Programming
Against the Current / Wàbi mikanàwàn
Conference
NCC River House, Ottawa Art Gallery, AXENÉO7, SAW
The Artist-Run Centres and Collectives Conference (ARCA), along with the artist-run centres AXENÉO7 and SAW, in collaboration with the Indigenous Curatorial Collective and the Association des groupes en arts visuels francophones, are excited to announce the ARCA biennial gathering Against the Current, taking place in Ottawa-Gatineau from June 11 to 14, 2025.
The Against the Current gathering will be hosted at the NCC River House, the Ottawa Art Gallery’s Alma Duncan Salon, AXENÉO7 and SAW, connecting delegates to important cultural and natural sites on both sides of the Kichi Sibi (Ottawa River) while recognizing and honouring the Algonquin land on which we will gather. Over 250 delegates are expected to attend.
The conference will offer a rich program of events and professional activities for delegates, the arts community and the general public alike, including keynotes, panels, discussions, workshops, collaborative sessions, advocacy campaigns, networking events, performances, art happenings and exhibition openings. A wide range of topics will be covered, providing opportunities to all cultural workers connected with the Canadian and international artist-run centre network.
At the NCC River House, participants can enjoy hiking, canoeing and kayaking while taking part in panels and discussions broadcast live. Other highlights of the gathering include the Two-Spirit Ball, an art extravaganza featuring Indigenous performance art, music and fashion from across Turtle Island and beyond. The conference’s vital conversations and artistic programming promise to make this gathering a resonant exploration of artist-run practices, community collaboration and engagement, and expressions of artistic solidarity.
Registrations from artist-run centres and other arts organizations are now accepted at www.againstthecurrent.art.
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SCHEDULE
Keynote and panels
NCC River House (501 Sir George-Étienne-Cartier Parkway, Ottawa)
9AM–5PM
9AM–9:30AM: Keynote
10AM–noon: Panel 1: Reclaiming Truth: Indigenous Authenticity – The Path to Accountability
Presented by the ICCA
In English
2PM–4PM: Panel 2: Exploring Old and New Frameworks for Artist-run Centres
In English and French
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Group lunch
NCC River House (501 Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway, Ottawa)
Noon–2PM
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Participatory Installation: Ayum-ee-aawach Oomama-mowan: Speaking to Their Mother by Rebecca Belmore
Parliament Hill (111 Wellington Street, Ottawa)
10AM–5PM
SAW Outdoor Courtyard (67 Nicholas Street, Ottawa)
8PM–midnight
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Opening reception: Erica Rutherford: Her Lives and Works
Artist: Erica Rutherford (Stratford, PEI)
National Gallery of Canada (380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa)
6PM–8PM
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Opening reception: Ijilauqsimajugut / Takusimajugut (We Were Hidden / We Are Seen)
Artists: Lydia Jaypoody (Kanjiqtugaapik), Siku Rojas (Iqaluit), Jason Sikoak (Montréal), Aghalingiak Ohokonnoak (Edmonton), Darcie Bernhardt (Halifax), Malaya Kisa-Knickelbein (Iqaluit) and Kablusiak (Edmonton)
SAW (67 Nicholas Street, Ottawa)
8PM–midnight
Presented by Debaser and SAW
Opening reception: New Suns
Artists: Suyi Davies Okungbowa (Ottawa), WhiteFeather Hunter (Ottawa), Seth Thomson (Ottawa), Emily Pelstring and Naomi Okabe (Kingston), Kemi Craig (Victoria), Eva Grant (Victoria), Melanie Barnett (Medicine Hat, AB) and Kriss Li (Montréal)
Soundscape: Ben Globerman (Ottawa)
Artengine (67 Nicholas Street, Ottawa)
8PM–midnight
Presented by Artengine
Performance event: Two-Spirit Ball
Performers to be announced
Club SAW (67 Nicholas Street, Ottawa)
8PM–midnight
Admission: Pay What You Can
Presented by the Asinabka Film and Media Arts Festival, AXENÉO7, the ICCA and SAW
Plenary and panels
Alma Duncan Salon, Ottawa Art Gallery (50 Mackenzie King Bridge, Ottawa)
9AM–5PM
9AM–10AM: Plenary
10AM–noon: Panel 3: Les régions s'y prennent mieux (Regions Do It Better)
Presented by the AGAVF and AXENÉO7
In French
2PM–4PM: Panel 4: Artist-run Centres: A Survivor’s Guide
Presented by SAW
In English and French
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Presentations, performances and workshops
SAW (67 Nicholas Street, Ottawa)
10AM–5PM
10AM–noon: Panel: Governance of Compassion
Club SAW
Presented by Gallery 101
In English
1PM–5PM: Workshop: The Art of Protest: An Introduction to Silkscreening
Instructor: Rodrigo Medrano (Gatineau)
SAW Nordic Lab Screenprinting Studio
In English and French
3PM–5PM: Interactive performance: Found in Translation / Trouvé dans la traduction
Artists: Jacinte Armstrong (Halifax) with Camille-Zoé Valcourt-Synnott (Winnipeg) and other guest artists
Club SAW
Presented by the AGAVF
In English and French
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Group lunch
Club SAW and SAW Outdoor Courtyard
12PM–2PM
Group supper
Location to be determined
5PM–7PM
Free day: Gallery hopping and impromptu meetings
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Partners: Artist-Run Centres and Collectives Conference (ARCA), AXENÉO7, Indigenous Curatorial Collective (ICCA), Association des groupes en arts visuels francophones (AGAVF), Artist-Run Centres and Collectives of Ontario (ARCCO) and Asinabka Film and Media Arts Festival
Steering Committee: Liz Barron, Katherine Dionne, Eli Hirtle, Elise Anne LaPlante, Éloïse LeBlanc, M.A. Marleau, Jason St-Laurent, Stefan St-Laurent, Tam-Ca Vo-Van and Clayton Windatt
Programming Committee: Members of the Steering Committee, Laura Margita and Justine Stilborn
Observers: Catherine Bodmer and Jonathan Middleton
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SAW thanks its funders, the City of Ottawa, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Government of Canada, the Ontario Arts Council, the Government of Ontario, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Bilingual Ottawa, the Association des communautés francophones d’Ottawa (ACFO Ottawa) and the Ottawa Community Foundation, along with its members and donors for their generous support.
Graphic design: Simon Guibord
