• info@artawa.ca
• Newsletter/Substack
• Meets the 2nd Sunday of every month except July & August
• Ottawa Art Gallery Studio, 10 Daly Ave. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Mandate & Mission

Artawa is a grassroots collective dedicated to dismantling the systemic and financial barriers faced by creatives in the National Capital Region. Our mandate is rooted in radical inclusivity, with a specific focus on providing a safe, low-barrier haven for equity-deserving groups, including BIPOC, LGBTQ2S+, and artists with visible and invisible disabilities.

We prioritize a trauma-informed approach to community building, ensuring our “Monthly Artawa Meetups” are sensory-friendly, physically accessible, and free of charge. By providing professional-grade facilities and peer-to-peer mentorship, we foster a culture of mutual support where artists from marginalized sectors can transition from private practice to public exhibition. Our leadership includes artists with lived experience in the disability community, ensuring that accessibility is a core pillar of our operations – not an afterthought.

Our mission is to empower local creators to reclaim their artistic agency, boosting their confidence through a year-end, non-juried, themed exhibition that welcomes everyone from hobbyists to professionals. Having the end of year show theme discussed and decided upon by everyone together will help create cohesion and unity in every aspect. 

Artawa seeks to sustain a diverse, supportive ecosystem where the “messy magic” of creation serves as a tool for social connection, professional growth, and community-wide healing.

Artawa meets on the 2nd Sunday of the month at the Ottawa Art Gallery , unless otherwise stated in the Events.