Frame by Frame: Animation in Ottawa

Shaped by artists, filmmakers, researchers and studios, animation in Ottawa has evolved through a dynamic exchange of creativity, experimentation and innovation. From the establishment of the animation department at the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) in Ottawa in the 1940s to contemporary studio productions and independent practices, the region has become an important centre for the medium as an industry and a space for artistic expression.

The exhibition is presented in partnership between the Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG) and the Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. Spanning more than 80 years, the exhibition reveals how artists, institutions and communities have contributed to Ottawa's rich animation history. It also highlights the festival's vital role in connecting local creators with global animation culture. Through a variety of stories, techniques and creative approaches, the works on view reveal the remarkable possibilities of animation: a medium capable of bringing imagined worlds to life, expanding the boundaries of abstraction and giving shape to the strange, the wonderful and the deeply human.

This exhibition is presented in partnership between the Ottawa Art Gallery and the Ottawa International Animation Festival, in collaboration with the National Film Board of Canada.

Curators: Meghan Ho, Kelly Neall, Chris Robinson

Curatorial Assistance: Amanda Misko, Xandr Vickers

Curatorial Coordination: Erin Bruce

Exhibition Design: elsonstudio

Graphic Design: Leah Ross, Mathieu Kirchmayer

Technical Team: Stephanie Germano, Dan Austin, Mark Garland, Neil Hossack, Fen Prior-Delahanty, Emma Litschko

Editors: Rebecca Basciano, Matt Harrison, Véronique Couillard

French Translation: Marie-Camille Lalande

This exhibition was also realized with the support of the City of Ottawa, the Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts.