This fund was established as a permanent tribute to the Ottawa artist Dennis Tourbin (1946-1998), who played a key part in the development of a lively regional art scene. In the 1970s, Dennis Tourbin was at the vanguard of interdisciplinary practice in Canada, bringing into dialogue poetry, performance, painting, film, video and literature. A passionate defender of freedom of creative expression and of the rights of artists, Dennis Tourbin was also active in the artist-run centres network since the early days. With the collaboration of artist-run centres in the Ottawa region, the fund seeks to encourage emerging artists to expand their practice and encourage new ideas; to reach new audiences, and to engage with the community.
