Ottawa BlackJacks Partner with the Ottawa Arts Council to Champion Local Artists

The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Monday a partnership with the Ottawa Arts Council to support and celebrate Ottawa’s vibrant arts community.

This partnership is highlighted by various digital and in-person activations aiming at promoting emerging local artists throughout the entire CEBL season in the nation’s capital.

The Ottawa BlackJacks and the Ottawa Arts Council (the Council) are teaming up to give local visual artists the opportunity to showcase their talent in front of the BlackJacks crowd at every home game by creating an art piece live on court level for the duration of the game. The Council will provide monetary compensation to the Visual Artist of the Game in addition to an Ottawa Arts Council membership. Through promotion via their game day newsletters and social media channels, the BlackJacks will further recognize each artist and their work of art.

In addition, the Ottawa Arts Council will have a branded kiosk on the concourse at the Arena at TD Place during 10 Ottawa BlackJacks regular season home games and one potential playoff game, where they will continue to foster the art in Ottawa by showcasing artists, partners, programs, and events to BlackJacks fans. The Council will also assist the BlackJacks by connecting the organization to key members of the artistic community via their artist collective.

The Ottawa Arts Council is a bilingual service organization that advances, promotes, and advocates for the arts in Ottawa. Catalysts in building an engaged, growing, and inclusive arts sector, the Ottawa Arts Council supports artists and arts organizations through leadership, guidance and providing opportunities to advance Ottawa's local creative potential.

TSN and the ​CEBL announced that Canada’s Sports Leader will showcase live coverage of select CEBL games on TSN and TSN+ throughout the 2023 season, tipping off at the Arena at TD Place in Ottawa on Wednesday, May 24, when ​the​ BlackJacks take on the reigning CEBL Champions Brampton Honey Badgers. Tickets are available at www.theblackjacks.ca/tickets.

Quotes:

"The Ottawa BlackJacks experience is more than basketball, and this great partnership allows us to not only solidify our community engagement within the art sector, but also to continue to proudly showcase local artists at every BlackJacks home game. The Ottawa Arts Council plays a pivotal role in creating a stronger arts sector and we’re excited to partner with them to support Ottawa’s vibrant and diverse arts community.” 

-Marika Guérin, Senior Director, Communications and Community, Ottawa BlackJacks Basketball Club

“It’s incredibly exciting for the Council to partner with the Ottawa BlackJacks on this community engagement initiative. At its height, the pandemic significantly impacted the sports and arts sectors, particularly in areas dependent on public engagement. We looked at this challenge as an opportunity to bridge the gap between the sectors and celebrate the resurgence of our creative and athletic community together.” 

-Nicole Milne, Executive Director, Ottawa Arts Council