Campbell, Susie Vinnick,
Anne Lindsay, D.K. Ibomeka, Paul Quarrington and Martin Worth comprise the ensemble.
Tickets: $44.50 to $49.50. On sale date TBA.
Open house (Public event)
Saturday, June 20 & SUNDAY, June 21 - noon to 5 p.m.
A festive Open House will feature activities in all arts disciplines. All activities are
free. The fun takes place both indoors and out through the weekend, and features:
· Exhibits by over 40 visual artists
· More than 45 performances
· Demonstrations and participatory activities in both the visual and performing
arts
· Film/ Video screenings
· Readings by local authors
· Artisans' market
Both Saturday and Sunday at 7 p.m. there will be outdoor performances by Tara Luz Dance at
the Minto Agora outdoor plaza.
Saturday, June 20
MIFO presents - Grande soirée d'ouverture- 20 h (Ticketed event)
Resident Arts Partner MIFO (Le Mouvement d'implication francophone d'Ottawa) will
hold an inaugural evening at the centre. Humorist Laurent Paquin will be master of
ceremonies. The show will open with the band Patrick Groulx et les bas blancs who will
present new works. Finally, Ariane Moffatt, renowned for her high quality performances,
will present a musically and visually innovative version of Tous les sens. Tickets: $53
MIFO members; $63 regular. On sale May 20th.
Sunday, June 21
MIFO presents La Chorale du Centre Séraphin Marion d'Orléans - 14 h (Ticketed event)
While activities carry on throughout the Centre, the day will be punctuated with a family
performance hosted by MIFO. La Chorale du Centre Séraphin-Marion d'Orléans with the
student choir from the school L'Étoile de L'Est present their concert Célébrons
notre Francophonie (Celebrating our Culture). Tickets: $20 general admission. On sale May
20th.
A Taste of Orléans - 13 h to 15 h (free)
A showcase of local restaurateurs provides delectable treats to guests. Sunday only.
Hosted by the Heart of Orléans BIA.
The public can obtain more information about the Grand Opening or the Shenkman Arts Centre
via the website www.shenkmanarts.ca or by phoning the information line at (613) 580-ARTS
(2787). Tickets can be ordered online or by phone 613-580-2700 or toll-free 1 866 752
5231.
About the Shenkman Arts Centre
Art comes to life at Shenkman Arts Centre - a dynamic creative hub where artists and
audiences of all ages gather to create and explore the arts. Offering up a myriad of
activities under one roof in both English and French, the Centre will ensure artists are
given the forum they need to nurture creativity and audiences are given access to dynamic
and thought-provoking arts programming in a facility that matches creative excellence.
The Shenkman Arts Centre features the 506-seat Harold Shenkman Hall, 100-seat Black Box
Theatre, the Trinity Gallery, Promenade Arteast, and Ottawa School of Art Orléans Gallery,
dance and music rehearsal halls, a new media centre and specialized studios for visual
arts, pottery and theatre. It is home to Arts Ottawa East, Gloucester Pottery School, MIFO
(Mouvement d'Implication francophone d'Orléans), Orléans Young Players Theatre
School and the Ottawa School of Art - Orléans Campus, who provide artistic programming and
services in a unique model of collaboration.
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Information:
Karen Scott-Gagné, Communications, Shenkman Arts Centre, City of Ottawa, 245 Centrum
Boulevard, Ottawa, Phone: (613) 580-2424 ext. 41326, Email:
Karen.scott-gagne(a)ottawa.ca.
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