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@ottawa.ca.