Living a Creative Life Congress 2024
Award-winning writer and speaker Jesse Wente joins us on the evening of Wednesday, December 4.
Living a Creative Life Congress 2024
Dates: December 4 & 5, 2024
Location: Central Public Library
Theme: Through the lens of Art for Social Change, this year’s theme is, What does Blue Sky City mean to you?
Cost: Free but registration is required
ASL interpretation is provided
Registration
The 2024 Living a Creative Life Congress focuses once again on Art for Social Change and continues to probe the question: How might artists lead the way to a more equitable, inclusive, and accessible city where everyone belongs? This year we are exploring that question through the lens of our city’s new branding, Blue Sky City, as we look at ways Calgary can live up to the promise and potential of truly being a blue-sky city.
Get inspired, hear about some of the amazing work being done by Calgary artists, exchange ideas, and possibly find new collaborators for future projects. If that’s not enough, we invite you to enjoy some good food as well! An online option is available for those who can’t attend in person.
The congress runs from 12:30pm on Wednesday, December 4, through to 5pm on Thursday, December 5, 2024
In addition to panel discussions and break-out sessions, we are excited to welcome award-winning writer and speaker Jesse Wente to inspire us on the evening of December 4.
You are invited to attend the entire congress, some of the daytime sessions, or just the evening session with Jesse Wente.
2024 Congress Videos
Lionel Migrino: It’s so awkward just listening to somebody talking about you, it’s really awkward. But yeah, I want to thank you everyone, good afternoon, and yeah let’s get started.
First off, I do want to recognize where we are at today, we are located in the City of Calgary, in Mohkinsstsis, as we keep in mind what we were told this morning is you should really recognize your surroundings and really appreciate where you are at, and as a settler, I need to recognize where I am, so yeah thank you.
And for the next slide, for me, as you know I’m Lionel Migrino, my are pronouns he/him, I am a proud Filipinx Canadian, cis-gendered man, but I also wear many hats. I work in HR, I am a disability advocate, I am also a photographer and a passionate storyteller as well. And for accessibility purposes I do want to give a brief description of who I am. So I’m wearing a grey suit with a white turtleneck, black dress shoes, I have short black hair, brown eyes, I have tattoos on my right arm that you may not see but that might be more tattoos than my mom knows so please don’t tell my mom about my tattoos because my mom doesn’t like my ink, but yeah that’s a secret.
But yeah. And also I like to think I’m pretty good looking, I’ve got supermodel good looks, so yeah, this is my description and moving on, I want to start this presentation, so with this presentation we’re going to learn about understanding different models of disability and then we’re going to explore ableism and recognize how ableism has an impact on individuals, especially with society and art. As well, we’re going to talk about intersectionality as well and then I’ll get more into the disability community, and we’re also going to talk about accessibility in the arts and identifying ways to make the arts more accessible and inclusive for everyone.
So first, I have a question for the audience out there. What does disability mean to you? And don’t worry I’m not going to judge the answers because I’ve been doing this for a few years now, so I’ve heard all the answers, so yes. Anyone got an answer?
Audience member: Disability means living in a world that is not built for you and having to create your own solutions when you walk into a space to make it work.
Lionel: Yeah, perfect. I love that answer because with disabilities it’s often a (inaudible).
But yeah, anyone else with an answer. I think we’ve got a hand over there in the front row.
Audience member: Good morning. To me disability means that, echoing the last person, I’m navigating a world that wasn’t made for me, constantly being underestimated unfortunately by people who are not disabled, proving them wrong, having the audacity to do it anyway. Let’s go!
Lionel: Perfect! Perfect. Thank you, Elliot. Yeah perfect, yeah one more answer. Who’s brave enough to answer this question, anyone?
Audience member: Disability is something I’d like to think I know something about but in reality, probably don’t.
Lionel: And that is fair enough, that is fair enough, I will go onto that statement because every time accessibility needs are being built, every time disability needs are being built within a system, it’s not always disabled people making the decisions.
So yeah, really good answers, everyone. I’m really impressed, thank you.
I want to leave this slide for a moment and show you the data around disability and why it is important. As you can see, right over there, in 2022, 27% of Canadians aged 15 and older that identify themselves as disabled. And as you can see that’s 8 million people in Canada, that’s a lot of people, so it’s really important to keep in mind when looking at this data and in a poll since 2022 the last data that was recorded we’ve seen a 4.7% increase in people with disabilities, and that may be too because of neurodiversity, also people don’t tend to identify themselves as disabled because with Covid (inaudible)…
So yeah I guess I wanted to show you all this data, this data is integral in showing the importance of addressing accessibility and inclusivity as Canada’s population ages and disabilities rates increase, because this data, I would take it with a grain of salt, because we live in the deep part of…, it’s not (inaudible) …an organization that do have a disability so I would take this data with a grain of salt.
But yeah, moving on, I do want to show two models, two important models to learn about in disability work and disability justice – there’s two models out there, one model is the medical model, and the medical model sees disabilities as an illness, you will see people like me as not normal, that need to be cured, that there’s something wrong with this person. And then there’s the social model, and I want to emphasize the social model recognizes the social and attitudinal barriers and looking for solutions for social change and claiming that disability is an identity, and also that there’s nothing wrong with a disabled person, it’s what society says that keeps a disabled person from not feeling included or getting those opportunities.
So I want to show you all a short video on what the social model of disability is.
(video)
In that video that you saw at the end it says we all have a part to play, it’s not just disabled people that need to do the work, it’s all of us, that’s what makes the world more inclusive.
To go to the social model, it says unlike the data changing of social … and attitudes, we do remove barriers that make sure people with disabilities are given those opportunities and are included as members of society.
