Second annual Mayor’s Lunch for Arts Champions celebrates arts scene
MEDIA ADVISORY
For immediate release
January 27, 2014
Lunch convenes leaders to discuss how Calgarians can strengthen the arts
(Calgary AB) – Building on the success of last year’s sold-out event, Calgary Arts Development and the Office of the Mayor are jointly presenting the second annual Mayor’s Lunch for Arts Champions on February 20, 2014. The event, sponsored by TELUS, will bring together Calgary’s arts champions to discuss how the arts contribute to the vitality of our city, and how every Calgarian can help foster a healthy arts scene.
The occasion will recognize this year’s recipients of the Cultural Leaders Legacy Artist Awards. A legacy of Calgary’s year as a Cultural Capital of Canada, these awards are $5000 cash prizes that support artists or arts organizations in the following categories:
▪ Calgary Catholic Immigration Society New Canadian Artist Award
▪ Doug & Lois Mitchell Outstanding Calgary Artist Award
▪ Enbridge Emerging Artist Award
▪ SANDSTONE City Builder Award
▪ William MacLachlan Community Beacon Award
▪ ATB Financial Healing Through the Arts Award
Each Legacy Award is funded by a $10,000 contribution from a local philanthropist or organization with equal matching money from Calgary 2012, and will be awarded annually for four years with winners determined by a jury of peers. This is the second year for all the awards except for the ATB Financial Healing Through the Arts Award, which will be presented for the first time at this year’s lunch.
The event will feature a keynote panel moderated by Dave Kelly that will explore the power of the arts to build a city from the perspective of a civic leader (Mayor Naheed Nenshi) a prominent theatre artist (Rebecca Northan) and the chief executive officer of one of Calgary’s most iconic institutions, the Calgary Stampede (Vern Kimball). Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet and speak with some of Calgary’s professional artists, who will be seated at each table to act as catalysts for discussion and action.
“A thriving arts industry is essential to attracting investment and human capital to our city,” says Mayor Naheed Nenshi. “Calgary is establishing itself as one of the most innovative and creative cities in the world, and the continued support of Calgarians is essential if we are to reach our full potential.”
“We know from the success of last year’s event that the city is full of arts champions,” says Patti Pon, President & CEO of Calgary Arts Development. “We hope that lunch attendees, and Calgarians throughout the city, can recognize and pursue the roles they play in strengthening the arts in Calgary.”
Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy a showcase of Calgary’s outstanding youth artists demonstrating their talents in a variety of artistic disciplines. Proceeds from the event will support local arts projects on crowdfunding website investyyc.com.
Mayor’s Lunch for Arts Champions
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Doors Open: 11:00am
Lunch and Program: 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Palomino Ballroom, BMO Centre, Stampede Park (1410 Olympic Way SE)
Tickets: $95 (single), $950 (table of nine)
About Calgary Arts Development
Calgary Arts Development plays a leadership role to promote, foster and direct investments that develop the capacity of Calgary’s arts sector to achieve public and artistic impact. As the city’s designated arts development authority, we are a central hub that learns about, promotes, connects, advocates for, and leads strategic initiatives in the arts to animate Calgary as a vibrant cultural centre. Calgary Arts Development allocates municipal funding for the arts provided by The City of Calgary through granting programs that support operations and innovation for more than 190 arts organizations in Calgary.
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Further Information:
Cadence Mandybura
Communications Liaison
Phone: 403.264.5330 ext. 201
Email: cadence.mandybura@calgaryartsdevelopment.com
