FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Regarding House of PainT
How much does it cost to attend the House of PainT Festival?
Is House of PainT family friendly?
Are you looking for volunteers?
I’m an artist, how do I get booked for the festival or a House of PainT event?
I want to see a specific act at the festival. How do we make it happen?
How do I throw an event under the bridge?
Do I need permission from House of PainT to film or have a photoshoot under the bridge?
I want to hire a graffiti artist or a muralist – can you recommend someone?
I want to paint an outdoor mural in Ottawa and I don’t know where to get started.
How much does it cost to attend the House of PainT Festival?
The Main Event under the bridge in Brewer Park is free / by donation, with nobody turned away for lack of funds!
We suggest donating $5-20 per adult. If you are a person of greater means, a donation towards the larger end of the scale helps to ensure that those who have less financial means are able to attend. This donation model helps to keep House of PainT accessible for everyone. If you can’t donate, no worries; know that your community has your back! Most interactive activities at the festival are free, and we are committed to ensuring that accessibly priced food and non-alcoholic beverages are available.
The OG500, afterparties, Knowledge Conference, and any other film screenings or indoor events are often ticketed in the $10-20 range. If you would like to attend but the cost of a ticket is a barrier, email us at [email protected] – if tickets are still available, we will make sure you get one.
Volunteering is another great way to experience House of PainT and gain access to all of our festival events.
Is House of PainT family friendly?
Yes! We have youth and kids’ activities on site all afternoon during the Main Event. Note that we don’t censor the artists we book, so you might encounter some spicy language after dark, but we do our best to keep things family friendly.
Are you looking for volunteers?
YES! Every summer we need folks to help out with setting up and tearing down the site, taking care of our artists, working the door at our ticketed events, taking photos, and making sure the vibes stay good.
I’m an artist, how do I get booked for the festival or a House of PainT event?
Make sure you’re subscribed to our mailing list and following us on IG. These are the two places you will find our first about our open calls for artists.
I want to see a specific act at the festival. How do we make it happen?
Email us at [email protected] with your suggestion. Artist booking can be complicated, with geography, scheduling, and budget to consider. Although we can’t make any promises, we see feedback and suggestions from our community as a gift. We will give your suggestions serious consideration.
How do I throw an event under the bridge?
If you want to do it the legal way, get in touch with the folks at the City of Ottawa’s event central department. They can help you book the space and guide you through the necessary permits for your event. There’s no electricity and the nearest washrooms are 10 minutes away on foot, so be prepared to address those issues.
Do I need permission from House of PainT to film or have a photoshoot under the bridge?
Nope! It’s city property – House of PainT doesn’t own the space.
I want to hire a graffiti artist or a muralist – can you recommend someone?
Sorry, no. We recommend looking through instagram and reaching out to an artist you want to work with directly. If you fell in love with a piece that you saw at the House of PainT Festival or on our social media but you don’t know who the artist is, shoot us a DM or an email and we’ll do our best to get you their name.
I want to paint an outdoor mural in Ottawa and I don’t know where to get started.
Mural Routes is a great, Toronto-based resource that can help you tackle the logistics of mural creation.
If you’re a property owner, you’ll want to read the city of Ottawa’s Permanent Signs on Private Property By-law. Once you are confident your project is permissible within the by-laws, it’s up to you and whatever artist you choose!
If you’re an artist, this can be a difficult process. The city’s By-laws are dated, serving as barriers for many emerging or aspiring graffiti artists and muralists. Your best bet is to work with an owner of a commercial property who wants your work on their walls.
Whether you’re an artist or a property owner, getting the support of your local city councillor can be a great asset to your project. When you have a location and a design ready to go, reach out to your councillor to confirm their support.
HoP continues to advocate for change at the City of Ottawa to give property owners more autonomy over their walls for the purpose of public art, and to eliminate unnecessary barriers for artists who are being held back from creating new works that beautify our city and contribute to our vibrant culture of creativity.