Having only been in Calgary for eight and a half months and working at Calgary Arts Development for 2 of those months, I'm still on a steep learning curve about what the city has to offer in the way of arts. This learning curve doesn't only involve discovering the vast amount of performances and events, but also how the arts community in Calgary has developed and is developing. It is in exploring this that I realise just how different my own background and experiences are. Not only do I not come from Calgary originally, I am not even Canadian, hailing as I do, from the UK. Moving away from my familiar cultural references has been more of a shock than I had anticipated and certainly more of a challenge. Suddenly, I can't reference contemporary or historical authors, artists, musicians and organisations. My cultural landscape has disappeared and I'm moving through new and alien territory.

Although it will clearly take time before I become au fait with the Canadian cultural landscape, my learning has been given a huge boost since beginning here at CADA. My experiences of the arts in Calgary thus far have varied greatly, from being intrigued by avant garde Swedish design at the Triangle Gallery, to being alternately provoked and entertained by a wide selection of films during the Film Festival, to hearing about the role of the arts in wider Canadian culture at the Stirring Culture lecture series and being reduced to tears by the cast of "Lion in the Streets" at Sage Theatre. Attending these diverse events have helped me to achieve a greater understanding of who is doing what and where throughout Calgary, but I came away from them all with one theme running through my mind.

Essentially, we are all human and no matter where you are from, the arts have the power to stimulate, intrigue, engage and reflect anyone, regardless of background or where you come from. It is this which I find most encouraging and strive to keep in mind as I continue to find my bearings in Calgary and Canada.