Moving on we’re going to talk about language. So there’s like a big debate of what language do I use? Do you use people-first language or identity-first language. I want to make it clear, it’s all about preference. If you don’t know, just ask the person what they want to be identified. And for people-first language, you put the people first before the disability. For example, of people-fist language, people with disabilities or somebody with autism, it’s putting the individual before the disability, unlike identity-first language that’s putting their identity first and making sure their disability is their identity. For example, disabled or autistic, and for me, and I told you already, I am a disabled individual, but yeah If you don’t know, or if you don’t think you’re not sure, you can ask that disabled person first. You can ask people with disabilities how they want to be addressed, it’s all about the preference.
And then what is Ableism? Ableism is the belief that one ability is more superior than the other. And seeing people with disabilities or disabled people as less than non-disabled people, and Ableism can be conscious and unconscious, and ableism is living among us, like living within our system, and now we need to do the work of how do we dismantle it.
And then for the next slide I will talk to you for five minutes about a personal story about me encountering ableism. Yeah, so about 13 years ago, 13 years, that’s a long time now, yeah 13 years ago I applied for a job. I get a ??? job, I was coming out of ??? and into university and I wanted to get a job in a ??? role. I applied for the job, I got an interview because they had my resume and application and I also ???, the meet interview a week later, I was really excited, because you know, I’m in university, I want to have a social life, I’m finally legal enough to drink, I want to be like a lot of 18 year olds, and to do that you kind of need money to do that. You need money, if. You want to ???? girls, you get the money and do all those things. So I was super excited for that interview, I was all dressed up, not as good as I’m looking right now, but almost, almost. Went to that interview and then it really went downhill. I could really feel like, you know when people are judging you based on the first look? You can really feel that first look I was being judged so much at that first impression, and I was like oh no, I got a really bad feeling like a dark cloud when I did that interview, and during that interviewer they were asking me questions, but wasn’t really questions. And me being an HR professional by now, I could really recognize in that during interview, you need to make people welcome, make people feel comfortable and set them up for success I did not get that. It all went downhill throughout that interview, and in the last, after that interview I remember vividly after answering the questions as best as I can, that interviewer told me we cannot hire you because you might be a liability. And that kind of sucked, that made me feel like a loser, it made me feel like I was nothing, that I had never felt that way in my life until now. I remember, my mom picked me up from that interview, I remember my mom looking at me and seeing how it went and then when I told my mom it was really hard for my mom to, it was really hard for her to really hear that because I think I was protected all my life and when I went out of the bubble and encountered ableism for the first time it was awful. And then during that interview I had a meeting with a professional interviewer after that interviewer and they were not at all apologetic, they were saying to me that I’m a safety issue, how could I do that job and put everyone at risk? It’s not fair, I felt like even now I know that there’s ways to be more accessible and there’s two simple ways on how you can do the job effectively. So that really discouraged me, so if that’s all they’re giving me and I was in a bad relationship during that time, I was depressed, I wasn’t really socializing with friends, and I’m a social butterfly, I love people, people often say I’m a flirt, and at that moment I wasn’t in the right headspace to socialize. I felt like I was nothing, and what really hurt, what really hurt that I doubted myself. If a company like that felt that way about me, that’s, do other people on the world feel that way about me? And that really discouraged me. I had to go to a lot of therapy and I learned that I can advocate for myself, and now I guess here I am today and like I advocate and I do this work not because I want the world to be a better place for myself, I get so much people to ever experience the dehumanizing things that I experienced, I don’t want anyone to feel the way I felt that day, and clearly this ableism, that wasn’t the first time, that’s definitely not the last time, and advocate more and really interact with the community. The better I am to not only turn this situation into a lose-lose, but actually … this situation, it’s bad for others. So yeah, that’s my ableism experience and yeah. I try really hard not to get emotional, I usually don’t, but then it’s, yeah.
Thank you, thank you.
Yeah, with ableism, I do want to show you a video because I need a little break after my story, but here’s a video that I will show you.
(video)
Yeah, I want to talk to you about intersectionality because like with the disability work it’s often really whitewashed and cis-gendered, and usually male-dominant, too, so I want to recognize the importance of intersectionality. Intersectionality is coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw in the 1980s and it initially focused on experiences of Black women facing overlapping discrimination in legal contexts. And intersectionality is a prism of multiple social identities like race, gender, class, abilities and so on, and how they intersect with one another to interact with the world to give them privileges but to also address oppression as well.
I also want to give a quick five minutes, I’ll make it three minutes, depending on how long we take, to take an intersectionality quiz. If you’re all at home and can scan the QR code right now and then do that intersectionality quiz, I will give you about three minutes, and then we will get a quick debrief on the quiz.
If we had some background music, why don’t we do that? Like party music, I can sing. I don’t think people would want me to sing, I feel it.
(quiz)
I’ll give everyone one more minute and then we’ll go around the room and share insights. I haven’t done this for so many years now, but I think I can remember my answers. Maybe not.
So can somebody tell me what you’ve learned and what really surprised you when taking the quiz?
Audience member: I’d say that really surprised me was how there was two sets in the questions – one part is your personal opinion of yourself, and one part of it is like very identifiable factors. So how you, it doesn’t surprise me to see that I am living an extremely privileged life in where I am, and it doesn’t surprise me that I’ve put in the answers that I have. But it does surprise me how much of that is based on my own perception of me, so you know, we should have all put I am good looking, you know, like, and if you didn’t, I’m going to come and talk to you and tell you you’re good looking. So that’s me.
Lionel: No, definitely, and I think with that good looking question, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, so that’s subjective, but yeah, I really push that dial all the way to the right with that question, I’m not going to lie about that.
Anyone else? Something you find interesting?
Audience member: (inaudible)
Lionel: Yeah, definitely, you’ve put a really good point. Even disability can change you, because think about it in the world, we’re only temporary, not disabled in our life because once we age and grow older, our body is not what it once was, and once acceptance can lead to that disability community too. Yep, anyone else?
Audience member: Unsurprisingly, has some privilege, but it always leads me to wonder because of my outside, what are other people interpreting of my intersectionality. So they’re always combating somebody else’s interpretation whether the truth is true or not.
