Lansdowne Park is getting an artistic makeover this spring. For the month of May, 20 Ottawa-area artists have installed temporary public artworks across the 8-hectare site, turning the TD Place concourse, the canal-side pathways, the Aberdeen Pavilion exterior, and the urban park areas into an open-air gallery that's free and accessible to anyone passing through.
The Program
The Lansdowne Art Month initiative is organized by the Ottawa Arts Council in partnership with Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group, which manages Lansdowne. It's the second year of the program; last year's edition drew an estimated 40,000 visitors over the course of the month.
The 20 installations range from large-scale sculpture to site-specific performance to interactive participatory work. One particularly ambitious piece involves a nightly light projection on the façade of the Aberdeen Pavilion, a National Historic Site. That tells the story of the building's 125-year history through archival imagery and animation.
Artists Involved
The selection was made through an open call that drew 140 applications. The 20 selected artists span a range of backgrounds, career stages, and disciplines. Several are Ottawa-born; others are recent arrivals to the city. The selection committee prioritized work that responds specifically to Lansdowne's history and its role as a contested public space.
How to Visit
Lansdowne Park is at Bank Street and Holmwood Avenue in the Glebe, accessible by bus (multiple routes) or by the O-Train's Carling station. The installations are free to view and are active throughout May. A printed map is available at the Lansdowne concourse and at ottawaartscouncil.ca.
Evening visits are recommended for the light projection on the Aberdeen Pavilion. It runs nightly at dusk.
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