Topique Artist Sessions - December 10

OMIC is proud to announce its partnership with Debaser to present Topique, an afternoon of FREE artist-focused sessions, on December 10th at Arts Court (2 Daly Ave, Ottawa)!

The schedule for Topique at Arts Court on December 10th is as follows:

2:00-4:00 PM Performance Masterclass
Location: Atelier
Facilitator: Ceréna
Description: This masterclass led by JUNO-nominated experimental dance-pop artist Ceréna will explore authenticity, vulnerability and self-awareness in an interactive session that invites participants to step up to the mic and workshop their performance techniques. This session will also engage participants in discussions around self-preservation, overcoming barriers, and the importance of community.

4:00-5:30 PM Brave New Models
Location: Courtroom
Panelists: City Fidelia (Real House of Ensemble), Chachi Revah (Mechant Vaporwave, Backxwash), Eman Safadi (Cartel Madras, FOREIGNERZ), James Goddard (moderator)
Description: Hear from artists and creatives who are developing new models, creating spaces, and bringing up the new guard in the music industry. This discussion will explore alternative models for artists and arts entrepreneurs, focusing on creators whose vision reaches beyond musical creation to engage in community impact, collective working, and social change.

5:00-7:00 PM The Last Two Minutes: AI image generating workshop
Location: Atelier
Facilitator: Andi Vicente
Description: Named after journalist Maria Ressa’s recent McGill University Beatty Lecture, where she implored a sense of urgency in this rapidly shifting world, this workshop led by visual artist Andi Vicente explores intersectional representation and possible futurisms through the use of AI tools. If these are the last two minutes of the world as we know it, how do we act, what do we save, who do we hold, and what do we imagine beyond it?

"Performance Masterclass" and "Brave New Models" are produced and presented in partnership with the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition and supported by Ontario Creates and the City of Ottawa. These artist-focused sessions offer case studies, methods, and tools for navigating systemic inequities, building alternative models, and inspiring new approaches.