Rumors (Research to date)
This is what we’re hearing. What else can you tell us?
This is some of what we understand so far.
There is a demand for more space for:
- theatre
- - for community and professional companies (upwards of 25 companies that would use more space if it existed)
- - with the following seat numbers: 60-80, 100, 150, 200, 800, 1000, 1200
- music
- - venues for presenting, studios for recording and production
- contemporary dance
- independent film festivals
- an artist-run cinematheque
- exhibitions for visual arts
- artistic incubation
- festivals, in general
- artist-run centres
- a major visual art museum
- rehearsal space
- studios for printmakers
- studios for ceramicists
- studios for glass blowers
- studios for textile artists
- access for youth in the arts
- studios, in general
- affordable living for artists
- live / work studios
- storage
- offices for arts organizations
- meetings
- the public
- intersections of diverse communities
- temporary/spontaneous projects
- education
Proposed or current development / expansion / revitalization projects
(to name a few and in no particular order):
- Urban Campus Partnership
- Pumphouse Theatre
- Epcor Centre 2010 project
- International Avenue of Arts and Culture Centre
- Olympic Plaza Cultural District
- Eau Claire Market
- Calgary Public Library
- Bow Valley College
- Encana
- Glenbow Museum
- Creative Kid’s Museum
- Alberta College of Art & Design
Recent cultural space success stories in Calgary:
- The GRAND Theatre
- Vertigo
- Art Central
- Calgary Opera
- Motel
- Loose Moose Theatre
What are we missing?
Idea
[edu] 1. A major centre of arts research (academic and economic). 2. A large, public contemporary art museum/ gallery. 3. A lot more studios at cheaper rates and opportunities for artists-in-residence with different organizations.
Idea
Calgarians are having babies, who will need Youth Run Arts centres. No matter the genre YouthRun is the key.
Idea
A municipal Art Gallery that exhibits all kinds of art.
Idea
Whatever happened to IMCA?
Idea
More $$ support for existing venues so they can continue to be available to small companies.
Idea
[edu] Cultural Youth spaces for performing and rehearsing with resources for learning.
Idea
Subsidized studios or spaces for artists on AISH or with disabilities.
Idea
People downtown don't support/ value buskers. No standard for buskers.
Idea
Equal promotion of emerging artists, not an after thought.
Idea
Subsidized studio spaces for artists and a building donated for artist run centres.
Idea
[performance] Performance art.
Idea
[visual} Public visual art gallery.
Idea
Flexible use of space within civic public art gallery. Peer adjudicated arts council with sustainable dollars. Urban design/ green space, plan long-term (not driven by developers).
Idea
Youth? What about the Prime Years!
Idea
An affordable space like Art-Central for several artist-run studios of different disciplines will create interesting discourse and attract public interest, so it would be an automatic success.
Idea
[edu] All great universities have great art departments. What's happening at the U of C? Very disappointing.
Idea
I've heard about an upcoming Encana complex, would love to see some dedicated space for crafts.
Idea
All new developments (ie: new office towers) should have dedicated artistic space.
Idea
Artist-Run centres-- artist-run archive and resource centre.
Idea
Foster/ heal the artists community. Interactive membership.
Idea
[performance] Apparently Mount Royal College is looking into building a provincial performance venue. BUT priority will be given to school requests before they entertain requests from community groups. Rumour? Who knows?
Idea
[printmakers] Alberta Printmakers Society cannot find new space (or afford it) may have to shut down by August. It would be a shame to lose this organization.
Idea
[craft] Mecha Glass studios are asking for support for their collective which includes a public studio, residencies, courses/ teaching, and collaboration possibilities. 277-7375.
I have not found this to be
I have not found this to be true. People from all walks of life have expessed their support (verbally, financially...) to an extent that surprises me. I feel more valued in Calgary than I have in any other Canadian city. As for standards...standards work themselves out. Public spaces are for all of us to express ourselves in in a reasonable manner. Regulation almost inevitably creates a less welcoming environment for buskers. Rather than spending money on regulation or 'buskers festivals' (an oxymoron), spend it on maintaining a secure downtown environment where people feel free to wander and happen upon some spontaneous entertainment.