Lionel: Yeah, no definitely, yeah, I feel like it’s like good to like you know you can think of your own identity and think you’re intersecting identities for yourself but what do other people think. And I think we’ve got room for two more?
Audience member: I just wanted to bring it back to what the first question or the first observation mentioned about the good looking, the sort of it being informed by your own opinion of yourself, and I think that’s a really interesting one as well because that can be informed by the amount of privilege you do or do not have, I think that societally people who are not white or people who are not cis-gendered or male, have been socialized to believe that their looks are under different lenses and so you have a different informed opinion of how you are good looking or not good looking.
Lionel: Yeah, no I totally agree, what society (says) what it is considered to be good looking in our present society as opposed to maybe my own culture, Filipino culture, what their definition of beauty is.
I think we’ve got room for one more.
Audience member: From my perspective I think it’s interesting like the Uncle Ben quote is up there because I was thinking about it in the context of power as well, because sometimes my perspective on privilege is about the absence, the absence of certain barriers but in that question you’re kind of asking for things on a spectrum where you kind of have to locate yourself as close or as far from any particular identifier, then to me it kind of being reflect on are there certain contexts where I have the power in my fitness, do I have power in my English acuity, do I have power in this, and that can kind of shift and change based on context, and based on perception of other people. Because one of the questions was even like do you struggle with a mental health condition which is such an internal question, but how well are you able are you able to mask that, that in itself is another aspect of power that you can then weaponize or you can surface or there’s different ways to navigate it, so I thought it was a very interesting exercise.
Lionel: Thank you so much, I like how you said this picture with this and also with about masking, you know with the disability community too, some disabilities are visible, like mine, but some are invisible, and some people as I told you in the beginning of looking at the data, I would take the data with a grain of salt because some people do have the privilege to hide their disability it’s not just to look at. So thank you for this.
And you brought up the next thing on my slide, and it’s the quote, how Uncle Ben says with great power comes great responsibility, and what does that mean? As we get the grid, we know that some of the presents on the grid we can control, like we can control our education, our work and about and we can also control our relationships, but as some identities we can’t do it. I can’t do something about my disability, if you see I don’t… to really, it took me a couple of years and I didn’t even have control over my skin colour, but we all look to each other in the room, even though we do have some oppressions based on our identities, we have to recognize that do have these, we all wouldn’t be here right now to listening to me for an hour. So with that quote, it doesn’t matter if you are in power, because sometimes you can control it, but what really matters is what you do with them, what do you do with them, are you using them to empower others or are you using them to get the edge over other people. And that is what Uncle Ben is telling his nephew all about.
Barriers to accessibility – with accessibility, a barrier is anything that might be in the way to prevent someone’s full participation in life. And it discourages people’s identities and experiences and it’s also exclusionary, so those are the types of barriers as you can see, attitudinal, systemic, physical, information and communication, technological, financial. And these are barriers that everyone within the disability community face, no matter what disability they have. It’s attitudes, it’s the people’s mindset as to what is a disability, because we all oftentimes as society and as non-disabled people, define what our disability is, people might ?? for example, I couldn’t think that I couldn’t do something because of my cerebral palsy, it’s not as much as what can I do, or how can I support you in the workplace? I didn’t get that question. So I can do, it’s big barriers that we do have to face all in collusion and accepting people with disabilities.
And for the next slide I do want to talk about accessibility, because in accessibility this is a video of somebody that’s making art more accessible, so I want to share with you all that video before I …
(video)
Yeah, so based on the video she talks about accessibility as not, you don’t really need to sacrifice a lot to have full accessibility and you can be like, when you talk about accessibility and making sure that for people with disabilities, making sure that things are accessible so that we can have the same experience as everyone because it’s human rights in the workplace. And a lot of policy makers and I’m really discouraged that there is no accessibility, which accessibility with people making excuses it’s all red tape. So we need to like peel off the red tape and add something to it, and design programs to make it accessible because also excuses is just only red tape that means nothing, it really means that we don’t want to give disabled people opportunities because we need to focus on everyone else, but no we need to be with them because people include people with disabilities. And for my last thing there’s a great thing that I said, that was what does disability mean to you? My answer, what does disability mean to me, it means power, it means being innovative, it’s a beautiful word, it’s not a bad word, it means being gracious, and yes it means sexy! So yeah, I want to take that all with you and thank you so much for listening to me and I’ve got time for questions so yeah, thank you.
Are we doing questions. Are there any questions? I’m an open book.
Audience member: When you go somewhere and ask for a service or an accommodation or some kind of support and are told that a place doesn’t have it because not a lot of people ask for it or it doesn’t seem like an easy, it’s complicated, it’s expensive, all of the things, how does that make you as an individual feel when dealing with that organization, business, company, etc.
Lionel: This is conveniently recently happened, that kind of reminds me of a story because I was travelling, I missed my flight, not because of a delay, not because people couldn’t accommodate me in security, so when I went through security and finally went to my gate they asked me where were you? I’m like well, nobody could pick me up, and that made me feel like I was an inconvenience to them, and that I wasn’t being thought of. And when they say like oh did you ask for accommodations when I was at the gate, I was like yes I did, three months before the flight. And they asked me do I have a medical note which really grinds my gears I’m like why do I need a medical note, do people need a medical note if they’re non-binary or if they are a woman or if they are a man? No, so that kind of grinds my gears and yeah, it has made me feel like I wasn’t being thought of and to they responded to my complaint that I am on an ongoing battle with that airline.
Anyone else with a question?
Audience member: Thank you for sharing your story with us. I’m curious about your work as a photographer working with different community partners, do you find that there is an assumption about your subject matter? Or are you able to co-create with different collaborators and partners to think about the world from different viewpoints or from ways that you, or voices or perspectives that you want to express or explore?
