This article from the NY Times was passed on to me by two CADA board members this past week.

It seems Calgary isn't the only city in North America experiencing challenges related to art spaces... but we're clearly on to something with our long-term strategic approach to ensuring art spaces not only respond to need, but also stimulate redevelopment and community vitality.

If you're trying to contact anyone on the CADA team by telephone in the short term, I expect you're experiencing frustration.  So are we!

At this point, we are in the midst of moving offices, and unfortunately, due to delays in the work required of our new space, we do not have telephone access.  In addition, our team is telecommuting from various locations around Calgary.

Your best for contacting us is via e-mail or, believe it or not, Twitter! (@calgaryartsdev, @TerryAtCADA, @EricaAtCADA).

The good news is, you'll LOVE the new space!

Terry (cell: 403-681-2909)

I've been following the ThinkAlberta blog, a feature of Alberta Venture Magazine, for quite a while in my trusty Google Reader.  Not long ago, there was a post that ticked me off a bit... so I let them know in the comments.  Within a short time, their Web Editor, Rachel Singh, contacted me and essentially said... it's pretty easy to criticize in the comments of a blog, lets hear what you really have to say about this stuff!  Lo and behold, this month's print issue has an interview we completed over phone and e-mail, called "The Purpose-Driven City." Read more »

Last night I had the honour of toasting (and, OK, roasting!) Colin Jackson's accomplishments as CEO of the EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts.  Colin's stint at the helm of one of the most important arts institutions in Calgary (and Canada) lasted 12 years.  I've known him for about half of that time, and have worked closely with him for the past 4 years.  As I was reflecting on what I would say, it occurred to me that, at 40, I was likely to be one of the “young” people in the room.  And at 62-ish, Colin is technically old enough to be my father... we are essentially one generation apart.  I point this out not to make him feel older (really though… the rocking chair can’t be too far away!), but rather as a jumping off point for thinking about the responsibilities of my generation as an older generation begins to hand over the torch. Read more »

Consider today's news from Alberta Ballet (here), recent news from Theatre Calgary (here), the ongoing work of Calgary Opera, Theatre Junction GRAND, ATP, OYR, DJD, Lunchbox... and then add to that impressive list the large number of emerging organizations in our fine city.  If it wasn't clear already, the picture is becoming sharper:

Perhaps more than any other city in Canada, Calgary is distinguishing itself as "the" place in Canada for new creation, more often than not with exciting collaborations at the heart of the work.

Read more »

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Imagine my surprise watching Canada's World Junior triumph earlier this evening... only to see something that started as "I (Heart) Calgary Arts" turn into "I (Heart) Alberta Arts" staring at me from the rink board advertising at one of the most-watched sporting events this year in Canada!

Minister Blackett... I applaud your surprise marketing tactics... for SURE that ad was noticed. But... we'll have to talk about some royalties for Calgary (ahem, from 2007, I present the brainchild of our own Erica Mattson, with design from Janine Vangool):

At least we're all cheering for the right team!

Slate has a very interesting pictorial essay of creative uses of surplus big box stores (from Julia Christensen's book Big Box Reuse) . We often think of "adaptive reuse" as a means of employing heritage buildings.  I suspect the "heritage" of the 80's, 90's and early 2000's is going to include a huge inventory of big boxes.  Imagine what we could do with them...

News from the University of Maryland Medical Centre:

JOYFUL MUSIC MAY PROMOTE HEART HEALTH, ACCORDING TO UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE STUDY

Research team concludes the cardiovascular benefits of music are similar to those found in their previous study of laughter

So... while you're out there hugging your Alderman, maybe hand them some tickets to the Beethoven Festival!  Something tells me they're going to need some help with their blood pressure next week.

The past two months at Calgary Arts Development have been among the most intense we’ve experienced in the 3+ years of our existence. So much to do, so little time, such big stakes. If you’ve been wondering where we are, or why we haven’t had much to say on our blogs, it’s because we’re moving so fast on so many things, that we really haven’t had the time. I’m happy to say that we’re nearly through this difficult period, and I have some news to report. Read more »

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 »