When people ask me what Orléans has that other suburbs don’t, one of my first answers is the Shenkman Arts Centre. Tucked just off Place d’Orléans at 245 Centrum Boulevard, it’s been open since 2009 and it’s the kind of place that quietly makes a neighbourhood better to live in: somewhere to catch a show on a Friday night, sign the kids up for a class, or wander through an exhibition without driving downtown.
What’s inside
The Shenkman is a City of Ottawa facility and a true multidisciplinary arts centre, with two theatres, seven galleries and 17 studios under one roof:
- Harold Shenkman Hall — the main stage, with about 500 seats. This is where you’ll find touring concerts, comedy, tribute bands and dance.
- Richcraft Theatre — a smaller, flexible room of roughly 150 seats that can be set up theatre-style or cabaret-style, which makes it great for more intimate performances.
- Galleries — rotating visual art exhibitions throughout the building, so there’s usually something new to see even if you’re just passing through.
Classes and camps for every age
This is the part families in Orléans love most. The centre and its Resident Arts Partners offer more than 300 courses, camps and workshops a year, taught by professional artists, in both English and French. Depending on the season you’ll find painting, pottery, theatre, dance and music, for complete beginners right through to experienced artists.
The Resident Arts Partners are a big reason the programming is so deep:
- Gloucester Pottery School
- Ottawa School of Art (Orléans campus)
- Ottawa School of Theatre
- MIFO, Orléans’s francophone community and cultural organization
- Arts Network Ottawa
Schools can also book visits and outings through the centre’s Arts à la carte program.
A bilingual arts hub
Orléans is one of Ottawa’s most francophone communities, and the Shenkman reflects that. Programs and services are offered in English and French, and MIFO presents its own francophone season alongside the centre’s. If you’re a French-speaking family, or you want your kids to keep living their French outside school, it’s a real asset.
Getting there
Parking is free, with several lots at and around the building. If you’d rather take transit, the centre is a short walk from OC Transpo’s Orléans Station at Place d’Orléans. By car it’s about 15 minutes from downtown: take the 417 East to the 174, exit at Place d’Orléans, and follow Place d’Orléans Drive to Centrum Boulevard.
Box office: 613-580-2700. Check the centre’s website for the current season and class registration dates, which fill up quickly for popular camps.
Why it matters if you’re thinking about Orléans
A lot of suburbs have a rec centre. Far fewer have a full performing arts centre within walking distance of transit and a major shopping hub. Around the Shenkman you’ve got Place d’Orléans, the Orléans Station, and established neighbourhoods like Convent Glen and Queenswood Heights all close by, so a night out doesn’t mean a trip downtown.
Curious what it’s like to live in this part of the east end? Take a look at Orléans or reach out. I’m always happy to talk about what makes the area special.
Sources: Facility, program, and directions details from the Shenkman Arts Centre official site, including its Classes + Camps and Getting here pages. Check there for the current season and schedules.
Photo: Shenkman Arts Centre at dusk by Maddy.cec22, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.