Lionel: I think within the art community, there is a real lack in that accessibility and that disability inclusion in the arts because there are some amazing artists that I have met within the disability community and going out with there and being at events like this, can be some kind of barrier and that’s a barrier that I’m not aware of because I do recognize that even though I grew up with a disability, I grew up connecting as well within the community but sometimes it’s hard for people with disabilities to collab with other community people because people, because there’s no venues that are accessible, there’s no studios that are accessible, I remember in my current project I was doing, we were trying to find an accessible studio space, there was not, I was quite sad and embarrassed, it seemed like the studios, there’s some barriers there too, but how can we close the gap on accessibility and make it more inclusive for people with disabilities to meet up and collab with other community partners.
Accessibility
General accessibility information is listed below. If you have accessibility needs, please contact Cherie McMaster at cherie.mcmaster@calgaryartsdevelopment.com to discuss support options.
Information about accessibility at the Central Public Library can be found here.
Much of our event takes place in the Patricia A. Whelan Performance Hall, but some of the breakout sessions will occur in meeting rooms either in the basement or on the 3rd floor of the library. Elevators are cramped but available. Online attendees will be able to watch the live-streamed event in the Hall and attend a facilitated virtual breakout to engage attendees on Art for Social Change themes. There will be sharebacks on the second day, after workshops, to help all get a sense of the different rooms’ conversations.
We are reserving seating in the first three rows of the theatre which is accessible, easy to navigate, and can be reached via elevator. There will also be breakout sessions in the theatre space for those with mobility challenges. Meals will be made available close to this accessible seating area.
ASL Interpretation will be provided for all sessions in the theatre.
A quiet space is available for decompressing. Art therapists are on hand to hold space for calming activities or to support your emotional and mental well-being.
Food Options
There will be a place on the registration form to add any food sensitivities or allergies and to let us know if you require a vegetarian or vegan meal.
Wearing a Mask
As there has been a rise in COVID and flu cases, we request that if you are feeling unwell you do not attend in person. No one will question you if you are wearing a mask at our event.
Getting to our event and Parking
The Central Library is located at 800 3 Street SE, directly east of City Hall.
Public bike racks are located on all sides of the building, and bus routes stop on 3 Street SE and on 9 Avenue SE. The closest CTrain stop is City Hall, on both the Red and Blue lines.
There is parking in the City Hall parkade, paid parking lots on the east side of the Library, and paid street parking in the East Village. The CPA Lot 55 has all day parking for $10. There are accessible parking spots directly beside the Library which can then be accessed by elevator; this elevator is monitored during open hours if you require further assistance. We ask that all participants respect the accessible parking signs and do not use one of those spots unless needed.
You can also find the Central Library on the Pedesting app, to help you find the best indoor and outdoor routes through downtown and the East Village.
2024 Congress Schedule
(subject to change; check back for further details)
Agenda
December 4, 2024
December 5, 2024
December 4, 2024
Doors Open & Check-In
Community Art-Making Activities
Community art-making activities take place in the upper lobby of the theatre during breaks in programming.
Blue Sky coasters and a “Dream Tree”
Join Tara Vahab in creating Blue-Sky coasters and be part of a “Dream Tree” by sharing what Calgary represents to you. With your participation see how personal dreams contribute to a shared vision for an inclusive and welcoming city.
Tara Vahab
Tara Vahab is a Persian-Canadian interdisciplinary artist, art educator, Therapeutic Arts practitioner and an arts advocate. Through her work, she advocates for mental health, affordable access to art practice and the value of arts and artists in communities. In 2015, Tara graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, and immediately afterwards she founded LOUD Art Society, a non-profit organization that supports the cultivation of positive mental health and well-being through creative practices. In addition to running LOUD Art Society, Tara is currently working with CARFAC Alberta and teaching at the University of Calgary.
Welcome & Group Agreements
Calgary Arts Development President & CEO Patti Pon will open our session and set the context for this year’s congress. She will be joined by Blackfoot Elder Saa’kokoto who will start us off in a good way.
Lionel Migrino - Limitless
This session is about disability justice and how to navigate it in the arts world. Meet Calgary artist Lionel Migrino who will share his story in a presentation called Limitless.
Lionel Migrino
Lionel (he/him) is a Filipinx Canadian storyteller living with cerebral palsy. His intersecting identities have shaped his worldview and deepened his understanding of diverse experiences, shaping the person he is today. Through photography and documentary filmmaking, Lionel amplifies the voices of those often unheard, using these artistic tools to illuminate the stories of marginalized communities. His work inspires individuals to share their truths, sparking dialogue and encouraging action toward justice.
He has led projects focused on mental health, anti-racism, decolonization and disability justice, most recently creating a project centred on the disability community. As a disabled Filipinx Canadian, Lionel understands that the world isn’t built for him, but his camera allows him to share his perspective, uplifting and empowering others along the way.
What is Art for Social Change?
A conversation exploring two questions: What is Art for Social Change? What Does Blue-Sky City Mean to You?
Kelaena Maude
Kelaena Maude works as a community engagement professional with a love for systems thinking and changemaking projects. She currently works at the Institute for Community Prosperity/Trico Changemakers Studio at Mount Royal University. You’ll find her working on art for social change projects, namely the Artist as Changemaker Program and Art for Social Change Network in partnership with Calgary Arts Development. Kelaena enjoys connecting with other kindred spirits doing changemaking work and creating pathways to new understanding and action. The “what if” game she loved as a child has transformed into a love for collectively envisioning a new dream into being.
Christy Herdman
Christy Herdman (she/her) is a compassionate art therapist with a creative spirit. She uses art to enhance emotional well-being, leading workshops that combine creativity with therapeutic techniques to teach psychoeducation. Christy’s interactive public art activations, such as Bug Hunt, Let It Blow and Glimmers, encourage active participation and mindful engagement. Her handmade, minimalist designs invite curiosity and play, using symbols and shapes to convey clear messages. Inspired by nature, Christy creates art connecting with kids and adults, fostering a compassionate community through imaginative, child-centric work that promotes mental health and well-being.
