What is Ottawa Art City?

Ottawa Art City is a festival designed to showcase our local talent via the Hidelight app using Augmented Reality (AR) technology. It will allow each contributor to post their work around various Ottawa locations. You can post a single piece of work, or create your own mini exhibit. You will be able to expand your audience and encourage viewers to discover hidden treasures. You can even hang around your work and interact with the viewers as they look at each piece.

What is Hidelight?

Hidelight is a new app that will help artists showcase their work, while connecting to the local creative scene. It allows you to post and contribute your photography, paintings, music/sounds, video and poetry anywhere outdoors, using AR. The AR experience will allow you to bring the art gallery outdoors, and help you reach and interact with new audiences. You can also collaborate with other artists to increase your exposure and strengthen the local art community. You will be able to watch as people discover and experience your work while it is showcased around Ottawa.

What are the benefits of joining Ottawa Art City?

Social media plays a large part in how artists can grow their following and discover new work. During Ottawa Art City, when people view your work they will be able to instantly connect to your website or social media accounts. You will also have the option to sell your work from the app through a link to your shop if you choose. With the help of Shopify you will be able to direct the viewer to your online store created with their platform. 

All Ottawa Art City contributors will be given an extended free promotional period to create their own web-store using Shopify’s services. You will also have access to a “community liaison” that will help mentor you and set up your own customized shop.

We hope that Ottawa Art City will help you reach your goals, whether that is to expand your audience, build your community or generate sales from your art. If you want to be part of an exciting new experience please apply today to be a free contributor. Hidelight will be launched during the Ottawa Art City festival, but you will be able to continue on contributing your work once the event is over and in future festivals to come.

Why use Hidelight?

The pandemic forced us to find new ways to stay safely connected with our friends and family. For some artists, the pandemic pushed them to channel their creativity to help manage through the difficult times. Others had issues staying focused or motivated to keep going. Using Hidelight you can create your own public art spaces, or discover what other local artists are doing. Visitors to your work will also be able to send you tips when they feel inspired. You can do all this while safely getting exercise and exploring the outdoors. We hope that by seeing the work of your community it will help to inspire you and give hope for the future.