By Christine Kilfoil
For the next few months, stepping into York St Public School after the school day has ended, means music, dancing and painting. Between now and May 25th, the school becomes a hub of creativity as the Lowertown kids get ready for the annual “Awesome Arts” Festival. In addition to York St. School, creative workshops are taking place around the neighbourhood engaging other Lowertown residents including with the Francophone and senior communities.
From March to May 2018, eighteen 8-week long workshop series are offered to more than 130 children, youth and seniors aged 5-95 culminating in a free public festival called Awesome Arts. The bilingual festival will be on May 25 at the Patro d’Ottawa from 6-9pm. Space is limited so it is is a first-come-first-seated basis. Admission is free.
Awesome Arts is a community-engaged program that allows participants of all ages to explore issues important to their community through the arts. Participants express themselves via various art forms such as slam poetry, animation, music, theatre and video. The Awesome Arts Festival brings the community together for an evening of celebration during which the participants share their creations. The Festival also features professional artists, inspiring the entire community to remain connected with the arts and the issues. The program is also offered bilingually as Awesome Arts en folie.
The program is run by MASC (http://www.masconline.ca/en/home.aspx) whose mandate is to bring the arts and culture alive in children, youth and seniors each year. Working out of diverse cultural traditions, MASC’s roster of over 60 professional artists offer workshops, performances, artist-in-residence programs and professional development in music, dance, drama, literary, media and visual arts. MASC partners with the Lowertown Community Resource Centre, Centre de services Guigues, Patro d’Ottawa and Ottawa Community Housing.
The performances are both professional and moving. Seniors recollect what Lower town used to be like and children share their experience of growing up today in our community. In addition, it is not often you will get a chance to see our councilor Mathieu Fleury rapping and dancing as happened at last year’s event. The most important aspect of the festival is the pride and love of Lower town that will come through the performances.