Picnics for Living Futures: Imagining Ottawa 2050 Through Puppetry
About this Event
Date: Friday, July 24, 2026
Time: 6:00 - 8:30 PM
Location: MacDonald Gardens Park, exact meeting location/pin will be shared with registered participants
About This Workshop
What stories might the city of Ottawa tell in 2050?
Join us for an evening of creative making, storytelling, and future imagining as we explore the possibilities of Ottawa’s future through the art of puppetry.
In this free, hands-on workshop, youth ages 18-35 will learn about the rich histories of puppet theatre as a tool for storytelling, cultural expression, political education, and collective imagination - from Wayang traditions in ancient Indonesia, to street performances protesting the Vietnam War in 1960s USA, to the more recent popularization of stop motion animation as a form of Indigenous cultural revitalization in Canada.
Together, we’ll explore simplified techniques inspired by Chinese shadow puppetry and create our own puppets using accessible materials like parchment paper, packing tape, and wooden skewers. Participants will be invited to imagine: What stories, hopes, and dreams do we want our future city to hold?
No previous art or making experience is needed, just curiosity and a willingness to imagine together.
What to Expect
The workshop will include:
- A brief introduction to histories of political puppet theatre and collective storytelling
- An introduction to shadow puppet-making techniques
- Time for brainstorming, experimentation, and creative making
- Space to share the stories and futures behind your creations
Materials and light refreshments will be provided.
About the Facilitator
Tia Wong holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Digital Cultures from uOttawa. She is an Administrative Assistant of the Canadian BIPOC Artists Rolodex. She is interested in puppetry as an approach to political education and a continuation of cultural tradition. In her work, this hands-on application of the craft makes it easier to create theatre with a whimsical and personal touch. She is excited to use this medium to pierce through cynicism when it comes to imagining our future in this city.
About Picnics for Living Futures
Picnics for Living Futures is a Civic Imagination Lab project inviting youth ages 18-35 across Ottawa to imagine the city they want to live in by 2050. Through outdoor arts-based workshops, participants explore questions of care, belonging, community, and collective futures through creativity and collaboration.
The ideas and artworks created through this series will contribute to a public showcase and broader conversations about the future of Ottawa.
We can’t wait to imagine and create with you!
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
CAD 0.00
