Scanning bloglines today, I noticed an item on the 37Signals blog Signal vs. Noise... it appears that Calgary's own VEER was purchased by Corbis. Congrats are due to the folks at VEER for another major Calgary creative industry success story. Some of the heaviest hitters in the world in the creative industries--Corbis and Getty Images--now both have major operations in Calgary.  read more »

Keen observers of this website will have noticed an increase in blogging over the past week. In case you're thinking "maybe they're bored..." I thought I'd provide a little meta-post (blogging about blogging) to shed some light on what's up.

In a previous incarnation I was a business professor (cue dramatic music). I specialized in Strategic Management, Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Over the years I became generally fascinated with the ways humans organize to get things done. My studies took me all over the map, into anthropology, economics, psychology, sociology (social network theory mostly), and technology.  read more »

Congratulations to Calgary's Joe Slabe, who is basking in the glow of a successful run of his show Austentatious, recently part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival. Heck, even the New York Times agrees!

It's been a wild 2007 at Calgary Arts Development. Among the many highlights, we've got a new baby, programs being renewed and launched, a completed thesis (fingers crossed!), a wedding coming up...

PHEW!! It's time for a break to get ready for the fall! And as I make my way into the wilds of Saskatchewan, I'd like to leave you with this... officially in the running for "CEO mantra of the year" in the office (an office thats as active as any deli counter in the city... check the link to decipher)!

(link and photo courtesy Merlin Mann at the excellent 43Folders website)

On July 25th, a group of interested (dare I say "passionate") Calgarians will join in a discussion about the Alberta Cultural Policy. There have been discussions across the province about this policy, and Calgary Arts Development, together with the Calgary Professional Arts Alliance have decided to add an additional, collective, voice to the hundreds already submitted.

We think and hope that the meeting we've called will provide a unique contribution to the process. Many of the challenges and opportunities facing Calgary are different than the challenges and opportunities faced by other cities and towns of Alberta. I know that the people in Calgary actively working as artists, arts administrators and cultural workers generally, are intimately familiar with these challenges. This meeting is a chance for these people to get together, talk about issues that are important to them, and have those collective views championed as important contributions to the provincial discussion.

So... lets start the discussion now. Consider this an "invitation to take responsibility for discussing your passion."* If you can't make the meeting on Wednesday, let us know what's important to you about cultural policy in Alberta, and what you think might be done about it. Whatever comes out of this, I guarantee that Calgary Arts Development is interested in your thoughts. Comments are open!

*For more about Open Space meetings, check out this Wikipedia entry  read more »

Noise Between Stations points us to Paragaph, a membership-based facility located in NYC. What a great way for writers to access to the kind of space they need to practice their craft. Looking at their blog, they are also clearly building community in addition to supplying needed infrastructure for artists. Prices range from $80 to $132 per month, including internet access. Seems reasonable to me.  read more »

For the few who did not come out to today's City Council Standing Policy Committee on Community & Protective Services (there were well over 60 people in attendance), I'm happy to report that our report was unanimously approved by committee. It now goes to the full City Council on April 16th.

We've known all along that space for the arts is a top concern of the community. We were pleased with the enthusiastic response to our research, but we were frankly floored to see 21 people speak in favour of the report today. Thanks to those who made it out, your support is tangible evidence that we're starting to make a difference.  read more »

If you were wandering around Inglewood last night and thought you heard the waffling bass of a world-class jug player... you heard right! The Calgary Arts Development team was out in force to take in the Highwater Jug Band's CD release party.  read more »

Take a look at this piece by Sean Carrie in today's National Post. Sean looks at the story of the creation of Calgary Opera and the Banff Centre's Frobisher, making its world premiere on January 27th. Here are a couple of great quotes that speak to what we're starting to think is Calgary's authentic story:  read more »

Seth Godin , one of the office's favorite thinkers, has a great new post on his blog, called "Hard Work." It's basically a list of 'easy things' and 'hard things.' (In his words, One... or the other...). Here are some of my favorites:

• One... Being board certified... or the other ... Looking patients in the eye
• One... Making a lot of money... or the other ... Donating a lot of money (quietly)
• One... Having a great idea... or the other ... Sticking your neck out

One of the many things I love about my job is that I'm around people who are CONSTANTLY sticking their neck out. Every time I look around Calgary's arts scene, thats what I see... you? Who've you seen take a great idea and make it reality by sticking their neck out?