Last night I attended the opening reception for Hold True: A Year in the Making of the City of Ottawa Art Collection at the City Hall Gallery.
A thoughtful look at the process behind building the City of Ottawa Art Collection.
About the exhibition:
This year’s exhibition titled Hold True: 2025 Additions to the City of Ottawa Art Collection, features 47 artworks by 41 regional and international artists. Ranging in style, medium and subject, the artworks invite viewers to consider multiple perspectives. Many works explore connection to ancestral roots, culture and heritage, using the power of art to mirror our shared human experiences and reveal universal truths.
The exhibition coincides with the 40th anniversary of the City of Ottawa Public Art Program, celebrating four decades of investing in artists by collecting, commissioning and exhibiting their work in public spaces.
The exhibition at City Hall Art Gallery is the final chapter in a roughly 15-month process. It begins early in the year with an annual Call to Artists for the Direct Purchase program. Once the call goes live, upwards of 300 applications are received. The Public Art Program Collection team then spends months processing submissions and organizing a peer assessment committee comprised of professional artists to review applications and make final recommendations. By purchasing these artworks from artists directly, the City supports and strengthens the region’s creative economy.
From there, tons of work happens behind-the-scenes, including documenting and accessioning each piece, arranging framing, safe storage and crafting labels that offer context about the artwork and the artist. As the artworks are prepared, the Public Art Program Collection team develops a curatorial theme to unify the pieces, working closely with the Exhibitions and Commissions sections of the Public Art Program.
The exhibition runs until March 29, 2026.
Check out the gallery from the event.
