Art enthusiasts can currently see art that is on display in the Shenkman Arts Centre, but on Sept. 20 they will get a sneak peek behind the scenes ( Photo: Adam Dietrich )
The Shenkman Arts Centre has many locked doors unavailable to the public that lead to completely different worlds full of mystery and excitement; doors which Ottawa’s art lovers will have a chance to open on Sept. 20 when the new centre in Orleans lends them the keys to its backstage.
The Shenkman Arts Centre opened in June and has become a hub for local artists to showcase their talent, offering close-to-home arts education and entertainment for east-end residents.
The backstage tour the centre will be offering this month is only one of many initiatives to encourage people to become more involved in their local arts scene.
“The idea really came from the public themselves,” said Karen Scott-Gagné, a spokesperson for the centre. “We had two days of open house in June but people couldn’t get into the main hall unless they had a ticket. We wanted to give them this opportunity.”
During their self-guided tour, art enthusiasts will have the opportunity to explore many of the normally off-limits areas of the centre such as the dressing rooms complete with light-surrounded mirrors, normally accessible only to the artists and technical crew. These rooms will also offer face-painting for the younger visitors.
“They get to sit in the dressing room chairs with all the lights on and everything,” said Scott-Gagné. “Really they have a chance to experience what the performers do.”
Along the way there will be volunteers and staff members answering questions and running demonstrations, including ones for lighting and sound in the main theatre.
Visitors will also have access to the Harold Shenkman Hall, having the opportunity to pass through the giant slate-coloured doors onto the main stage, and stand in the middle of the vast black space looking out at row upon row of theatre seating.
The smaller Black Box Studio Theatre is certainly a highlight, a fully-convertible studio that can go from being a stately theatre with stadium seating to a more intimate cabaret hall featuring candlelit tables.
The centre’s partners will also be putting on their own demonstrations such as a sculpting workshop put on by the Gloucester Pottery Association.
“We want the community to recognize what a little jewel they have here, to realize how incredible it is,” said Scott-Gagné. “It’s not very often that we open up the building [so fully] to the public so it’s really quite an experience.”