Third annual Mayor’s Lunch for Arts Champions celebrates the arts champion in us all
MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release
February 4, 2015
2015 event will showcase youth artists and announce seven legacy artist award winners
(Calgary AB) – Calgary Arts Development and the Office of the Mayor invite Calgary’s business and arts communities to the third annual Mayor’s Lunch for Arts Champions on Thursday, February 19, 2015 in the Palomino Ballroom (BMO Centre, Stampede Park). Calgary Arts Development welcomes Strategic Group as the 2015 Champion Sponsor.
Featuring three champion speakers and remarks from Mayor Naheed Nenshi, this year’s event is hosted by Dave Kelly and focuses on the many ways that Calgarians of all backgrounds can and do champion the arts in their city. More than 60 Champion Table Hosts—people who contribute to the arts as a volunteers, donors, patrons, artists, arts administrators and educators—will facilitate conversations at each table. Before the lunch gets underway, attendees can experience music, dance, performing and multimedia art by Calgarians under age 21 as part of the Youth Arts Showcase, sponsored by TELUS.
The Champion Speakers’ Address, delivered in concise PechaKucha Night style, includes renowned science journalist Jay Ingram, Calgary Downtown Association’s Executive Director Maggie Schofield, and writer, director and stage performer Karen Hines. They will share their stories of how Calgary’s creative environment inspires and motivates them in just six minutes and forty seconds each, through twenty 20-second slides.
The occasion will also recognize this year’s recipients of the Cultural Leaders Legacy Artist Awards. A legacy of Calgary’s year as a Cultural Capital of Canada, these awards are $5,000 cash prizes that support artists or arts organizations in the following categories:
▪ ATB Financial Healing Through the Arts Award
▪ Calgary Catholic Immigration Society New Canadian Artist Award
▪ Colin Jackson and Arlene Strom Creative Placemaking Award
▪ Doug & Lois Mitchell Outstanding Calgary Artist Award
▪ Enbridge Emerging Artist Award
▪ MacLachlan Community Beacon Award
▪ SANDSTONE City Builder Award
Each Legacy Award is funded by a $10,000 contribution from a local philanthropist or organization with equal matching money from Calgary 2012, and is to be awarded annually for four years with winners determined by a jury of peers. The Colin Jackson and Arlene Strom Creative Placemaking Award will be presented for the first time at this year’s lunch.
“This event is our chance to recommit ourselves to being champions of a creative life for all Calgarians,” says Mayor Nenshi. “It is also an opportunity to remind ourselves how important the arts industry is to our city and its future.”
“Calgarians champion the arts in all sorts of large and small ways, and this year’s lunch is about recognizing and celebrating all that they do to enrich our city through the arts,” says Patti Pon, President & CEO of Calgary Arts Development. “We hope to inspire attendees to share their enthusiasm for the arts and expand their efforts in building a creative, connected Calgary.”
There will be photo and footage opportunities for media at the event. The Mayor will be available immediately after the lunch for media questions.
Mayor’s Lunch for Arts Champions
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Palomino Ballroom, BMO Centre, Stampede Park (20 Roundup Way SE)
Doors Open: 11:00am
Youth Arts Showcase: 11:00am – 12:00pm
Lunch and Program: 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Tickets: $95 (single), $855 (table of nine with the 10th seat reserved for a Champion Table Host)
Thank you to Champion Sponsor Strategic Group, Youth Arts Showcase Sponsor TELUS and VIP Table Sponsors Parkland Fuel Corporation and TD Bank Group.
More information is available in the Mayor’s Lunch Backgrounder or on MayorsLunch.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
