By: Magdalene Carson
The CAFES network is delighted to welcome one our very latest new organizational members, the Wild Arts Collective (WAC). As we continue to grow our network in exciting new directions, this partnership with WAC is a way to strengthen environmental communication in Ottawa and to learn from the experience of others working in the arts and culture sector toward a sustainable future.
The WAC was formed in 2023 with a shared goal: to use art as a clear, accessible way to spark conversations about the environment. The eight Ottawa-based artists work in different mediums, united by the belief that creativity can move people toward practical, local environmental action.
Grounded in the idea of “think global, act local,” WAC focuses on issues that shape life in our city - for example, the protection of trees and green spaces, the risks of waste-to-energy incineration, and the shift toward renewable energy. WAC engages with broader concerns as well such as single-use plastics, consumption habits, and the everyday choices that either harm or help the planet.
Most of WAC’s current pieces take the form of 2×3-foot posters, inspired by Bill McKibben’s insight that "the poster is where art meets organizing most powerfully". WAC's work aims to meet people where they are — in cafés, markets, and community spaces — and hopes to open a moment of curiosity and reflection.
Since then, WAC has shared their work in several venues and community events, including gallery cafés and neighbourhood gatherings. Their current exhibit is on display at Happy Goat Coffee Co. in Sandy Hill and runs until the end of December 2025. Several additional exhibits across Ottawa are planned for the coming months, including a new series focused on reducing plastic use. WAC also includes musicians, and they plan to explore sound-based environmental work in upcoming projects.
Learn more about WAC by visiting their website.
PS. If you are curious about who all are organizational members of the growing CAFES network, Mitzi regularly updates the list at this obscure but public-facing spot on the website: https://chrisl335.sg-host.com/about/organizational-members/
