The event is called 'Art in Daily Life: Essential or Irrelevant? Who Decides? Who Pays? Who Cares?' The National Gallery’s Director and CEO Marc Mayer and art critic Sarah Milroy will face-off against the Winnipeg Art Gallery’s Executive Director Stephen Borys and writer of the Globe and Mail Kate Taylor. From street art to national galleries, and everywhere in between, our debaters will challenge one another to prove, or disprove, the relevance of art in daily life. This thoughtful and entertaining debate will also include moderator Carol Off, CBC radio host for As it Happens, and provocateur Peter Simpson, arts editor-at-large for the Ottawa Citizen; as well as additional rabble-rousers.

LIVE PERFORMACE ART AT THE HISTORIC BYTOWN MUSEUM; This contemporary art event brings a fresh perspective to the interpretation of Ottawa's history – on the same site where some of the events happened.
Event Title: Crossings | Traversées
Artists: Sandra Johnston and Sinéad Bhreathnach-Cashell
Location: Bytown Museum (2nd and 3rd floor)
Date: June 17, 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm (FREE admission)
This event is part of the Crossings performance exchange that is taking place in Ottawa from June 17-20 at Galerie SAW Gallery and in Belfast in October 2010.

The National Gallery comes to Snapdragon?
Well, one of the artists hanging in the National Gallery, Michel-Luc Bellemare, is opening his new show "Colour my Reality" oil impasto on canvas, 6 - 8 pm, this Thursday, 17th June 2010.
Michel will give a talk (not a lecture!) at 7 pm, with Q and A to follow.
791 Bank Street at Third Avenue

SOLD OUT? DEBATING THE LEGACY OF POP ART
Art has sparked controversy for centuries. Join Robert Enright, senior contributing editor of Border Crossings Magazine and Blake Gopnik, chief art critic for the Washington Post as they square off in a heated debate on contemporary art. Moderated by CBC’s Carol Off. Simultaneous translation provided. In the Auditorium. Tickets: adults $10, students and seniors $8, members $7. Box Office: 613-998-8888. Gallery admission not included. National Gallery of Canada | 380 Sussex Drive | Thursday 17 June at 7 p.m.