Pique winter edition 2023. Photo: Curtis Perry/APT613.
Pique, the vanguard music and art festival in Ottawa since 2021, returns for its spring edition at Arts Court in downtown Ottawa from March 8 to 10, 2024. Beginning its fourth season, Pique breaks new ground by presenting its first-ever multi-day edition, promising a lineup of international and local artists.
Presented quarterly by Debaser, Pique transforms the city-owned Arts Court building into a vibrant venue-wide celebration, hosting an array of underground and avant-garde performances, visual art installations, DJs, live music, and more.
Photo by Curtis Perry.
Festival features more than just music
Headlining the festival are avant-garde turntablist Maria Chávez, the versatile and creative GLOWZI, Vodou-Electro trailblazer Val Jeanty, the gritty disco duo TUSH, brainwave sound conductor Maylee Todd, percussionist and inclusive music educator Jesse Stewart, boundary-pushing performance artist Marita Isobel Solberg, and sonic space-traveler digital polyglot, and the live percussion + DJ duo Chady Tam-Tam & Queenyy, among others.
This multi-sensory experience extends beyond performances, with exhibitions and installations featuring works by Zineb Allaoui, LuCille, Maria Chávez, and more. A program of talks and works on the life and legacy of the late composer Pauline Oliveros promises insightful reflections. Jesse Stewart and Dimitri Georgaras will each present an interpretation of Pauline Oliveros’s text-based improvised music scores.
Photo by Curtis Perry.
15 artists spread across seven stages and exhibition spaces
Presented by SAW’s Nordic Lab and the Embassy of Norway, NORDTING is an enthusiastic and challenging mix of political rally and performance art. With the form of a people’s assembly, NORDTING investigates questions concerning power, identity, art, and economy for global northern and local contexts, addressing geopolitics, climate change and capitalism
The all-ages festival boasts a lineup of more than 15 artists spread across seven stages and exhibition spaces. Attendees can immerse themselves in groundbreaking audio/visual performances, DJ sets, performance art, exhibitions, and more. The relaunch of Topique offers three days of workshops, artist talks, panels, and a film screening featuring artists participating in the Pique program.
Photo by Curtis Perry.
Pay what you can on a sliding scale
True to its ethos, Pique maintains financial accessibility with a sliding scale of $25-50 for suggested donations, and a pay-what-you-can option through registration. Topique sessions are free with a Pique ticket, and registration, along with the programming announcement, will open next week.
As the curtain rises on Pique’s spring edition, the Arts Court becomes a hub for experimentation, celebration, and a forward-looking cultural dialogue. Join in for an immersive experience that transcends the boundaries of Ottawa as we know it.
Pique returns for its spring edition at Arts Court (2 Daly Ave) from March 8 to 10, 2024. Visit thisispique.com for the complete schedule and lineup. Tickets are financially accessible on a sliding scale of $25-50 via Eventbrite or pwyc by registration. Tune into Pique from anywhere at youtube.com/debasertv.
View this post on Instagram
.gif)