The National Capital Region offers many opportunities for schools to visit museums, theatres and concert halls, as well as to invite artists into the classroom for workshops and performances. The following is a listing of Ottawa-area arts organizations offering workshops, performances or readings. Students, teachers and parents will find this information useful. We are indebted to our Arts Advisory Committee for assembling this great resource.
Multi-Disciplinary Organizations
MASC (613) 725-9119
Workshop: MASC provides workshops with professional artists in drama, dance, visual arts, music and literary arts. Half-day and full-day workshops generally cost $265 or $365. Inquire about subsidies. MASC administers “An Artist in my School” program, which includes Arts Smarts and private donations and allows an artist to spend up to 10 days in a school. Other subsidies are available for under-serviced schools, special-needs students and rural schools.
Performance: MASC provides performances for up to 300 students for a fee of $300-$700.
National Arts Centre (613) 947-7000
Workshop: The English Theatre program offers in-school workshops at $150 (one hour), $250 (half-day) or $350 (fullday). For schools attending matinee plays at the NAC, pre- or post-performance workshops are available for $150.
Performance: The NAC Orchestra’s Student Open Rehearsals are free for students in Grades 8 to 12. For classes attending a French Theatre matinee, theatre professionals offer free conferences and discussions. In the Musicians in the Schools program, members of the NAC Orchestra perform at schools, to audiences of up to 300, for $190-$340. Student Matinees at the NAC, in music, dance and theatre, cost $8 to $15 per student.
Ontario Arts Council “Artists in Education” program (416) 961-1660, toll-free 1-800-387-0058
Workshop: The Ontario Arts Council provides grants to professional artists – in drama, dance, visual arts, music and literary arts – for residencies of at least 5 days. Artists run hands-on workshops, typically working with 2 to 4 classes a day (and sometimes whole schools). Participating schools pay as little as $60 a day; cost can be as low as $1 per student
for 5 hours of instruction.
Ottawa International Children’s Festival (613) 241-0999
Performance: This event takes place in early June at the Canadian Museum of Science and Technology. The festival showcases theatre, circus and music performers from all over the world. The group rate for each performance is $5 per student.
Dance
Ottawa School of Dance (613) 622-5566
Workshop: The DanceONTour program offers 90-minute workshops in schools at a cost of $3 per student. An optional visit to the dance studio, including a performance and workshop, costs an additional $2 per student.
Performance: DanceONTour includes the option of a 90-minute performance, in schools, by students of the Professional dance program. The performance costs $3 per student.
Drama
Centrepointe Theatre (613) 580-2424
Performance: Centrepointe Theatre offers student matinee performances of shows relevant to the Canadian History curriculum. Tickets cost as little as $5.
Great Canadian Theatre Company (GCTC) “Edgeucation” Program 236-5192 ext. 226, e-mail.
Performance: GCTC has a Student Matinee Program that includes a theatre show, a Fact Sheet and a post-show Talkback. Plays are geared towards students in Grades 7 & 8, high school, and post-secondary. Students pay $10 each.
Ottawa School of Speech and Drama (OSSD) (613) 567-6788
Workshop: OSSD offers numerous workshops and classes led by professional actors, singers, dancers and directors. The school also offers professional development opportunities for teachers. Sessions can be tailored to your school’s needs. Fees vary according to specialization and funding, ranging from free to $300 for a half-day workshop.
Performance: OSSD offers performances throughout May in the Natalie Stern Studio Theatre in Westboro. Student matinees can be arranged. Ticket prices (group rate $5.00 per student) include Q & A session.
Salamander Theatre (613) 569-5629
Workshop: Salamander Theatre offers numerous workshops and classes. They will provide assistance to schools wishing to set up a drama production or program. Fees vary; regular half-day workshops cost $250. Funding assistance is available for schools with limited resrouces.
Performance: Salamander Theatre offers numerous performances, charging $660 for an audience of up to 300.
Literary Arts
Writers’ Union of Canada ‘Writers-in-the-Schools’ program (416) 703-8982
Workshop/Reading: The Writers’ Union, with the support of the Ontario Arts Council, provides writers’ presentations and workshops. Schools pay as little as $100 for a half-day and $150 for a full day.
League of Canadian Poets “Poets in the Schools” program (416) 504-1657
Workshop/Reading: The League of Canadian Poets, with assistance from the Ontario Arts Council, offers poets’ readings and workshops. Schools pay $100 for a half-day and $150 for a full day.
Music
‘Blues in the Schools’, Cisco Systems Bluesfest (613) 247-1188
Workshop/Performance: Cisco Systems Bluesfest sends professional musicians into Ottawa schools for 2-week residencies, presenting educational performances and conducting workshops with classes. The program takes place during the first two weeks in May. Applications are due in the preceding fall. The cost is $900 per school; in most cases, every student can participate in some capacity.
‘Music Monday’, Coalition for Music Education in Canada (416) 298-2871
Activity: Music Monday takes place across the nation in the first week of May. Schools obtain free teaching packages including musical scores (instrumental and vocal) for an original song, to be played and sung outdoors at the same time across the country. Free.
Ottawa Symphony Orchestra (613) 231-7802
Performance: With its “Symphony for Schools” program, the OSO offers Grade 5 classes a free concert, performed at Albert Street School. Priority is given to Beacon and near-Beacon schools. Program notes are available to educators for pre-teaching, and the performances include discussions and demonstrations. The “Students at the Symphony” program
distributes a number of free tickets for regular OSO concerts to Grade 7, 8 and 9 students.
Visual Arts
Ottawa City Hall Gallery (613) 580-2424, ext. 28425
(click on “Galleries and Exhibition Spaces”)
Tour: The Karsh-Masson Gallery offers free guided tours, call 613-244-4433 to arrange.
Karsh-Masson Gallery, 136 St. Patrick (across street from National Gallery) (613) 580-2424, ext. 14167
(click on “Galleries and Exhibition Spaces”)
Tour: The Karsh-Masson Gallery offers free guided tours- call 613-244-4433.
(Note: City of Ottawa also programs a number of smaller gallery spaces in the west (Atrium Gallery) and east end (Gloucester and Cumberland) of the City, for which tours could also be arranged. Visit http://www.ottawa.ca/arts (click on Galleries and Exhibition Spaces’, for details and phone numbers).
National Gallery of Canada and Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography (CMCP) (613) 990-4888
Workshop: The National Gallery and CMCP School Programs offer guided tours with hands-on workshops for $3 per student (Discovery Visit) or $6 per student (Studio Activity). Add $2 for Grades 7-12.
Tour: The National Gallery and CMCP offer group tours for $2 per student ($4 for Grades 7-12).
The Ottawa Art Gallery (613) 233-8699
Tour: Informal guided tours of the Ottawa Art Gallery are provided free of charge.
The Ottawa School of Art (613) 241-7471
Workshop: The Ottawa School of Art offers custom-designed workshops for children of all ages in ceramics, computer graphics, photography, printmaking, papermaking and sculpture. Price for a 3-hour session vary, starting at $175 per group.
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