Tourism
Cultural Tourism - Advice from Atlanta
- Posted by Erica Mattson on September 19th, 2008
We had the privilege of spending time with Shelton Stanfill this morning discussing cultural tourism, thanks to the EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts. Shelton, a well-known arts leader from the U.S., had some great insights on how Calgary can start moving forward in this area based on his experiences building and shaping Atlanta's cultural tourism strategy. We were joined by Johann Zeitsmann who currently runs the Mesa Arts Center in Arizona and was able to offer some very interesting perspective based on his current work as well as his past experience developing the arts in South Africa. Read more »
Culture House in Buenos Aires
- Posted by Holly Simon on November 13th, 2007
Another
quick note from South America: I found a culture house in Buenos
Aires, care of Lonely Planet and confirmed by a hip, young porteña (local woman) walking her dog. It´s called El
Catedral. If you were every lucky enough to go to The Night Gallery in Calgary,
then you´d love this place. It’s located in a warehouse just outside of the
centre of Buenos Aires. It’s cavernous filled with art and eclectic furniture
with gigantic chandeliers with red lights, vegetarian food, and a big dance
floor. We drank the local beer, Quilmes, and watched stylish, young
couples do a sensuous tango lesson. It was mesmerizing… Check out the photos on this
website. I hope the link works!
Chillin´ in Chile
- Posted by Holly Simon on November 13th, 2007
Writing on
location from Curico, Chile. It´s a small city two hours south of the capital, Santiago. Curico is not unlike the Okanagan, surrounded by vineyards and orchards. (The wine is cheap and delicious… and so is the fruit.) It´s spring here: the sun is shining and I´ve slathered
sunscreen all over my fair skin. I´m staying with a visual artist whom I met several years ago when studying art in Spain. She has regular exhibitions and teaches art and yoga by day (not at the same time). I´m here on vacation but our work at Calgary Arts Development never escapes me. There´s nothing like a trip to South America to offer some perspective on development in general… Read more »
Calgary music meets Toronto!
- Posted by Erica Mattson on November 7th, 2007
Major music happenings have occupied my thoughts lately. Richard Branson strode into town awhile back on a crazy horse-drawn carriage to kick up a big fuss about the Virgin Festival coming to Calgary this June (right around the time of Sled Island and followed by the Calgary Folk Music Festival). Michael Green, Blake Brooker and the rest of the team at One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre announced January's sizzling High Performance Rodeo line-up - there are some fantastic music events including a new arrangement of Tubular Bells, presented in collaboration with Alberta Ballet and Honens.`And of course, the 2008 JUNO Awards are coming to Calgary this April! Read more »
Re-Inventing TV
- Posted by Holly Simon on October 31st, 2007
Over and above back-to-back arts events for 11 weeks straight... I find myself in a particularly exciting week book ended by me in a bumble bee suit at the Grave Gala 
and a flight to Buenos Aires. In between, I had a flash adventure in Regina, Saskatchewan, for the 22nd Gemini Awards. (I hardly even watch television. When I do watch, I watch The Hour or Corner Gas.) I had a line on good seats through a friend and I couldn't say no... 
George was his usual attentive, humorous and provocative self. Somehow, a show about television, became about relevancy and response to the Canadian condition. The humour became a little more real. (I hope you saw the "Saskatchewan IS flat" skit - not the correct title - written by Paul Bates, I think.) This was the first Gemini Awards that was open to the public (which hopefully foreshadows the open and transparent future of Canada). The day ended with a party in the (haunted) Hotel Saskatchewan lobby with a crowd of young and smart Canadian television makers. Besides feeling a little star-struck, I'm reminded of the constructive threat our generation provides to the status quo. P.S. Many thanks to George and his friends for the hospitality.
Ad-Hoc Art Tour of Eastern Canada
- Posted by Holly Simon on August 29th, 2007
I usually make a yearly trip to my childhood home of Summerside, PEI, taking in as much arts and culture as I can manage between beach
trips and card games. This trip, ending last week, reminded me again of what a
small art town Canada
is... Read more »
The romance continues...
- Posted by Erica Mattson on March 12th, 2007
We were thrilled to see yet another article about Calgary's arts scene pop up in the Sunday edition of the New York Times this week. Read it online: "Calgary Exchanges its Cowboy Duds for a Tuxedo." This article appeared in the travel section and notes our "diverse entertainment options and an expanding museum scene" as draws for visitors and artists alike: "Some of the biggest creative names in Canada are choosing to introduce their new works in Calgary." Like previous articles in the NY Times, this one is sure to spark the curiousity of visitors from all over the world. Read more »
