This summer, Topique returns on June 12–13, 2026 as Pique’s knowledge forum, enriching the festival’s 20th edition with a focused program of panels, artist talks, screenings, and demonstrations. Taking place at the Arts Court, the two-day gathering brings together artists, cultural workers, and makers from Uganda, Hong Kong, the United States, and across Canada to engage in timely conversations around equity, sustainability, and collective futures in the arts.
Rooted in artist-led knowledge sharing and critical exchange, this year’s program centres the conditions shaping how art is made, shared, and sustained today—from navigating borders and institutional barriers to building community-led infrastructure and reclaiming creative tools.
Across disciplines and perspectives, these six sessions explore care, resistance, and collaboration as essential practices, inviting participants to imagine more just, connected, and responsive cultural ecosystems.
Photo by John Finnigan-Lin
PROGRAM
Touring Across Borders — Artists, agents, and programmers share strategies for navigating international touring amid evolving visa restrictions and geopolitical challenges.
Care, Curation, and Decolonization — Curators reflect on anti-oppressive approaches to artistic presentation and building more accountable cultural spaces.
Doing It Together: Care and Community — Organizers and community builders explore collective models, resource-sharing, and sustaining artist-led ecosystems.
Sonic Resistance — Artists examine how sound and listening practices can function as tools for resistance, solidarity, and political expression.
Decolonial Devices and Community Sound Design — Artists and technologists present community-led approaches to sound design, instrument building, and reclaiming creative tools.
Global Sound System Cultures (Film Screenings) –– A curated program of short films exploring sound system cultures across Mexico, West Bengal, and Toronto, highlighting sonic practices as forms of resistance, identity, and community building.
SPEAKERS
FILMS
MENTORSHIP
Four selected early-career artists and cultural workers will participate in the Topique Mentorship Program, an artist-centered initiative designed to support learning, connection, and professional development. Participants receive free access to symposium programming, travel support to attend the Venus Fest symposium in Toronto, and the opportunity to engage in both small-group sessions and one-on-one mentorship.
At the core of the program is a flexible, pick-your-own-mentor model, allowing participants to connect directly with artists, organizers, and cultural workers whose practices align with their interests. Whether exploring creative practice, touring, production, or community-building, the program fosters meaningful exchange while supporting participants in shaping their own paths within the arts ecosystem.
PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN ADMISSION
Admission to Topique is pay-what-you-can online or at the door. Sessions are open to all ages and skill-levels, with accessibility information available on the Pique website.
HISTORY
Launched as part of Pique in 2022, Topique is a forum for the exchange of knowledge, skills and forward-thinking ideas at Pique. With a focus on accessibility and community, Topique nurtures collaborative futures in the arts sector.
This June, Topique programming has developed into a combination of screenings, demonstrations, artist talks, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, spanning two days on June 12-13.
PARTNERS AND FUNDERS
Topique is made possible with support from Ontario Creates and FACTOR.
Pique is presented in partnership with the Arts Court, SAW, Ottawa Art Gallery, Canadian Film Institute, Ottawa Dance Directive, Ottawa Fringe, Digital Arts Resource Centre, Artengine, Produced by Youth, and with support fromDominion City Brewing Company, WARP, Exclaim!, FEST and is funded by the Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Heritage, Government of Canada, Ontario Creates, FACTOR, City of Ottawa, and Ottawa Tourism.