The Shenkman Arts Centre is a creative hub located in the east Ottawa community of Orléans. This collection of 2 theatres, 7 galleries and 17 studios is where artists and audiences meet to explore a diversity of arts through live performance, instruction, exhibits and special events, many of which are partially funded through the Articipate Endowment Fund, a one-of-a-kind endowment fund that supports innovative programming at the centre.

Want to present your work here at the Shenkman Arts Centre? Meet the spaces available to you and your art that are eligible for support through Articipate.

For large-scale performance events:

The Harold Shenkman Hall is the flagship performance venue of the Shenkman Art Centre boasting a 500-seat capacity, a 3,640 sq./ft. stage, and a full fly system among a long list of other features and services. Back stage facilities include a fully equipped green room, dressing rooms, wardrobe room and scenery repair. An ideal venue for a large-scale performance or event that requires a lot of space and/or has a long list of technical requirements.

For intimate performance events:

The Richcraft Theatre is the centre’s intimate black-box venue offering a flexible performance space that can be set up in a variety of seating configurations including (but not limited to) end stage, cabaret and alleyway. The theatre features acoustic treatments, a stock lighting plot and a sprung floor. An ideal venue for a performance in which proximity to your audience is important.

For works in process:

The Ottawa Citizen Dance Studio is an 1,800 sq. ft. studio space sporting 2 heights of dance barres, mirrors, a sound system and a sprung floor. The room can also be set up for small public presentations and performances with a total capacity of 85 people. An ideal venue for workshopping and sharing a dance work in development.

The Emmy & Victor Abboud Music Studio is an 1,800 sq. ft. acoustically treated studio space equipped with a 6 ft. baby grand piano. Like the dance studio, the space can host small audiences of up to 85 people. A perfect venue for presenting an intimate concert or for showcasing a musical work in development.

The Ottawa School of Theatre Studios include 2 black-box style studios measuring 750 sq. ft. each. Home to the Ottawa School of Theatre, these spaces are typically available 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday and from 5pm to 10pm on Saturdays and all day on Sundays. Each studio includes a mirror and curtain on one wall and access to blocks, risers and set pieces upon request. An ideal venue for workshopping and sharing a theatrical work in development.

A rectangular 635 sq. ft. space with a capacity of 25 people, the Multipurpose Room is well suited for an intimate gathering or art event such as a film screening, a reading or a presentation of a work in process. The space is also next to an adjoining kitchen to help facilitate the service and/or sharing of food as part of your event.

For free and accessible art events:

Connected by an impressive open staircase and two elevators, the Upper and Lower Lobby Reception Spaces boast a conjoined capacity of 600 people and can be set up in a variety of configurations. An ideal venue for hosting a large community art event or public artwork.

The Agora Minto-Orléans Outdoor Plaza is an approximately 10,000 sq. ft. multipurpose outdoor space in front of the Shenkman Arts Centre. With access to power sources and the Centre’s indoor washroom facilities, the Agora is an ideal location for an outdoor festival, event or public artwork.For rental information and/or further details on any of the above spaces click here.

For visual and multimedia artworks and exhibitions:

Galleries and Exhibition Spaces

On the lower level:

Owned and operated by the City of Ottawa, the Trinity Art Gallery features the works of local and regional artists in two exhibition salons. Artists are selected through an annual peer assessment process. For submission information click here.

The LaLande + Doyle Exhibition Space in the lower lobby area of the Shenkman Arts Centre features touring (mostly national, but some international) exhibitions of an artistic nature, embassies promoting artists with origins in their countries, festivals, special events and other short-term exhibitions. 2 exhibition spots are reserved each year for Articipate grant recipients. For submission information visit the Apply section of the Articipate website.  

The Dust Evans Gallery, located on the lower lobby of the Shenkman Arts Centre, is operated by the Gloucester Pottery School. Each year the work of six professional artists who sculpt in clay is featured. Most exhibiting artists also give workshops in the school’s studio. For submission information click here.

On the upper level:

The Arts Network Ottawa Exhibition Space showcases visual art by emerging and professional artists who are members of Arts Network Ottawa. The program also includes a series of professional development opportunities to juried-in artists who are emerging on to the arts marketplace for the first time. For submission information click here.

The Ottawa School of Art – Orléans Campus Gallery provides the community with a wide variety of art forms. As an emerging presence on the Ottawa art scene, the gallery features juried local, national and international shows by contemporary artists and groups. Past exhibitions included paintings, sculptures, and video installations. For submission information click here.