By Micheline Shoebridge
Over the past nine years, Lowertown residents have been busy dancing, singing, painting, videomaking and more through the MASC Awesome Arts program.
Since 2010, more than 1125 free workshops have been offered in both French and English to more than 2000 Lowertown residents. Ranging in age from 5-95, participants explore important community themes such as neighbourhood safety, diversity and inclusion, as well as gender equality through different art forms. Learning to explore ideas and share them with their community is key to the program. As one teenager said, “Awesome Arts has helped me express myself in ways I never thought I could.”
outside of the Lowertown Community Resource Centre. Photo: Martin Lipman
Held over 8 weeks, the workshops culminate in a high-energy Festival held each spring. More than 350 Lowertown residents come to see their friends, family members and neighbours perform dance, music, poetry and more alongside professional artists. This grows connections and builds confidence. One young performer stated, “My friends in the audience made me feel important.” And as a senior participant affirmed: “I can see the similarities in the different cultures. It breaks down barriers. A lot of the people I didn’t know before I started, and now I do. They’re my friends.” This year’s program begins the week of March 18, with the festival taking place at Patro d’Ottawa, May 10, 6-9pm.
Awesome Arts participants have also created a number of legacy projects that brighten the community. Twelve works of public art can be found in the neighbourhood. Additionally, Lowertown youth have created five music videos, some of which have over 6000 views on the Awesome Arts YouTube channel – such a great way to shine a positive public light on Lowertown!
In the fall of 2018, the Awesome Arts en folie program garnered international acclaim when chosen for the International Spotlight Award by the American National Arts and Humanities Youth Program. Akuol Luala, a Lowertown resident and long-time Awesome Arts youth participant and intern, traveled with the MASC team to Washington DC for the official reception.
MASC is thankful for our close relationships with our partners like the Lowertown Community Resource Centre, Patro d’Ottawa, York Street Public School, Centre de services Guigues, Ottawa Community Housing and Options Bytown. They have embraced how the arts can be an incredible tool for community engagement and have worked with MASC to bring artistic programs to Winter Fest, Lowertown Celebration and Magasin-Partage at Patro d’Ottawa.