The Countdown Public Art Project returns to the Ottawa Valley

Join Redefine Arts this summer In working towards a world beyond gender-based violence

Article content A community art initiative focused on ending gender-based violence is returning to the Ottawa Valley this summer with workshops, concerts and public events planned in Killaloe, Golden Lake, Eganville and surrounding communities. The Countdown Public Art Project, known for its pebble mosaic installations across Ontario, launched a new cycle of programming in June. Past installations have been created in communities including Combermere, Barry’s Bay, Killaloe, Eganville, Pikwakanagan First Nation and Pembroke.

Recommended Videos First launched in 2016 in the Ottawa Valley, Countdown has grown into a community-led public art movement that encourages collective action and conversation around creating safer communities and addressing gender-based violence. Over the past decade, more than 5,000 people have taken part in 125 workshops and community events connected to the project. Those efforts have resulted in the creation of 13 large-scale pebble mosaics and more than 300 smaller artworks installed in public spaces across Ontario.

This summer’s programming will be delivered through a partnership between ReDefine Arts, the Community Resource Centre – Killaloe and Ottawa Valley Community Arts. Organizers say the initiative will include art workshops, outdoor concerts and a mobile awareness campaign travelling throughout the region by foot, bike, paddle and car. The summer schedule began in mid-June in Killaloe with a concert and pebble mosaic workshop.

The season will conclude Sept. 19 and 20 with a mobile campaign and finale concerts in Killaloe and Eganville. Additional programming planned throughout the summer includes printmaking, tie-dye, pebble mosaic and singing workshops. Organizers say programming and community events connected to the project will continue across the Ottawa Valley through the fall of 2028.

All events are free and open to the public. Organizers say the project is intended to bring people together through art while encouraging conversations about building communities free from gender-based violence. The Countdown Public Art Project is funded through the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Grow Grant Program.

A full schedule and additional details can be found at: linktr.ee/CountdownProject The project is funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation (Grow Grant Program).