would like to know if the percentage of artists making a living at their art has changed in the last 20 years. We need to be able to feed ourselves in order to concentrate on our art!

In order to maintain and grow support for the arts, we need to nourish and support the student population of artists and performers! We have new focus and appreciation for the arts in the school system currently. You should see what emerging young artsist can do! These kids are the future of arts appreciation and our future artists yet once they move away from school, they lose the support and guidance they need to continue their support of the arts.

Along with support and liasons with student programs, come support from their parents, grandparents, and friends. It's a way to communicate with the masses and find contacts that will maintain galleries, fill theatres, and make the calgary arts community more enterprising.

We are teenagers striving to become adults in the world arena.

No deep knowledge of arts and culture.

Cops shut down youth art.

More chances for artists to collaborate with community groups, businesses, residential areas

People retiring at a younger age will have more time for creative activities, prepare for these opportunities!

Trend should be

Population is getting older-- youth needs to be engaged in supporting traditional arts and culture (ie: opera, symphony, well-established theatre companies).

If we are going to be on the map as a vibrant contemporary city we need a downtown core presence that does not simply promote corporations.

Disturbing trend of schools reducing music programs. Why not start an orchestra school? Where are the strings in our education system? If kids don't learn about orchestras you can't expect them to attend orchestras as adults.

Downtown arts may be bursting at the seams but there is plenty of room in NE/SE.

Gardening is an art. Fastest growing leisure activity.

Decrease funding from municipal/provincial arts groups, increase funding from casinos! Gambling funds the arts!

I would like to see Calgary as a more cultural city with a lot of exhibitions, outdoor performances, where the public can participate equally together with artists.

Institutions get a disproportionate amount of funding... fund individuals.

Artist-in-Residence programs have been in Calgary schools for the last 10 years. The students who have been exposed are the next generation and need more courses and places to show their work.

Appetite to acknowledge, celebrate, and protect heritage (ie: Grand Theatre).

Smaller organizations cannot afford the spaces. Big gap between the haves and have-nots.

Approach artists with

More involvement with mulit-ethnic communities and cultural groups.

Calgary theatre happens throughout the city, not just downtown. The allocation of rehearsal and performance space should reflect this.

There are a tonne of amazing high school programs. Besides a handful of festivals per year, these students don't get a chance to perform for each other, share musical knowledge, and collaborate/ improvise.

On a regular basis the U of C has a community music program for students that is not very well known, but they are running out of space. A larger community music school for any interested students and bands would help.

Are there too many

How do we find out who isn't coming to Calgary because of lack of space?

Mass Queer exodus. Queers are leaving Calgary to relocate to more hospitable communities.

Need better recognition of arts organizations in place. Foster relationships in all media groups. Alberta Craft Council.

Risk of heritage buildings being redeveloped by developers.

Indoor amphitheatre carpeted stairs for seating. Public space, but can be closed off for ticketed events. A stage big enough for CPO.

Artist motivation equals great art and dollars. Acceptance of artistic (and economic)

Public art means more than statues.

Support from big business for the arts is great-- we need more corporate donors to donate arms-length $ to promote arts.

Support local businesses to create greater variety of Canadian cultural products and goods.

Take risks in the kind of art presented.

Outdoor theatre spaces are terrific cultural and environmental spaces. We need more safe, suitable outdoor locations to perform theatre.

Over 50% of the Alberta Craft Council's professional fine craft artists live and work in/around Calgary but there are no places to show or sell their work. There are more in Edmonton.

We need space but the current real-estate climate is very hard to afford.

We need more collaboration like Calgary Artsmart- online or printed guides to cultural activity. London England has a weekly London theatre guide listing all theatre in the city. Maybe a model on that.

Involve youth, involve family members, art networks.

Money equals potential for vibrant culture: Is this actually true?

Database of

The Living Gallery (sit, drink, see, talk ). The Art Salon