Bio Break / Snacks available
Breakout Sessions
Five in-person breakout rooms and one online breakout room each discussing: What are the possibilities and barriers to Art for Social Change?
Geraldine Ysselstein
Geraldine Ysselstein (she/her) is an artist, facilitator, collaborator and consultant. Born in the Netherlands, she spent her early years in Bangladesh, then grew up in southern Ontario on the ancestral homelands of the Anishinaabek Peoples. Currently, she lives in Mohkinsstsis (Calgary) in Treaty 7 Territory. After twenty years of working as an arts manager/educator in multiple arts organizations, she is now an independent creative whose purpose is to cultivate space for conversations about social change and social justice with care, curiosity and creativity.
Priscille Bukasa
Priscille Bukasa, a Calgary-based spoken word artist and writer, draws inspiration from her roots in the Democratic Republic of Congo, infusing her work with the richness of her upbringing, culture and faith. With over 14 years of captivating performances, Priscille’s dynamic presence has graced diverse stages, from conferences to marketing campaigns. As a teaching artist, she leads poetry workshops across all grade levels and serves as an art facilitator at Arts Commons. Priscille is also a member of the Cultural Instigators, supporting artists in fostering equity, diversity and inclusion through impactful projects confronting social issues.
Robin Slater
Robin Slater was born fighting for justice. Her gender-bender name ensured she could balance a fine line of identity distinction; being an uncompromising lefty, both neurologically and politically, in a society based on “right-ness”, she quickly learned that the world creates disability and divisions. For the past six decades she has been challenging assumptions, perceptions and misunderstandings in the “isms”-family: sexism, racism, classism, ableism, ageism and colonialism for herself and in solidarity with fellow travellers. As an avid Patron of the Arts, she actively chooses where to place her attention and resources. For Robin, the political has always been personal!
Sayonara Cunha
Sayonara Cunha (she/her/hers) is a community liaison at Calgary Arts Development. In this role, she is responsible for connecting the arts community in Calgary and is the primary liaison between the community and the staff equity working group. Before joining Calgary Arts Development, Sayonara volunteered for different organizations and worked for almost 10 years to preserve Brazilian Cultural Heritage, living in Brasilia, Brazil. One of her main goals and passions is to humanize processes and policies to make them accessible to everybody.
With experience in facilitation, transformative conflict and a strong interest in trauma-informed care, Sayonara brings a thoughtful and empathetic approach to her work. What inspires her flow state is connecting with people, gaining new perspectives and understanding diverse needs.
Stacey Perlin (online)
Stacey Perlin is the Chairperson of the Perlin Foundation for Wellbeing and Lead Facilitator for BlissFest Labs. These organizations promote mental health literacy and support healthy brain development. She guides a community of volunteers, artists and professionals through arts and culture projects she’s designed that support the local mental health ecosystem. She brings her lived experience as someone who’s regaining her authentic self after a long-term relationship with substance abuse, bankruptcy, homelessness, domestic violence, poverty and emotional/physical abuse.
Working towards healing every day, Stacey frames complex conversations with humour, compassion and research-backed observations.
Wunmi Idowu
Born in Lagos, Nigeria and currently living in Mohkínsstsis, colonially known as Calgary, Wunmi Idowu is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist, filmmaker, art educator, consultant, facilitator, producer and the Founder and Director of Woezo Africa Music & Dance Theatre Inc. since 2006. She is also the Founder of the Black Arts & Culture Council (BACC). Driven by her belief that arts, culture and education are essential for growth, development and global impact, Wunmi pushes for increased visibility of ethnically and culturally diverse artists in Canada. Through dynamic, cutting-edge programs that capture the imagination of a range of audiences, her hope is to enhance the creative economy in Calgary, empower communities and perpetuate the movement for instilling social change. Wunmi’s accolades in the arts and culture sector include winning the 24th Annual Immigrants of Distinction Award and Avenue Calgary’s Top 40 Under 40.
Dinner Break
We will provide boxed dinners for those staying for evening event.
Doors Open & Check-In for evening event
Special Guest Speaker — Jesse Wente
Jesse Wente
Jesse Wente is a husband and father, as well as an award-winning writer and speaker. Born and raised in Toronto, his family comes from Chicago and Genaabaajing Anishinaabek and he is an off-reserve member of the Serpent River First Nation. Jesse is best known for more than two decades spent as a columnist for CBC Radio’s Metro Morning. Jesse spent a decade with the Toronto International Film Festival as a curator, including leading the film programming at the Tiff Bell Lightbox. In summer 2020 he was appointed Chair of the Canada Council for the Arts. Jesse received the Arbor Award from the University of Toronto in 2021 for his volunteer contributions and was recently appointed a Senior Fellow of Massey College.
His first book “Unreconciled: Family, Truth and Indigenous Resistance” is a national bestseller and was picked as one of best books of 2021 by Chapters-Indigo, Apple Books and The Globe and Mail. In 2022, Jesse won the Kobo Emerging Writers Prize in Non-Fiction and he was named the Communicator of the Year for 2022 by the International Association of Business Communicators.
December 5, 2024
Doors Open & Check-In
Refreshments & snacks available
Community art-making activities take place in the upper lobby of the theatre during breaks in programming.
“Blue Sky City — My Vision” Collage-Making Activity
Join photographic artist Santosh Korthiwada in creating a collage about what “Blue Sky City” means to you personally and how Calgary can live up to its potential as an inclusive, opportunity-filled city.
Santosh Korthiwada
I am Santosh Korthiwada, a photographic artist with a passion for social change and cultural representation. My work has spanned various regions, including portraits and visual stories that capture the spirit of people and places in rural India and my new home in Canada. With a background in applied arts and education, I bring over 15 years of experience in guiding groups through creative processes, fostering self-expression and encouraging meaningful discussion. As an artist, my mission is to bridge diverse perspectives and inspire communities to explore themes of identity, inclusion and possibility.
