What a day! Yesterday was the first of six days in which Calgary Arts Development staff and board members are listening to Calgary's arts sector in our Current State of the Arts Dialogue Sessions. Until April 17 we are hosting over 140 and counting artists, administrators and board members in sessions grouped by discipline and size in the Arts Co-Lab in Art Central. These conversations are phase one of a three-phase process that will include a public consultation and vision-setting process this summer, leading to the development of a long-term strategic plan for the development of the arts in Calgary. This process is described in our most recent Strategic Plan.

We'll be posting a blog each day of the series to let you know how it's going. If you were able to join us, please add your feedback about the session you attended below. If you haven't had a chance to sign up for a session, you can RSVP here. Finally, if the remaining times don't fit your schedule, you can respond to the discussion questions online. 

Here's the first day's round up:

I heard about the importance of individual leaders and mentors (especially in dance), a supportive community and the quality and contribution of our major institutions. -Terry Rock

The "Calgary entrepreneurial spirit" is a contributing factor to the opening and encouraging arts community in which our artists create. -Emiko Muraki

The community feels there is a lack of perceived value on the part of the Calgary community at large, that the work itself is undervalued (sometimes even by the artists) and that citizens don't recognize the value of the arts to a vibrant city. -Emiko Muraki

Bright spot: The number of "community" groups operating in Calgary is perceived to be higher than other cities, offering more opportunities for citizens to engage in creation or practice of arts and culture. -Emiko Muraki

In the dance session there were several bright spots around education that came up, particularly about the U of C BA Dance program and the strength of mentorship and networking that extends from the program into the dance community. -JoAnn Reynolds

Our first day of dialogues was yesterday and the biggest takeaway from the two sessions I participated in was the insight that as a sector we ARE inclusive, innovative and culturally vibrant but that it isn't broadly recognized. If that's the problem we have to solve (not such a bad one to have) we have lots that needs to be recognized. -Patti Pon

Some feedback from a dance attendee: "I just wanted to thank you for hosting the dialogue for dance session today. It was the first time since I can remember that all of those artists have been in the same room sharing conversations about the bright spots and challenges of the dance scene in Calgary. I hope it was helpful for you in regards to the civic policy moving forward." -Chantal C. Gandar Corps Bara Dance Theater