Living a Creative Life Congress

Fuelling a vital, prosperous and connected city

About Living a Creative Life Congress

Calgary Arts Development has hosted a variety of free community gatherings that explore themes like art for social change, community-driven art, reconciliation and community engagement. Watch this space for information on upcoming Congress events

Living a Creative Life Congress 2024

Our annual Living a Creative Life Congress was held on December 4 & 5, 2024.

The 2024 Living a Creative Life Congress focused once again on Art for Social Change and continued to probe the question: How might artists lead the way to a more equitable, inclusive and accessible city where everyone belongs?  This year we explored that question through the lens of our city’s new branding, Blue Sky City, as we looked at ways Calgary can live up to the promise and potential of truly being a blue-sky city.   

Participants were invited to 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 enjoyed some good food as well! An online option was available for those who couldn’t attend in person. 

The congress ran from 12:30pm on Wednesday, December 4, 2024 through to 5pm on Thursday, December 5. In addition to panel discussions and break-out sessions, we were excited to welcome award-winning writer and speaker Jesse Wente to inspire us on the evening of December 4.  

You can watch video recordings from the daytime sessions here.

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Past Events

Living a Creative Life Congress 2023

The 2023 Living a Creative Life Congress focuses on Art for Social Change as we explore the question: How might artists lead the way to a more equitable, inclusive and accessible city where everyone belongs? Read more

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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.