Seven Artists in Action
Meet seven Calgary artists and learn about their practices.
Andrea Lau
I am an interdisciplinary artist from Toronto and now call Calgary my home. My training at OCAD University provided a framework for my current growth, perspective and creation of artwork. With a focus on community-based arts, printmaking and papermaking, my projects find their way into homes, galleries, communities and schools. My artwork is informed and influenced by nature, process, research, memory and developing a narrative accessible to the viewer.
Christopher Gamble
Christopher Gamble is a dynamic and playful artist spreading creativity like confetti since the 1990s! With a flair for acting, teaching, mentoring and directing, he’s been on a thrilling artistic adventure that keeps everyone on their toes.
Calgary has been his vibrant playground for over a decade. He has worked with fantastic companies like Trickster, Inside Out and the Green Fools. He also produces his own work with NoBones Theatre and recently wrapped the premiere of The Suitcase Circus at the Edmonton Fringe Festival.
Not only does Christopher entertain, but he also delights in teaching clowning and physical theatre to budding artists, nurturing the next generation of clowns and creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere in Calgary’s artistic community. Be sure to watch for more workshops, intensives, and Clown Gyms in the coming year.
Christopher’s calling as a clown is to create art that tickles your inner child! He firmly believes in magic, community connections, and that life is a fabulous adventure worth embracing to the fullest.
Kelly Kaur
Kelly Kaur was awarded 2024’s Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award. Her poem, “A Singaporean’s Love Affair,” landed on the Moon in February 2024; her novel, Letters to Singapore, is next. Her poems travelled around North Dakota, and some were danced to by the Voices Dance Project, Ottawa. Kaur is a Special Projects Editor and Reader for the International Human Rights Art Movement, New York (IHRAM). She’s editing IHRAM’s upcoming magazine: Indigenous Voices of Canada: Heart, Hope and Land. Kaur’s children’s book, Howdy, I’m Singh Hari, will be out in 2025, and her poetry collection will be released by University of Calgary Press in 2026.
KTheChosen
Raised in Zimbabwe and currently based in Calgary, KTheChosen is your Friendly Neighbourhood Rapper who creates music that is both entertaining and enlightening. K (as he is affectionately known) believes in the power of storytelling and uses his voice to share the experiences of those around him. Since 2015, K has self-released several projects leading to him being named in the Calgary Herald’s Top 20 Compelling Calgarians for 2022 and nominated twice for the YYC Music Awards Rap Recording of the year (2022 and 2024).
Ezgi Turker & Mark Hopkins | Organizational Change Cohort
Ezgi Turker (she/her/o) is a Turkish dance and performance artist and arts administrator based in Mohkinsstsis/Calgary. With a background in Political Science (BA, MA) and contemporary dance, she has performed in works by established choreographers at festivals in Türkiye and beyond. Her artistic focus explores themes of memory, climate crisis, community and grief, using performance as a tool for impactful communication. As an arts administrator, Ezgi has worked with Swallow-a-Bicycle Theatre, WP Puppet Theatre and cSPACE, contributing to Calgary’s vibrant arts scene while amplifying diverse voices and fostering community connections.
Mark Hopkins (he/him) is the Co-Artistic Director of Swallow-a-Bicycle Theatre, which generates productive discomfort through art-making, and an Associate with Human Venture Leadership, which seeks to build our collective capacities to reduce ignorance, error, waste, suffering and injustice. Mark works as an audio describer with Inside Out Theatre’s Good Host Program, volunteers on the board of directors for Kawalease Arab Canadian Theatre, is an Ambassador of the Energy Futures Lab, and founded We Should Know Each Other, a community-bridging initiative.
The Organizational Change Cohort, consisting of Chromatic Theatre, Downstage, Inside Out Theatre and Swallow-a-Bicycle Theatre, was convened from 2022 – 24 to support each other in their journeys to operate as more just and equitable arts organizations. For more than a year, they gathered for conversations and resource- and knowledge-sharing. Their coach, Nikki Shaffeeullah, guided them through abolitionist approaches to dreaming together about a thriving, abundant arts sector that centres care, reciprocity and humanity. For more about abolition and the arts, visit nac-cna.ca/en/stagesoftransformation; for more about the OCC, visit issuu.com/swallowabicycle/docs/occ_zine_final.
Kait Hatch
Kait Hatch (any pronoun) is a multi-genre writer, mixed-medium artist and trained Buddhist Chaplain. All their creative work is informed by and infused with their dedicated to anti-racism, disability justice and collective liberation. They are committed to building and growing community and uplifting other queer and disabled artists and writers. Kait currently produces a collaborative community ‘zine called From the QILT2BAG+, is working on several Buddhist Thangka pieces, and has been working on a mixed-media embroidery series called Sacred Love/Sacred Lives since late 2022.
Misha Storkova
Misha Storkova is an emerging artist and craftsperson studying at the University of Calgary, currently based on Treaty 7 land but with strong cultural and personal ties to Eastern Europe. Misha’s primary mediums are fibre arts and printmaking, though anything employing a hands-on mixed media approach lies within their interest. The scope of Misha’s art practice focuses primarily on gender, matrilineal relationships, and generational trauma — whether that be in regard to biological and/or found family. Other themes explored in their work include lesbian and transgender history, Slavic motifs and legends, and the disabled experience. These works draw on folk art aesthetics, specifically those of Eastern Europe, as well as the oral histories built up throughout the history of textile work. They are inspired by the ‘folk’ mediums which were passed down through the women in their family.
