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?
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.
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.
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)
When: December 4 & 5, 2024
Location: Central Public Library (online option available)
Cost: Free but registration is required
ASL interpretation is provided
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)
Agenda
December 4, 2024
December 5, 2024
December 4, 2024
Doors Open & Check-In
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.
Bio Break / Snacks available
Breakout Sessions
5 in-person breakout rooms and one online breakout room each discussing: What are the possibilities and barriers to Art for Social Change?
Dinner Break
We will provide boxed dinners for those staying for evening event
Doors open 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
Refreshments & snacks available
Panel discussion
Topic TBA
Lunch Break
Box lunch provided
Breakout Rooms
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? Artist facilitators to be announced at a later date.
Move back to theatre / break / snacks available
Closing & Next steps
End of Day
Check back for more details closer to the date
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
