History

The CAO was formed following an investigation by the Mayor's Advisory Committee on the Arts which examined the needs of the local arts community. Celebration Arts, a one-day arts showcase, was organized in 1982 to promote local arts activities among artists and the public. The success of that event was further developed in subsequent years by a 25-member Board. By 1988, Celebration Arts had evolved into a 17-day Festival of the Arts, producing 65 events, with a budget of approximately $400,000.

In addition to the programming arm of the organization, the Mayor's Advisory Committee had also recognized the importance of an arts council function, which would represent the interests of the arts community, provide information and respond to the needs of the community on a year-round basis. The Council budget in 1988 was approximately $150,000.

1989

A series of problems plagued both the Festival and Council during this year. A growing number of arts projects combined with a deficit, the resignations of the treasurer and other board members, lack of proper financial accounting, and staff problems, resulted in an organizational crisis. In January 1990, the CAO suspended operations, laid off all staff, and prepared for an exhaustive City of Ottawa financial and managerial audit. With a $120,000 deficit, the future looked bleak.

1990

The City of Ottawa called a public meeting to determine the viability of a community arts council and 150 people attended. There was clear support for the continuation of the CAO, provided that it recognize that arts programming (i.e. The Festival of the Arts) was to remain the focus of arts groups who were producers. The CAO would be responsible for advocacy, information and advisory services. A 6-member core group worked towards reducing the deficit and re-establishing the organizational structure. Emergency assistance from the City of Ottawa was crucial to restructuring. Following six reports to City Council, a grant/loan package was approved.

1991-1995

The organization streamlined the Board to 12 members who meet on a monthly basis. The membership base was rebuilt. A new visual identity was established. CAO activities were adapted to the financial and human resources available. Programs which were re-established and are now on-going include: communications, the annual Sweetheart Lunch, workshops, the Victor Tolgesy Award and member services. The deficit was eliminated by 1994. A loan from the City of Ottawa was repaid in full in 1995.

1996 - 1999

The Council pursued a number of partnerships that resulted in the development of the Corel Endowment for the Arts, the renovation of the CAO offices, and assistance for various projects initiated by our members. 

COREL VIVA! les arts was the largest single event the CAO produced to date. This 1996 event included an educational component and an auction of original and computer generated art. The event raised $30,000, which was used to establish an endowment fund at the Community Foundation of Ottawa. Two subsequent events have been held and the fund has now grown to over $50,000. 

Annual interest from the fund is used to provide cash awards to artists' projects. Criteria and guidelines have been established and annual awards have been presented to artists since 1998.

The first CAO Web site was established in 1996, and information was limited to the COREL VIVA! les arts event. In 1997 the site was redesigned and the CAO established our own domain registration. The site has grown considerably in both content and design. In 1998, the CAO established the Ottawa Arts and Heritage Directory on-line, a comprehensive resource listing of arts and heritage groups in the region, and the Web site address, www.arts-ottawa.on.ca.

The renovation of the CAO offices was made possible through donations from numerous individuals, manufacturers and suppliers. The CAO Board Room, named the Micaela Fitch Room, was named after former CAO Vice-President, Micaela Fitch, who died in an accident in 1997. The room can be booked by member groups, or can be rented by other users. 

2000 - 2004

The City of Ottawa experienced dramatic change as amalgamation issues topped the local political agenda. A crucial issue of concern for the arts community was the motion for a $500,000 increase to the City of Ottawa arts grants program championed by then Councillor Diane Holmes. The motion was rejected by the Transition Board and become a lightning rod for community action and media support. The CAO took a lead role in protesting the heavy-handed approach used by the Transition Board and campaigned to bring public attention to the issue. Although the funding increase was lost in 2000, it was added to the municipal arts budget as a one-time increase in 2001, and as a base-budget item in 2002 and 2003.

In September 2002, the CAO worked with the Gloucester Arts Council and the City of Ottawa to create an arts awareness campaign titled Join the Crowd! Funding for this program was made available through the City of Ottawa and with the assistance of the Ontario Trillium 'Eye on the Arts' project. The CAO received increased financial resources in 2001- 2002 through a project grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (Eye on the Arts) and increased operational funding from the City of Ottawa. The CAO was able to meet a long-standing priority of adding additional staff to support our programs. Zoë Ashby was hired as a part-time Administrative Assistant and Jean Fortier was contracted as the Communications Director over the course of the project. A grant application to the Cultural Careers Council Ontario met with success in May 2003. A six-month position to assist with publicity for the 2003 Join the Crowd! campaign was filled by Sam Awwad.

The CAO worked closely with the City of Ottawa on a number of projects related to an identified need for marketing and promotions resources. The concept for a community box office and an e-ticketing service for arts groups was investigated. The CAO played a role in communicating with arts groups and holding focus meetings to explore the potential.

The CAO designed the Join the Crowd! arts awareness campaign in 2002 in collaboration with the Gloucester Arts Council, the City of Ottawa, the Ontario Trillium Foundation and numerous media sponsors. The annual budget was about $100,000. The CAO administered the majority of the program and controlled 3/4 of the budget. The event portion of the campaign was continued in 2003, but the focus was changed to involve the business community. The budget continued at the 2003 level, and the CAO continued to administer a city contribution of $75,000. The campaign was cancelled in 2004.