Canada’s Capital Region— As part of Ontario Heritage Week, the National Capital Commission (NCC) is pleased to inaugurate the first location under its Capital Culture Lives Here pilot program, aiming to connect Canadians with arts and culture, through partnerships with cultural organizations.
As of March 2022, the historic Rochon Residence will be home to artist-run centre SAW’s various residency programs, including the Nordic Lab, which provides a research and production space for artists from circumpolar nations, and educational programs geared in particular toward Indigenous youth.
Residency projects, lasting from two to six weeks, will allow for significant contributions to the evolution of individual and collaborative artistic endeavours. The first three residency projects will welcome the following artists: Fanny Souade Sow (Paris, France), Uyarakq and Sunna Nousuniemi (Inari (Sápmi), Finland) and Tarralik Duffy (Saskatoon, Canada).
Building on the success of the Rochon Residence pilot, the NCC will be widening the Capital Culture Lives Here program to include more properties in Gatineau. A workshop is being planned for spring 2022 to explore community needs and a potential focus for each of these properties.
About Capital Culture Lives Here
As part of its role of caring for and protecting historic buildings, landscapes and public places that are part of Canada’s cultural heritage, the NCC is committed to cultural development, enhancing art of the highest quality in the public realm of the Capital and supporting diversity through a collaborative approach to creative placemaking.
In keeping with this commitment, the NCC launched the Capital Culture Lives Here program to connect arts and culture organizations with Canadians through the animation of heritage sites under the NCC’s stewardship.
About the Rochon Residence
The Rochon Residence is a small, two-bedroom house located at 138 St. Patrick Street in Ottawa’s ByWard Market, across from the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica and the National Gallery of Canada. It is one of the oldest houses in Ottawa. Its construction dates to the early 1830s; its architecture represents a traditional one-storey house of Ottawa’s Lowertown. It was once the home of woodcarver Flavien Rochon, who is known to have carved the stalls and sanctuary of the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Ottawa in 1844, as well as interior features at the Library of Parliament.
In 2021, the NCC undertook renovations to rehabilitate the Rochon Residence, including structural reinforcement, removal and reinstatement of the exterior cladding, and rehabilitation of the building interior.
“The NCC has a strong tradition of protecting and showcasing the heritage of the National Capital Region. I am very pleased that we have been successful in launching this artist-in-residence program, finding a creative partner to animate the Rochon Residence, and making it publicly accessible.”
—Tobi Nussbaum, CEO, NCC
“With a strong focus on Indigenous artists from across the circumpolar North, SAW’s residency program hopes to build bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. Our centre’s commitment to diversity and cultural exchange aligns perfectly with the aims of the NCC’s Capital Culture Lives Here initiative. We consider this new partnership with the NCC to be a major milestone for our organization, and we look forward to making the Rochon Residence a vital site for national and international artistic exchange in our capital.”
—Tam-Ca Vo-Van, Director, SAW
LINKS
Capital Culture Lives Here
Ontario Heritage Week
SAW
Media Information:
Maryam El-Akhrass
NCC Media Relations
343-551-6149
maryam.el-akhrass@ncc-ccn.ca