Wunmi Idowu (host)
Born in Lagos, Nigeria and currently living in Mohkínsstsis, colonially known as Calgary, Wunmi Idowu is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist, filmmaker, art educator, consultant, facilitator, producer and the Founder and Director of Woezo Africa Music & Dance Theatre Inc. since 2006. She is also the Founder of the Black Arts & Culture Council (BACC). Driven by her belief that arts, culture and education are essential for growth, development and global impact, Wunmi pushes for increased visibility of ethnically and culturally diverse artists in Canada. Through dynamic, cutting-edge programs that capture the imagination of a range of audiences, her hope is to enhance the creative economy in Calgary, empower communities and perpetuate the movement for instilling social change. Wunmi’s accolades in the arts and culture sector include winning the 24th Annual Immigrants of Distinction Award and Avenue Calgary’s Top 40 Under 40.
Lunch Break
Box lunch provided.
Panel discussion with Public Art Residency: Art for Social Change cohort
A facilitated discussion with the Art for Social Change residency cohort reflecting upon what worked as intended and what didn’t, how intentions changed and what surprised the participants over the course of their residency. They will conclude by discussing how the residents are drawing upon their experiences with the art for social change residency to plan the next steps of their creative careers.
Incipio Modo
We strongly feel that the way in which we view and use public space should respond to a conscious attempt to live in balance with our natural environment, and each other — this is part of the collective responsibility that we as public artists face and will face in times to come.
Photo: RyanHK/RadCreative
Sikapinakii Low Horn
Blackfoot artist Sikapinakii Low Horn is a member of the Siksika First Nation, which is part of the Blackfoot Confederacy in Southern Alberta. Low Hown utilizes a variety of mediums to tell the stories of their people, in hopes of educating others about the history and culture of the Blackfoot. Currently, Low Horn has been focusing their practice on the history of Blackfoot Cowboys and the Dog Days.
Instagram: instagram.com/blackfootcowboy/
Email: Sikapinakii@gmail.com
Stephen Duncombe (host)
Stephen Duncombe is Professor of Media and Culture at New York University and author and editor of nine books and numerous articles on the intersection of culture and politics, including his latest Æffect: The Affect and Effect of Artistic Activism. A life-long activist, Duncombe is the co-founder and Research Director of the Center for Artistic Activism, a research and training organization that helps activists create more like artists and artists strategize more like activists.
Teresa Tam
Born and based in Calgary, my practice utilizes spaces and experiences that are familiar and then alters them into something a bit foreign through re-interpreting and re-creating. I specialize in digital platforms, functional installations, all things shaped in paper, and body-based exchanges and objects.
Photo: Danny Luong
tīná gúyáńí (deer road)
tīná gúyáńí (deer road) is an artist collective from guts’ists’i / mohkinstsis (Calgary) consisting of parent/child duo Glenna Cardinal (Tsuut’ina/Saddle Lake Cree) and seth cardinal dodginghorse (Tsuut’ina/Amskapi Piikani/Saddle Lake Cree). Their multidisciplinary practice honours their ancestral connection to land.
Photo: Cateri Dodginghorse
Tyson Bankert
Tyson or Coach T, is a troublemaking community-based artist and facilitator! Tyson practices the art of hosting, playing and imagination work as Founder of Recess Calgary for the past five years! Tyson’s personal slogan is to promote justice, edify others and befriend the lonely and is happy to have his values match his labour.
With the CADA residency, Tyson is curious about the question, ‘Whose imagination are we living in?’ Through a series of pla(y)cemaking events, Tyson convenes and supports participants to express themselves by delightfully disrupting public space though various artistic mediums.
recesscalgary.ca
Instagram: @recesscalgary
Photo: Chao Zhang
Yvonne Mullock
Employing textiles, sculpture, video, print and ceramics, Yvonne Mullock’s multidisciplinary work reimagines a world where functionality is pliable and materials are considered with renewed potential. At times uncanny or comedic, her artistic practice pokes at the traditions of making, utilizing unconventional tools and materials to create works that engage viewers through time-based performances and sculptural installations.
Yvonne has been awarded grants from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Canada Council for the Arts and Calgary Arts Development. Her work is included in the permanent collections of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, The Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre and the Glenbow. She is currently based in Mohkinsstsis/ Calgary, Alberta, Treaty 7 Territory.
Website: yvonnemullock.com
Instagram: instagram.com/yvonne_mullock/
Photo: Elyse Bouvier
Breakout Rooms: Five in-person experiences and one online experience
Sessions led by local artists exploring the question: what does Blue Sky City mean to you and how might Calgary live up to its potential as a true blue-sky city? The sessions are:
Little Landscapes; Exploring Traditional Materials with Wasakamapiwak
Led by Danielle Piper and Staci Duchene-Wolfe
BMO Room (lower level)
Join members of Wasakamapiwak Collective to create a miniature prairie scape using leather, beads, porcupine quills, fish scales, caribou hair and seashell.
An Artistic Blueprint for Blue Sky City
Led by Haniyyah Khan
Room 0-13 (lower level)
The Artistic Blueprint for a Blue Sky City workshop invites participants to imagine Calgary’s future as a city of innovation and inclusion. Explore the art of printmaking and create a unique stamp that represents your hopes for our Blue Sky City.
Blue Sky Beads
Led by Jessica Cheng
Room 0-14 (lower level)
Beadwork was the inspiration behind the visual identity of the city’s new civic brand “Blue Sky City.” Try your hand at creating your own beads by upcycling paper — turning “trash” into “treasure!” Create wearable art or decorative items from these beads. Be inspired by the possibilities of upcycling and overlooked materials. Consider what else you have at your disposal that has been overlooked including skills, knowledge and physical items that could potentially be repurposed or reused to the benefit of your lives, your practice and your community. Enjoy this fun, easy and relaxing papercraft while socializing with other participants!
From Controversy to Comedy: How to Make Difficult Moments into Moments That Make Us Laugh
Led by Melanee Murray-Hunt
Patricia A. Whelan Performance Hall Onstage
Tragedy + Time = Comedy
— Mark Twain, (allegedly)
“When I explained to a friend recently that the subject matter of most comedy is tragic (drunkenness, overweight, financial problems, accidents, etc.) he said, ‘Do you mean to tell me that the dreadful events of the day are a fit subject for humorous comment?’ The answer is ‘No, but they will be pretty soon.’”
