Announcements

Stay informed with latest news from Calgary Arts Development

Commitment to Equity Virtual Town Halls

Calgary Arts Development is hosting a series of town halls to support and nurture diverse art and artist-led city building and to achieve a truly equitable, inclusive and accessible city where everyone belongs.

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You’re Invited: Report to Community

Join us at this free event for a report of our arts activities in 2022, followed by a reception and a chance to meet and mingle with our staff and others from the arts community.

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Meet the Artist: Chinatown Public Art

A new public art project is coming to Calgary’s Chinatown this summer and you’re invited to see the designs and meet the artist at events on May 27 and 28, 2023.

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Office Closure for Victoria Day

Our staff will be off and the office will be closed on Monday, May 22, 2023 for Victoria Day. We hope you enjoy a long weekend filled with theatre, film, dance, music and more. 

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Program Updates

Find out what's happening in our grant investment programs

Update: Grant Timeline Changes

Due to an increase in applications, Calgary Arts Development is adjusting the timeline for both the Project Grant Program – Individuals & Collectives and the Artist Development Microgrant for 2023.

Grant Investment Programs: 2022 Results

Calgary Arts Development is pleased to release the results of its 2022 grant investment programs. This includes a full breakdown of funding for each of the programs.

Project Grant Program Info Session and Q&As

Learn more about the application process for the 2023 Project Grant Program — Individuals and Collectives at an online info session, and/or one of two virtual ‘open office spaces.’

Applications Open: Indigenous Artist Microgrant

This program intended to support First Nations, Métis and Inuit artists living and working in the Treaty 7 region for activities and expenses related to the preservation of Indigenous culture and tradition.

Watch the Virtual Town Hall

Our virtual town hall on January 26, 2023 focused on our four-year Strategic Framework and our 2023 grant investment programs. Missed it? Watch on demand or read the transcript.

Apply Now: Operating Grant Program

The Operating Grant Program provides stable, predictable funding to arts organizations in Calgary. Applications are now open.

Grant Investment Programs: Announcement

Calgary Arts Development is pleased to announce its 2023 grant investment programs for arts organizations, individual artists and artist collectives.

Virtual Town Hall

Join us for a virtual town hall focused on our 2023 grant investment programs and our strategic directions for the next four years. Take part on January 26, 2023.

Future Focus Granting Program: February Intake

A third intake has been added to this program, intended to support arts organizations as they explore new directions, examine structural change and address life cycle questions.

Original Peoples Investment Program

Guidelines have now been published for the Original Peoples Investment Program. Applications for this program open on September 5, 2022.

Project Grant Program – Organizations

Applying to the Project Grant Program for Organizations? Calgary Arts Development is pleased to offer this online and on-demand information session.

Artist Development Microgrant

Applications to the Artist Development Microgrant are open. The program is intended to support professional and business development activities for individual artists and artist collectives.

Indigenous Artist Microgrant

Calgary Arts Development is pleased to release the guidelines for the Indigenous Artist Microgrant supporting the preservation, maintenance, and revival of Indigenous culture and tradition. Applications open April 19, 2022.

New Guidelines Released

Calgary Arts Development is pleased to release the full guidelines for this year’s Operating Grant Increase Program, the Organization Recovery Fund, and the Artist Development Microgrant.

Changes to Publication Dates

Calgary Arts Development is rescheduling the guideline publication dates for the Operating Grant Increase Program, Organization Recovery Fund, and the Indigenous Artist Microgrant.

New Online Grant Platform

Calgary Arts Development is rolling out a new online platform to accept applications to grant investment programs beginning in this month. The system will go live on February 28, 2022.

Watch the Virtual Town Hall

Hosted by Patti Pon and Melissa Tuplin on January 25, 2022, this virtual town hall focused on our 2022 granting programs. Missed it? Watch on demand or read the transcript.

Grant Investment Programs

Calgary Arts Development is pleased to release the results of its 2021 grant investment programs. A full breakdown of each of the programs can be found here.

Project Grant Program – Organizations

Calgary Arts Development is pleased to release the results of the 2021 Project Grant for Organizations. We were able to fund 47 applications.

Organization Structural Change Grant

In 2021, Calgary Arts Development piloted the Organization Structural Change Grant for organizations to explore and implement organizational changes.

Changemaker Grant

This grant invested in artists and organizations who are using their art to make change in their community. The grants funded both the artists as well as projects.

Cultural Activation Fund

The Cultural Activation Fund emerged from City Council’s November 2018 motion with the intent to connect to economic and tourism indicators and outcomes.

Indigenous Artist Microgrant

Calgary Arts Development is pleased to release the results of the 2021 Indigenous Artist Microgrant. We supported six projects with $48,450.

