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 2025 Celebration for the Arts hosted by Mayor Gondek took place on Thursday, April 24, 2025.

2025 Celebration for the Arts hosted by Mayor Gondek

Mayor Gyoti Gondek with Lisa Jabobs both playing bass guitar on stage with the Calgary Stampede Show Band in behind them at the Celebration for the Arts

Thank you to everyone who attended the 2025 Celebration for the Arts hosted by Mayor Gondek on April 24, 2025 at the Jack Singer Concert Hall in Calgary. More than 800 people were in attendance for an evening featuring 100-plus local performers and recognizing outstanding achievements in the arts. The onstage portion of the event was followed by an after party in the Jack Singer Lobby.

The evening included a video presentation of the 2025 Cultural Leaders Legacy Arts Awards. This year, 67 outstanding artists and organizations were nominated, representing just some of the artistry that vitalizes our city every day.

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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

More Information

Our Commitment to Equity

Our commitment to Indigenous reconciliation, racial equity, disability justice, and gender and sexual diversity.

We acknowledge that the land we gather on, Mohkinsstsis, is the ancestral territory of the Siksikaitsitapi — the Blackfoot people — comprising the Siksika, Kainai and Piikani Nations, as well as Treaty 7 signatories, the Tsuut’ina Nation and the Îyârhe Nakoda Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney First Nations. Today this land is home to the Otipemisiwak Métis Government Districts 5 and 6 as well as many First Nations and Inuit from across Turtle Island.

We acknowledge that there has been art, music, dance, storytelling and ceremony on this land since time immemorial and it is in the spirit of this land and its people that we do our work.

Please see our full Commitment to Equity, including the sections on our aspirations, accountability, current initiatives and EDIA history.