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TOPIQUE Symposium

  • Atelier and Courtroom, Arts Court 2 Daly Avenue Ottawa, ON, K1N 6E2 Canada (map)

Topique is a symposium for the exchange of ideas in music and art, presented as part of Pique. At the winter edition on December 10, the Topique program will gather cultural leaders and emergent voices to offer new ideas, alternative models, and radical approaches in the music industry, contemporary art and performance practices.

All sessions are FREE and open to artists and participants of all experiences. Registration is required.

 

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Topique takes place on the stolen land of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg people. If you support our programming, please consider also donating to a local Indigenous organization or fundraiser. Learn more about this land acknowledgement and find educational resources and ways to support at www.debaser.ca/land-acknowledgement.

HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY

Please note the following health and safety policies that apply to audience members at Pique winter edition:

  • W ear a mask over the mouth and nose at all times when not eating, drinking or performing. Free KN94 masks will be available to audience members while supplies last.

  • Wash and sanitize your hands often. Hand sanitizer will be placed at all box offices, bars, merch tables, food vendor area, and in large supply around the event.

  • Before attending the event, please do a self-assessment of your health. Are you experiencing symptoms of any communicable virus or illness? If yes, please do not come to the event site.

For your information, we will also be taking the following measures to prevent the spread of infection:

  • HEPA air filtration units designed for larger rooms will be placed in Club SAW, the Studio and the Alma Duncan salon.

  • Signage reminding people to wear a mask will be placed in all venues, at bars, merch tables, and box offices.

  • Stage crews will be supplied with disinfectant wipes/spray and asked to sanitize microphones between performances.

  • Free COVID-19 rapid tests for any artist, worker or volunteer available on request, while supplies last.

  • For any artist or worker who must cancel their participation in the event due to a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19, Debaser will honour 50% of their agreed-upon payment. If there are any artist cancellations related to COVID-19 or another infectious illness, we ask that audience members keep in mind our policy to honour 50% of payments when considering making a refund request.

Attendees are expected to respect one another. Violence, aggression, oppressive behaviour or language, or bullying will not be tolerated. If you are currently implicated in an accountability process, please ensure you are respecting the space and well-being of those your actions have affected before joining this space virtually or in-person. If Debaser's staff and/or Board are made aware of any behaviour that violates our safety policy, the person(s) perpetuating this behaviour will be asked to leave immediately. We reserve the right to intervene and/or remove ANY person(s) in the space who are creating or contributing to an unsafe environment.

ACCESSIBILITY

Entrances are accessible by ramp, and indoor spaces are accessible by automated doors and elevator to all floors. Wheelchair accessible, gender neutral washrooms are available throughout the building.

Click the following links for accessibility and visitor information for:

https://artscourt.ca/visitor-info-en

https://oaggao.ca/visit/plan-your-visit/

 
 

2:00-4:00 pm
Performance Masterclass
Facilitated by Ceréna
Location: Atelier
This masterclass led by JUNO-nominated experimental dance-pop artist Ceréna will explore authenticity, vulnerability and self-awareness in an interactive session that invites participants to step up to the mic and workshop their performance techniques. This session will also engage participants in discussions around self-preservation, overcoming barriers, and the importance of community.

Presented by the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition, with thanks to Ontario Creates and the City of Ottawa.


 

4:00-5:30 pm
Panel: Brave New Models
Speakers: City Fidelia, Eman Safadi, Méchant Vaporwave, James Goddard
Location: Courtroom
Hear from artists and creatives who are developing new models, creating spaces, and bringing up the new guard in the music industry. This discussion will explore alternative models for artists and arts entrepreneurs, focusing on creators whose vision reaches beyond musical creation to engage in community impact, collective working, and social change.

Presented by the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition, with thanks to Ontario Creates and the City of Ottawa.



 

5:00-7:00 pm
The Last Two Minutes: AI image generating workshop
Facilitated by Andi Vicente
Location: Atelier
Named after journalist Maria Ressa’s recent McGill University Beatty Lecture, where she implored a sense of urgency in this rapidly shifting world, this workshop led by visual artist Andi Vicente explores intersectional representation and possible futurisms through the use of AI tools. If these are the last two minutes of the world as we know it, how do we act, what do we save, who do we hold, and what do we imagine beyond it?