—Steve Allen
Centered on writing for stage and film, this workshop will explore how comedy is a bridge to
understanding and grappling with difficult subjects. In light of world events, it’s important to remember the artist’s role as mediator between the harshness of reality and hope for better times and more resilient human connections. Participants will gain insight into how art can heal and transform through laughter by getting started on their own comedy scripts and solo comedy shows.
Building Blue Sky: A Creative Exploration of Access, Connection, and Expression
Led by Priscilla Cherry
Room 3-16 (third floor)
How might you share what ‘Blue Sky City’ means to you, to a person with different abilities than your own? Gather as we co-dream and co-create through five exploratory stations that will each encompass our unique definition of blue sky city. Including sound, sight, movement, language and rest, this is your invitation to paint, vocalize, and creatively express. Together we’ll shape and define the city we hope to build — one that is equitable, accessible, and reflective of all people, voices, and abilities. Only requirement: an open heart.
Online
Led by Stacey Perlin
This is the virtual edition of the Day 2 breakout session, focused on art-making and connection, while we explore the concept of Calgary being a blue sky city. How does that fit within your perspective? What might be necessary for us to make that more accessible to Calgarians? You’ll have a chance to create art, connect with fellow attendees and share about your work — so we can make the most of our time together.
Danielle Piper & Staci Duchele-Wolfe | Wasakamapiwak Collective
Danielle Piper is an interdisciplinary artist and a member of Cold Lake First Nations with nehiyaw, Métis, denesuline and european ancestry. Her practice is rooted in craftwork, as she understands the slow labour as an echo of that of reclaiming her ancestral languages and cultural identity, as well as the labour required of us all in seeking ‘reconciliation.’ She is also a board member of Sparrow Artspace, and originated Wasakamapiwak Collective in 2023.
Staci Duchene-Wolfe is Mohawk from Lake of 2 Mountains in Khanesatake, Ontario. When Staci started her business WolfDen Designz, she wanted to continue a way of life that her ancestors led for thousands of years. She learned hide tanning, beading and sewing from her grandmother. In her hands, a hide would become buttery soft and would be turned into wearable art for the harsh winters in Ontario. No part of the animal goes to waste, and she is proud to continue that tradition today.
Haniyyah Khan
Haniyyah Khan, a Pakistani-Canadian artist based in Calgary, Alberta, believes in the power of storytelling and community building as essential aspects of her creative practice. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Studies from the University of Calgary, she uses mixed-media techniques — including printmaking, textiles, drawing and collage — to explore themes of heritage and belonging, weaving together her South Asian identity and contemporary art.
Haniyyah regularly showcases her work in exhibitions and remains dedicated to making arts education accessible. Through her workshops, she nurtures creativity, cultural expression and celebrates diverse identities while inspiring future generations.
Jessica Cheng
I am a second generation Chinese Canadian born and raised in Calgary/Mohkinstsis. I am a visual creative and have practiced visual arts in some form or other for almost two decades. I hold a Bachelor of Design majoring in visual communications design. My disciplines include graphic design, illustration, papercraft and upcycling. My practice is a means of communication, education, exploration and a way to connect to the outside world and my heritage. It is ever-evolving as I explore the potential of what it could be. In whatever I’m doing, I hope I can contribute to making a positive impact.
Melanee Murray-Hunt
Melanee has directed and produced seven short films as well as wrote and starred in her award-winning solo show, The ‘Hoodwink, which received critical acclaim in Calgary and New York. She is currently completing her Masters Degree in Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia. At UBC, Melanee was a recent recipient of the prestigious SSHRC, (Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council) Award. Her film Race Anonymous has received awards for Best Drama, Best Comedic Actor and Best Produced Screenplay.
Priscilla Cherry
‘Unapologetic delight’ is Priscilla Cherry’s North Star. Born and raised in Mohkinstsis to Trinidadian-French Canadian roots, community care and co-creation are central to her social arts practice. She combines her experience as a broadcaster and peer support practitioner who regularly navigates mental health (or what she lovingly refers to as ‘neuro-spiciness’). Whether producing radio, facilitating workshops, or in-game hosting for the Calgary Surge, Priscilla works to normalize mental health conversations and bridge gaps in media and wellness through the arts, storytelling and play. She firmly believes in the transformative power of creative expression and sharing our personal narratives to foster collective understanding, liberation and, of course, unapologetic delight, together.
Stacey Perlin (online)
Stacey Perlin is the Chairperson of the Perlin Foundation for Wellbeing and Lead Facilitator for BlissFest Labs. These organizations promote mental health literacy and support healthy brain development. She guides a community of volunteers, artists and professionals through arts & culture projects she’s designed that support the local mental health ecosystem. She brings her lived experience as someone who’s regaining her authentic self after a long-term relationship with substance abuse, bankruptcy, homelessness, domestic violence, poverty and emotional/physical abuse.
Working towards healing every day, Ms. Perlin frames complex conversations with humour, compassion and research-backed observations.
Move back to theatre / break / snacks available
Closing & Next steps
End of Day
2024 Congress Planning Committee
Community Members:
Priscille Bukasa
Wunmi Idowu
Kelaena Maude
Sally Njoroge
Stacey Perlin
Robin Slater
Geraldine Ysselstein
Calgary Arts Development staff and contractors:
Angèle Bleackley
Sayonara Cunha
Cherie McMaster
Helen Moore-Parkhouse
Allan Rosales
Digital producer Savanna Harvey
Register here to attend IN PERSON December 4 and/or December 5 (daytime events, evening with Jesse Wente).
Register here to attend ONLINE December 4 and/or December 5 (daytime events, evening with Jesse Wente).
