Arts Hub North Grenville

Our country is vast, sewn from a fabric of different faces, cultures and landscapes but as Canadians, we are proud to share common values. Over the past few mon...ths we have been confronted with new challenges and have come together determined to brave Covid as one. Summer is normally a time of festivals and adventure. While we might not be able to physically join forces or travel this year, we can still celebrate the power of our communities, the beauty that surrounds us and what it means to be a citizen of Canada. Throughout June and July, Opus will be going on a Canadian Summer Art Tour, with you at the helm. Every week we’ll invite you to present your art and ideas around a set theme. An online gallery will be built from your submissions and there will be prizes for the best images and stories, with winners featured in articles throughout the summer. Whether you’re a professional, serious amateur or just starting out, whatever your medium, we want to hear from you! What is it about Canada that makes it so special? What is it that bonds us as a nation? Together let’s explore these weekly themes, capturing and triumphing the spirit of our unique home. We'll be announcing the first theme shortly, so stay tuned, and get ready to participate!

Ottawa Arts Mentorship Spotlight: Nicole Bedford (mentee) & Amen Jafri (mentor) "We have been working on developing a personal branding strategy for Nicole, to ...speak to the artist side of her work and so that she can get hired for the work that aligns most closely with her passions and values. The ultimate goal is to have a final strategy and a rebranded website by the end of this mentorship." Nicole: "This program has first and foremost meant accountability for me. I have been thinking about rebranding for at least 6 months, and being part of this mentorship has not only paired me with a professional brand consultant, but has given me the structure and accountability I needed in order to meet my goals. [...] I often find Amen helps me to see new opportunities that I wouldn’t otherwise consider. And I appreciate learning from her personal experiences, struggles, and successes. Her stories and experiences help me envision the different ways one finds oneself as an artist, and that has been invaluable." Amen: "Personal branding is something I consider a lot and a strategy I enjoy developing on behalf of artistic clients. This mentorship is the first time where I am giving someone else the tools and guidance to do it for themselves, so it’s also been a learning experience for me, as much as perhaps for Nicole, to get outside of my own head and put myself in her shoes. It has been incredibly rewarding to work with someone like Nicole, who is very thoughtful, puts in the time and effort to do the research and the hard work to define her artist identity." The Ottawa Arts Mentorship Program connects participants to foster career development and advancement of professional artists and arts administrators in the emerging and mid-career stages of their careers. The program is made possible through the generous support of the Canada Council for the Arts | Conseil des arts du Canada and the Ontario Arts Council - Conseil des arts de l'Ontario, and is delivered by Arts Network Ottawa in partnership with WorkInCulture and Cultural Human Resources Council - Le Conseil des RH du secteur culturel.