$1.2 million program to invest in Calgary’s remarkable cultural experiences over three years
MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release
November 6, 2014
Calgary Arts Development renews Remarkable Experience Accelerator program with Calgary Hotel Association
(Calgary AB) – Calgary Arts Development announced today at the Creative Calgary Congress that it will be renewing the Remarkable Experience Accelerator program in partnership with the Calgary Hotel Association. Starting in 2015 and running through 2017, the $1.2 million program will invest in remarkable cultural experiences that attract the attention of Calgarians and visitors alike. The goal is to enhance the emerging story of Calgary as a cultural hotbed and give people even more reasons to visit Calgary as leisure travellers.
This unique funding model will nurture relationships with applicants that demonstrate a proven track record, sufficient capacity and a readiness to accelerate the experiences of their audiences. The Remarkable Experience Accelerator provides successful applicants with a risk-capital partnership for their proposed initiatives and vision.
The first Remarkable Experience Accelerator program invested $775,000 in four organizations from 2012 to 2014 (Calgary International Film Festival, Calgary Opera, One Yellow Rabbit and Sled Island), and garnered the Calgary Hotel Association the Best Entrepreneurial Award in the 2013 Globe and Mail’s Business for the Arts Partnership Awards.
Besides increasing its budget, the renewed program will also expand its geographic range from a downtown focus to include all quadrants of the city.
“We saw tremendous successes in the inaugural Remarkable Experience Accelerator program, from Canada’s first professional outdoor summer opera festival to a 175% increase in hotel nights booked for the Calgary International Film Festival,” says Emiko Muraki, Calgary Arts Development’s Director, Impact & Engagement. “This program uses an innovative model that benefits the arts, the tourism industry, Calgarians and visitors to our city. We’re grateful for the Calgary Hotel Association’s vision for our city and investment in its cultural sector.”
“People are talking about the arts in Calgary, and that word-of-mouth is crucial to our city becoming a must-see destination,” says Richard Main, Chairman of the Calgary Hotel Association. “The Remarkable Experience Accelerator helps participants leverage that interest, allowing them to expand their respective visions and reach at low risk and to great effect. We are very happy to be continuing and expanding our collaboration with Calgary Arts Development at such an exciting time for Calgary.”
The program will be open to new and returning applicants. Program guidelines will be available in December at calgaryartsdevelopment.com.
About the Calgary Hotel Association
Comprising 59 hotel properties across the city, the Calgary Hotel Association is a voluntary association that serves its member properties and other tourism industry stakeholders by promoting the common economic, political, community and environmental interests of the membership.
calgaryhotelassociation.com
About Calgary Arts Development
As the city’s designated arts development authority, Calgary Arts Development supports and strengthens the arts to benefit all Calgarians. We invest and allocate municipal funding for the arts provided by The City of Calgary and leverage these funds to provide additional resources to the arts sector. Our programs support hundreds of arts organizations, individual artists, artist collectives and ad hoc groups in Calgary.
calgaryartsdevelopment.com
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Further Information
Cadence Mandybura
Communications Liaison, Calgary Arts Development
Phone: 403.264.5330 ext. 201 (office); 403.585.5390
Email: cadence.mandybura@calgaryartsdevelopment.com
