By Jessica Ruano
Don’t miss the Festival Awesome Arts en folie, screened live from the Ottawa Art Gallery on Thursday April 14th 2022. Tune into the livestream from 6pm to 8pm to enjoy an incredible showcase hosted by Afro-Caribbean dancer Suzan Richards, and featuring performances by Indigenous Experiences, Jacqui Du Toit, Kellylee Evans, Kuljit Sodhi, Mehdi Cayenne, Simon Brascoupé, and members of your community!
For the past three months, twelve MASC artists have been leading arts programs with participants in Lowertown and Sandy Hill, including at York Street Public School, École élémentaire catholique Sainte-Anne, Francojeunesse, and Viscount Alexander Public School. Thanks to funding from Reconnect Ontario and Ottawa Bilingue, as well as support from the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre, this programming is entirely free for participants, reducing barriers to accessing the arts.
From West-African drumming to street dance to murals, Lowertown youth have been flexing their creative muscles to bring beauty back to the community. As you’re enjoying your spring stroll around the neighbourhood, be sure to pass by York Street Public School where a kaleidoscope of butterfly artworks created by students with Claudia Salguero may be found surrounding the school yard. This piece will be included as part of a video montage at Festival Awesome Arts en folie, alongside other stunning murals created this year around the city.
Expect to see MASC artists, too, at the upcoming Lowertown Celebration in June, as well as offering outdoor concerts and workshops at seniors residences and summer camps throughout the warmer months.
Find out more: www.masconline.ca. Book your FREE tickets to Festival Awesome Arts en folie here: https://awesomeartsenfolie.eventbrite.com/.
Jessica Ruano is Communications Director, MASC