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Topique - Pique #20
Jun 12
Topique - Pique #20

Topique returns on June 12–13 as Pique’s semiannual symposium, offering a dedicated program of panels, artist talks, and demonstrations exploring equity and sustainability in the cultural sector. With participants from Uganda, Hong Kong, the United States, and across Canada, Topique continues to foster artist-led dialogue and knowledge exchange.

Laylit x Pique anniversary opening party
Jun 12
Laylit x Pique anniversary opening party

A special LAYLIT X PIQUE takeover of GRIDWRKS opening Pique’s 5-year anniversary weekend celebrations!

Collaborators since 2022, Debaser first partnered with Laylit when the collective curated programming at Pique. Four years later, Laylit has become a cornerstone of Ottawa nightlife, regularly hosting sold-out events each season. Together, Laylit and Debaser have cultivated a vibrant safer space where Arab/SWANA and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities can gather, celebrate, and connect through joy on the dancefloor.

Pique #20 - 5-year anniversary!
Jun 13
Pique #20 - 5-year anniversary!

A double milestone edition of Pique! Celebrating five years of reshaping Ottawa’s underground arts landscape, Pique arrives at its 20th edition with momentum, reflection, and an eye firmly on what’s next. This season’s program brings together returning collaborators and new voices from across local and international scenes, bridging different communities, genres, and styles. Get to know our lineup and grab your tickets now.

 
News
Call for board members
Call for board members

Debaser is seeking new board members who share our passion for boundary-pushing creative music and art, and our commitment to fostering safer and more inclusive cultural spaces

Topique returns with artist-led conversations on care, resistance, and cultural futures
Topique returns with artist-led conversations on care, resistance, and cultural futures

This summer, Topique returns on June 12–13, 2026 as Pique’s knowledge forum, enriching the festival’s 20th edition with a focused program of panels, artist talks, screenings, and demonstrations. Taking place at the Arts Court, the two-day gathering brings together artists, cultural workers, and makers from Uganda, Hong Kong, the United States, and across Canada to engage in timely conversations around equity, sustainability, and collective futures in the arts.

Lineup announcement: Pique #20 – celebrating 5 years
Lineup announcement: Pique #20 – celebrating 5 years

After five years of reshaping Ottawa’s underground arts landscape, Pique arrives at its 20th edition with momentum, reflection, and an eye firmly on what’s next. On June 13, 2026, the award-winning festival series marks its 5th anniversary and 20th edition with a milestone event that honours its evolution from a pandemic-era experiment into one of Ottawa’s most vital platforms for underground and independent art.

 
Five years ago, in the middle of the pandemic, Pique was just an idea: a new space for underground, experimental, and multidisciplinary art in Ottawa at a moment when many of the city’s independent festivals and DIY spaces had disappeared. Ins
What might creative practice look like outside of extractive and exclusionary systems? Which tools, technologies, and forms of knowledge already exist within our communities, and how can they be reimagined for collective ownership and local responsiv
Montreal-based DJ and @trashed.party producer @ref4nged takes to Pique’s late-night stage on June 13, ready to disrupt ⚡ Drawn to the intensity of a club floor, fangsie! is a steadfast advocate for music’s transformative properties. His
Witness the elemental transformation of @hyd.earth live at Pique on June 13 🔄 From co-creating QT alongside the late @sophie_msmsmsm and @agcook404 to releasing their resonant debut “Clearing,” Hayden Dunham has carved out a singular sp
More than just a music fest, Pique is a multi-arts extravaganza 🎨 Pique’s 20th edition on June 13 at Arts Court includes installations that are contemplative, interactive, and subversive, featuring... 🏡 Home Beyond Borders 🏡 Curated by Dan
Indulge your sonic palate with @sunkencages at Pique 🔥 (Flash warning on slide #2) Indian-born, Philly-based electronic producer Ravish Momin has cultivated a distinctly electrifying sound. Drawing on influences from Mumbai street drumming and glo

About Us

Established in 2013, Debaser is an arts organization and event presenter/producer based on unceded Algonquin territory (in so-called Ottawa). Read more →

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