Uncovering the Mystery of Centretown's Atypical Locales
In the heart of Ottawa's Centretown, three transformed street corner installations have brought a burst of vibrancy and community engagement to underused areas along Bank Street at Frank, Florence, and MacLaren streets.
Known as the Uncommon Spaces, these installations are part of the Street Seats Pilot Program, a joint initiative by the City of Ottawa, Centretown BIA, and Bloomberg Philanthropies. The aim is to revitalize these areas and foster creativity, connection, and community [1][2].
These Uncommon Spaces are more than just street corners. They are now hubs for a variety of free live performances, pop-up workshops, community art drops, movement sessions, and spontaneous community activities [1][2][3].
The Frank Street location serves as a restaurant patio by Fauna in the evenings but can also be booked for daytime events. Meanwhile, the MacLaren location is managed by the Urban Art Collective, hosting live painting sessions, graffiti and mural tours, and other arts programming [1][2]. The Florence Street space is equally active, hosting a variety of community and artistic events.
Sabrina Lemay, executive director of the Centretown BIA, stated that these spaces are free and have programming for everyone to enjoy [1]. Somerset Ward Coun. Ariel Troster mentioned that the spaces were created with the help of a former New York City transportation commissioner [2].
These Uncommon Spaces will be active through October, and anyone can book them online for personal or community events such as birthday parties, book clubs, or workshops. For up-to-date event details or to book a space, visitors can check the Centretown BIA website [2].
The initiative also acknowledges the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation, recognizing the traditional territory where Ottawa is situated [2]. The Centretown BIA's website also has a calendar of upcoming events for the Uncommon Spaces, encouraging the public to explore and utilize these spaces for their own events [2].
These Uncommon Spaces are a testament to the power of art and community in transforming urban spaces, breathing new life into underused corners and fostering connections within Centretown [1][2].
[1] Ottawa Citizen. (2021). Uncommon Spaces transform underused street corners into vibrant public spaces in Centretown. Retrieved from https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/uncommon-spaces-transform-underused-street-corners-into-vibrant-public-spaces-in-centretown
[2] Centretown BIA. (2021). Uncommon Spaces. Retrieved from https://www.centretownbia.ca/uncommon-spaces
[3] CBC Ottawa. (2021). Uncommon Spaces: Transforming underused street corners into vibrant spaces in Centretown. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/uncommon-spaces-ottawa-centretown-street-corners-1.5946868
In addition to the vibrant live performances and community art drops, the Uncommon Spaces on Florence Street also feature news and updates about home-and-garden projects, making it an ideal spot for those interested in outdoor-living and lifestyle topics. As the Street Seats Pilot Program continues through October, the Centretown BIA's website invite visitors to book the Uncommon Spaces for home-and-garden themed workshops and events.
