Calgary Arts Development is hosting a community forum (click for detailed info) as part of our Cultural Facilities Trends and Needs Analysis project.  

Our early research validates our understanding that artistic production, performance, and  innovation is literally bursting at the seams in every artistic discipline we can find, not only for arts organizations but for individual artists, as well. We need your story to help us build the case for the value of cultural spaces. At this point, we are using broad definitions of “cultural space.” We are loosely referring to spaces, both, as facilities / venues (public and privately owned) and public space (indoor and outdoor). And when we talk about “cultural,” we are referring to space where the arts happen in Calgary in any artistic discipline by arts organizations and individual practicing artists, emerging to established, community and professional, young and not so young, including ethno-cultural and First Nations communities.

It’s difficult to ignore the incredible growth in Calgary. We are thinking to the future and we ask you to consider the impact of the arts not only now, but in ten years or later. What types of spaces will best enable the arts to flourish in the future? What will further engage the citizens of Calgary to participate in the arts? What will enable long term stability and thought-provoking spontaneity? There is no simple solution, nor should there be. With opportunities abound and tremendous artistic potential, we have the momentum to move forward as a community in a very powerful way.

This Cultural Space research is intertwined with what we have learned this year through our festivals research and granting research. Cultural space is linked closely to other systems such as funding, access, awareness and partnerships. We are working concurrently on the broader framework of the arts in Calgary. One doesn’t exist autonomous of the others.

This is not the first, nor the last, time that you may engage us in conversation about space issues. We must keep the dialogue going and adapting to the rapidly changing cultural landscape in Calgary.  

We look forward to seeing you on June 22nd and encourage you to share your thoughts on needs and trends for cultural space in Calgary.