 

About the Speakers

Andi Vicente

they/them
@andivice

Andi is a visual artist currently based in Tiotià:ke/Montreal. Through installation and digital collage, they’ve explored intersectional identities, precarious livelihoods and the juxtaposition of movements. Andi aims to broaden an understanding of oppressed experiences and encourage collective empowerment through the answering of the questions “Who is not here with us and how can I be there for you?”

 

Ceréna

she/her
@cerena.world

Ceréna is a JUNO nominated experimental dance-pop artist from Toronto, Canada. Ceréna's primarily self-produced debut album resurrection (2021) features hits “see”, “hearts on fire” and “gender euphoria.” The album serves to be a reclamation of herself, elaborating on favoured themes of freedom, community, love and unity. She also pays tribute to her Latinx heritage with tracks like “pa’fuera”, and “cielito lindo”, pushing conventional pop to new boundaries.
Ceréna’s debut album launched off the platform and community she co-founded via Club Quarantine (2020), a digital dance party that supports and uplifts QTBIPOC artists. Club Q has seen international acclaim and hosted Lady Gaga, Tinashe, Laverne Cox, and Tove Lo to name a few. Beyond her thrilling vocal chops, Ceréna often flexes her dance skills as part of the Kiki House of Siriano ballroom community.

 

City Fidelia

he/him
@cityfidelia

Luigi Fidelia (March 10, 1990) known professionally as City Fidelia, is a Canadian rapper, community builder, and entrepreneur emerging from Ottawa, Ontario. Having performed at sold-out shows in North America, Asia, and Europe, City Fidelia often considers himself as an artist from a small city with big dreams. He has previously collaborated and gained recognition from artists like Malik Yusef of G.O.O.D Music, Timbaland, and Vic Mensa.

Also known for his entrepreneurship, Fidelia founded the Real House Of Ensemble, which he along with partners Stan Lukoki, the head of the agency, Abe Abadi and his brother Jeff Sanon in 2020. He also started a program director position at the CHUO radio station in January 2021 and has provided jobs to a large number of BIPOC individuals in the city.

From the age of nine, Fidelia’s mother was a strong support for kids in their community by bailing them out of jail and providing a space for the young homeless to stay. Fidelia credits these actions for inspiring him to become a community builder with an entrepreneurial spirit.

 

Méchant Vaporwave

they/them
@mechant_vaporwave

Chachi (they/them) aka Méchant Vaporwave is a Creative Director and Artist Manager with a strong background in communications. Chachi is a multidisciplinary designer with 11 years of experience working with agencies, activists, artists, non-profits, and small businesses. They began collaborating with Backxwash on visuals in 2019, and have primarily worked as her Creative Director and Artist Manager since 2021. As part of their practice, they advocate for and offer free consultation for marginalized artists starting out in design and music. Their goal is to do work and make art that is self-actualizing, and to support other artists in doing the same.

 

Eman Safadi

she/her
@sansfuccs

Eman Safadi’s (she/her) professional experience spans continents and sectors, including artist management, film production and fund development. As the daughter of Palestinian and Moroccan immigrants, she is the co-founder of both SANSFUCCS artist’s collective and FOREIGNERZ, a full service art and production house focussed on pushing the boundaries of film, music, art and culture. Their team is comprised of multidisciplinary artists who are working to create visionary films, campaigns, installations, visuals and music video production with a focus on uncovering new narratives in Canada and beyond. FOREIGNERZ prioritizes QTBIPOC voices and their vision aims to amplify these narratives through innovative and strategic production.

 

James Goddard

he/him
@skin0tone

James Nicholas Dumile Goddard is an Ndebele-Canadian artist and arts administrator. Goddard's solo performance work incorporates saxophone, voice and electronics; it explores issues related to blackness, the canon, and the future. His multi-disciplinary work has been showcased at music festivals and included in gallery shows. Goddard also performs in a variety of experimental ensembles including notably Platitudes, Egyptian Cotton Arkestra & NYON. As an administrator Goddard has worked for Pop Montreal, Cinema Politica, Artscast and Suoni Per Il Popolo - his work with the latter two during the pandemic has focused on creating live-streaming magic.In September 2021 Goddard became Director of Suoni Per Il Popolo.