Only at Pique can you experience a full spectrum of creativity—from comedy to artisan vendors, from indie bands to boundary-pushing music, from site-specific installations to immersive exhibitions—all in one place, all in one day. Thank you to the 1,400 visitors who attended Pique with open ears and hearts and to the supporters and crew who made it happen.
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Debaser has teamed up with Dominion City Brewing Company to strengthen sustainability efforts with the launch of a new eco-cup at Pique summer edition.
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FREE.99 is an experimental “Gay” dyad making music to reduce suffering.
Ahead of their performance at Pique on June 7, we spoke with FREE.99 members Hypha and Four about their online existence, how to disrupt the social media status quo, and the inevitable nature of death.
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MvB
Olivia Onuk, guest curator of Seen / Unseen multimedia exhibition at Pique summer edition, asks exhibition lighting and media designer MvB questions about her practice, how it connects to the exhibition, and what she hopes audiences will take away from the experience.
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A building-wide party that extends onto the street, Pique showcases groundbreaking performances and exhibitions from local and international artists.
Read MoreMartha Adem and Nabil Bhatia join returning members Shannon Whiteduck-Odjick and Ben Compton on Debaser’s 2025 programming committee.
Read MoreWrapping up another SOLD OUT Pique full of love and gratitude for all involved! With over 1,400 people in attendance across 2 days, it's the biggest spring edition in Pique herstory.
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“She thinks I’m a sinner” is a a multi-channel video installation based on a previous ongoing project featuring a sculptural piece "hair-bone", which is made of plaster and real hair. This collection of videos are all assembled together to form a bigger picture exploring the concepts of identity despite the constricting boundaries that can arise from one’s cultural context.
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An added day of programming and International Women’s Day focus brings even more innovative and inclusive arts programming to Ottawa’s Pique festival this spring. Pique spring edition returns this March with its second multi-day edition of the signature music and arts festival, taking over the Arts Court in downtown Ottawa. Featuring groundbreaking performances, striking art installations, and thought-provoking presentations, Pique is a convergence of creativity and innovation that welcomes international artists and communities.
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Photo by Kamara Morozuk
Debaser and the Ottawa Black Art Kollective (OBAK) have partnered to support a curatorial project by a local, Black arts curator/programmer. The single-day project will be presented at the summer edition (June 7, 2025) of Pique, a building-wide all-ages festival that takes place at the Arts Court complex in downtown Ottawa (Anishinaabe Algonquin territory).
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We’re looking for knowledgeable members of the Ottawa-Gatineau arts community (and beyond!) to help shape the artistic direction of upcoming Debaser events and programs, including our quarterly festival, Pique.
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Announcing our 2025 Audience Poll! We want your thoughts, gut feelings, and hottest takes. Take a moment to provide feedback on the year behind us and help guide our direction for the year ahead!
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Photo: Feza Lugoma
The 15th edition of Pique welcomed 1,000 people to Arts Court for performances, exhibitions, installations, and an Art Market featuring nearly 50 artists and creators. What a way to cap off a beautiful year of music, art, and community.
Read MoreThank you to everyone who made 2024 so special at Debaser <3 We’ve accomplished so much and could not have done it without our ever-growing community of artists, audience members, volunteers, and crew! Read more to see what we’ve accomplished this past year…
Read MoreMarie LeBlanc Flanagan will be presenting two interactive “game poems” at Pique winter edition on December 14, and recently released a protest game called Loser Lane about “the terrifying reality of biking in Toronto without bike lanes.”
Grab your tickets to Pique on December 14 to explore more of Marie’s game design philosophy and experience their interactive game poems in-person.
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A few months ago, we provided some transparency about how our pay-what-you-can ticketing revenues broke down. We revealed that only small percentage of ticket buyers pay more than the base suggested price for their tickets, while approximately 1/3 of tickets to Pique are subsidized.
Today, we offer a status update, share some testimony about what the ticket subsidies mean for recipients, and urge those who can to pay-it-forward by purchasing by paying more for their ticket to Pique winter edition.
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The semi-annual art market at Pique is back this season, and submissions for artist vendors are now open!
Read MorePique festival brings together diverse arts communities for the winter edition featuring live music performances, art installations, DJs, an art market, and more.
Read MoreTokyo based Japanese artist, singer, and analogue electronics improviser Phew is a generational talent and influence within the global experimental music landscape...Don’t miss Phew, supported by SUBR صبر and Lamb Fatale, this Sunday, October 13 at Club SAW.
Read MoreThank you to the artists, curators, volunteers, crew, staff, and partners who made Pique fall edition a beautiful and successful event! For the first time since 2022, Pique SOLD OUT. Over 1,500 attendees, flowed through the 10 venues and spaces across the Arts Court, and experienced performances and presentations by over 25 artists and speakers.
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