2024 Equity Town Halls: Live Action Heroes
Mark your calendars now for the 2024 Equity Town Hall series focusing on the theme Live Action Heroes. Join us in conversation with EDIA heroes who are doing the do — local artist/activists imagining and activating change.
This online series starts in August 2024. The six sessions are free and open to everyone and ASL interpretation will be available.
Registration is required for each individual session you plan to attend.
Session 1
We care. Artistic Community care plans for self and others.
Date: August 26, 2024
Time: Noon – 2pm
Watch the video and read the transcript of this session here.
Art renderings and responses in and before crisis as part of a wellness plan. Disability justice activists share care plans and crisis plans and invite all to create artifacts of care for themselves. Featuring heroes of self and community care with members of Just Culture, Inside Out’s Disability Justice working group.
Session 2
ART RIGHTS. Artists Reverberate Trans Rights.
Date: September 16, 2024
Time: Noon – 2pm
Watch the video and read the transcript of this session here.
Artists working to reverberate why trans rights are human rights that we all need to be fighting for. Changing minds and perspectives through art. Discussion between trans gendered art makers JD Derbyshire and Sable Sweetgrass, and Sable’s new play and their artist/activist initiative ART Rights.
Session 3
Imagining the Unimaginable. Equity for newcomers and immigrants in the arts sector.
Date: October 28, 2024
Time: Noon – 2pm
Watch the video and read the transcript of this session here.
In conversation with artist/activist Toyin Oladele. Founder and Innovator of the Immigrant Council for Arts Innovation (ICAI), Toyin talks about her upbringing and how it brought her to successes, failures and current grappling as she tries to make the art world in Calgary and beyond a more equitable place. Opening share, followed by community discussions.
Session 4
Artists as Changemakers.
Date: November 25, 2024
Time: Noon – 2pm
Watch the video and read the transcript of this session here.
In discussion about making change through art while embedded in the community. What’s working, what isn’t, current grappling with trying to make the world a more equitable place.
Session 5
Live from Congress.
Date: December 4 & 5, 2024
Location: Central Public Library and online
UPDATE: We will not be presenting an Equity Town Hall live from Congress. Instead, our 2024 Living a Creative Live Congress offers several panel discussions and breakout sessions on topics such as Art for Social Change and Disability Justice, as well as an evening with special guest speaker Jesse Wente.
Learn more about Congress and register to attend all or some of the sessions in-person or online here.
Session 6
Climate Change Art
Date: January 27, 2025
Time: Noon – 2pm
Location: Online via Zoom — register here.
Local heroes working to make art practices more sustainable. More details to come closer to the date.
What is this moment asking of us?
To support and nurture diverse art and artist-led city building to foster not only a resilient and sustainable arts ecosystem, but also to achieve a truly equitable, inclusive and accessible city where everyone belongs.
Calgary Arts Development is committed to bettering our systems regarding equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility (EDIA). As a public agency stewarding public dollars for the benefit of all Calgarians, we aspire to foster a resilient and sustainable arts sector that is safe and welcoming for all, regardless of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, language, citizenship, creed, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, physical or mental abilities.
