Celebration for the Arts

An event celebrating arts and how artists tell our stories, connect us and make meaning in our lives

About Celebration for the Arts

The Celebration for the Arts is a collaboration between Calgary Arts Development and Mayor Jyoti Gondek that continues the annual tradition of bringing the business and arts sectors together to celebrate Calgary artists and arts organizations and recognize outstanding achievement. 

In consultation with business and cultural industry advisors, this event was developed as a new way of expanding the circle of Arts Champions in Calgary. The event celebrates the arts and how artists tell our stories, connect us and make meaning in our lives.

The 2024 Celebration for the Arts hosted by Mayor Gondek was on Friday, October 4, 2024.

2024 Celebration for the Arts hosted by Mayor Gondek

Thank you to everyone who attended the 2024 Celebration for the Arts hosted by Mayor Gondek on October 4, 2024 at the Jack Singer Concert Hall.

More than 700 people were in attendance for an evening featuring emcee Karla Marx and several local performers as part of an exciting lineup that included dancer Meg Ohsada; choirs from Bowness, North Trail, Joane Cardinal-Schubert and Lester B. Pearson High Schools; Woeza Africa Music and Dance Theatre; a fashion show collaboration with MakeFashion Collective and Native Diva Creations featuring designs by IndiCity, Georgina Metzler, Chelsea Klukas, Kathryn Blair, Sydney Pratt, Maria Orduz, Alexis Saulteaux and Melrene Saloy- EagleSpeaker; and a Women in Song Circle featuring Mariya Stokes, Tea Fannie and Zoe Theodorou.

Past Events

2023 Celebration for the Arts

More than 800 people were in attendance for an evening featuring Poet Laureate Wakefield Brewster as emcee and more than 200 local performers, hosted by Mayor Gondek on October 18, 2022 at the Jack Singer…Read more

2022 Celebration for the Arts

Close to 700 people joined Mayor Jyoti Gondek and Calgary’s arts and business leaders at the 2022 Celebration for the Arts hosted by Mayor Gondek on Friday, November 4, 2022 at the Jack Singer Concert…Read more

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Cultural Leaders Legacy Arts Awards

The Celebration for the Arts includes the announcement of the winners of the annual Cultural Leaders Legacy Arts Awards. These annual awards support artists, arts organizations, arts administrators and volunteers.

A legacy of Calgary’s year as a Cultural Capital of Canada, each Cultural Leaders Legacy Arts Award is funded by a contribution from a local philanthropist or organization with matching money from Calgary Arts Development.

Learn more about the awards