AOE Arts Council celebrates 30 years at carnival-themed Artinis

Annual benefit attracts cultural, community and business leaders to Shenkman Arts Centre

It was come one, come all to the greatest shindig in town. The AOE Arts Council hosted its carnival-themed signature soirée Thursday to raise funds and to celebrate the contributions that artists make toward creating a lively and vibrant Ottawa, where people want to live, work and visit.

The annual Artinis benefit drew a sold-out crowd of 200 to the Shenkman Arts Centre in Orléans for music, entertainment, food, drinks and games, in the Richcraft Theatre, followed by a sit-down dinner on the main stage in Harold Shenkman Hall.

The evening marked both the 10th anniversary of Artinis and the 30-year milestone for the AOE Arts Council, a non-profit arts group that represents more than 400 artists and arts organizations in this city.

OBJ360 (Sponsored)

The party organizers’ attention to detail was outstanding. So much of the decor was made by volunteers, including the ghost-like body casts of circus trapeze artists that were carefully constructed from packing tape. They hung down from the rafters during the dinner prepared by Ottawa chefs David Fortune (Bar Laurel), Ryan Edwards (Salt Dining & Lounge) and Francis Periard (St. Martha’s Brasserie d’Orléans).

Performers from Aerial Antics swung and twirled from above while cellist Joan Harrison and guitarist Roddy Ellias provided live music. The crowd was also entertained earlier in the evening by the Rachelle Behrens Combo.

Artinis
The AOE Arts Council’s carnival-themed Artinis benefit, held Thursday, October 26, 2017, featured live performances from Aerial Antics while guests dined on the main stage of Harold Shenkman Hall, in the Shenkman Arts Centre. Photo by Caroline Phillips

With Halloween practically knocking at our front door, guests had the option of wearing costumes. One creative couple put a Canada 150-spin on their garb by dressing as Confederate Zombies.

Artinis
Dave Lawrence and Gisele Rivest celebrated Canada’s 150th anniversary by dressing as Confederate Zombies for the AOE Arts Council’s Artinis benefit soiree (where costumes were optional) at the Shenkman Arts Centre on Thursday, October 26, 2017. Photo by Caroline Phillips

AOE Arts Council executive director Victoria Steele was befittingly dressed as a snake charmer (her job is to beguile the governments into supporting the arts). Commanding everyone’s attention as ringmaster was board president Lisa Cruickshank, a State Farm Insurance agent and the 2016 Business Person of the Year for Orléans.

Artinis
From left, Lisa Cruickshank, board president of the AOE Arts Council, with its executive director, Victoria Steele, at its carnival-themed Artinis benefit soiree, held at the Shenkman Arts Centre on Thursday, October 26, 2017. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Cruickshank, who has an undergraduate degree in music and sings with a women’s choir, sees the arts as a way of bringing people together, whether it’s in challenging times or during periods of celebration, such as Canada’s sesquicentennial.

The AOE held hundreds of events, with the support of government funding, and also exposed people of all ages, backgrounds and corners of the city to the visual and performing arts, through its Neighbourhood Arts 150 initiative.

“The team at the AOE is probably the most exceptional group of people I have ever worked with,” Cruickshank said on stage.

“They are an exceptional group of people who take care of artists and who make our city better for the work they do”

Among some of the business folks spotted in the crowd were OakWood president and CEO John Liptak, Doug Feltmate, managing partner of St. Martha’s Hospitality Group, and Ottawa Business Journal publisher Michael Curran, who previously served on the board of the AOE Arts Council. The OBJ was a major sponsor of Artinis.

Artinis
Michael Curran, publisher of the Ottawa Business Journal, with his wife, Catrina, at the AOE Arts Council’s annual Artinis benefit soiree, held at the Shenkman Arts Centre on Thursday, October 26, 2017. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Ottawa is competing on a global level to bring the best and brightest minds to our city, Curran said on stage.

“The arts play an incredibly important role, especially with the Millennial generation who want a very complete and balanced lifestyle.”

From the world of politics, Orléans Liberal MP Andrew Leslie was out to support the cause. So were Ottawa-Orléans Liberal MPP Marie-France Lalonde, Mayor Jim Watson, Deputy Mayor and Orléans Coun. Bob Monette, and Beacon Hill-Cyrville Coun. Tim Tierney, who, had he not been rushed for time, would no doubt have arrived in a stellar costume.

Artinis
Victoria Steele, executive director of the AOE Arts Council, is joined by Mayor Jim Watson, left, and Peter Honeywell, executive director of the Ottawa Arts Council, at the carnival-themed Artinis benefit soiree for the AOE Arts Council, held at the Shenkman Arts Centre on Thursday, October 26, 2017. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Artinis
From left, Deputy Mayor and Orléans Councillor Bob Monette with Jenny Tierney and Tim Tierney, councillor for Beacon Hill-Cyrville, at the AOE Arts Council’s annual Artinis benefit soiree, held at the Shenkman Arts Centre on Thursday, October 26, 2017. Photo by Caroline Phillips

– caroline@obj.ca

Get our email newsletters

Get up-to-date news about the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Ottawa and beyond.

By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Sponsored

Sponsored

EVENT ALERT: Mayor's Breakfast with Ontario Finance Minister on Wednesday, Dec. 4 @ City Hall