Honouring the Children Grant

Calgary Arts Development is pleased to release the results of the 2021 Honouring the Children Grant. This program supported four artists and organizations.

ArtShare Program

Serving equity-seeking communities, 49 artists and organizations were funded by Calgary Arts Development through its ArtShare Program in 2021.

Artist Development Microgrant

Intended to support professional and business development activities for individual artists and artist collectives, see the 2021 results.

Operating Grant Program

Operating Grant funds may be allocated to any budget area and are confirmed on a yearly basis upon the receipt of an interim report until the end of 2022.

Grant Investment Programs

Calgary Arts Development is pleased to announce its 2022 grant investment programs for arts organizations, individual artists, and artist collectives.

Virtual Town Hall

Join us for a virtual town hall focused on our 2022 grant investment programs and various other projects and collaborations. Take part on January 25, 2022.

Public Art Microgrant Programs

Applying to our public art microgrant programs? Calgary Arts Development is pleased to offer this on-demand information session. Tune in online and apply.

Public Art Microgrant Programs

Calgary Arts Development is pleased to announce the Community-Run Public Art Microgrant Program and the Artist-Initiated Public Art Microgrant Program.

Honouring the Children Grant

With the support of our Indigenous Advisory, Calgary Arts Development has named a $75,000 funding pool the Honouring the Children Grant. Applications are ongoing.

Project Grant Program – Organizations

Applying to the Project Grant Program for Organizations? Calgary Arts Development is pleased to offer this online and on-demand information session.

Project Grant Program – Organizations

Looking at applying Project Grant Program as an organization? Calgary Arts Development is pleased to offer an online information session. Register today.

Project Grant Program – Organizations

Applications are now open for the Project Grant Program for organizations. Be sure to submit via the online grant interface before 4:30pm MT on July 12, 2021.

Project Grant Program – Organizations

Calgary Arts Development is pleased to release the guidelines for the Project Grant Program for Organizations. Applications open June 1, 2021 for a July 12, 2021 deadline.

Call for Assessor Nominations

Calgary Arts Development seeks artists, arts workers, and community members to serve as peer assessors for our granting programs. Nominate yourself or someone else to take part.

Original Peoples Investment Program

Applying to the Original Peoples Investment Program? Calgary Arts Development is pleased to offer this online information session.

Original Peoples Investment Program

Applications are now open for the Original Peoples Investment Program. Submit via the online grant interface before April 19, 2021.

Original Peoples Investment Program

We are partnering with the Canada Council for the Arts to present information sessions about upcoming grant programs for Indigenous arts. 

Organization Structural Change Grant

Calgary Arts Development is pleased to release the full guidelines for the Organization Structural Change Grant. Applications are now open.

Original Peoples Investment Program

Calgary Arts Development is pleased to release the guidelines for the Original Peoples Investment Program. Applications open March 15, 2021.

Grant Investment Programs

Calgary Arts Development is pleased to release the results of its 2020 grant investment programs. A full breakdown of each of the programs can be found here.

Changemaker Grant

The 2020 Changemaker Grant invested in artists and organizations who are using their art to make change in their community. The grants funded both the artists as well as projects.

Cultural Activation Fund

The Cultural Activation Fund emerged from City Council’s November 2018 motion with the intent to connect to economic and tourism indicators and outcomes. Read the 2020 results.

Operating Grant Program

In 2020, Operating Grant organizations had the opportunity to apply for a increase to their yearly grant, which was determined through a hybrid formula and peer assessment process.

Recovery Fund

Supported by The City of Calgary’s Emergency Resiliency Fund, Calgary Arts Development’s Recovery Fund supported organizations to ensure long-term sustainability.

Resiliency Fund

Supported by The City of Calgary’s Emergency Resiliency Fund, our Resiliency Fund supported initiatives which contribute to the resiliency of the arts sector.

COVID-19 Short-Term Relief Funding

In 2020, Calgary Arts Development allocated $1.5 million towards providing immediate relief due to COVID-19 impacts.

ArtShare Program

Serving equity-seeking communities, 32 artists and organizations were funded by Calgary Arts Development through its ArtShare Program in 2020.

Rozsa Online Programming Grant

Calgary Arts Development partnered with the Rozsa Foundation to provide one-time online programming grants in 2020.

Artist Development Microgrant

Applying to the Artist Development Microgrant? Calgary Arts Development is pleased to offer this online and on demand information session.

Artist Development Microgrant

Applications are now open for the Artist Development Microgrant. Submit via the online grant interface before February 16, 2021.

Grant Investment Programs

Calgary Arts Development is pleased to announce its 2021 grant investment programs for arts organizations, individual artists, and artist collectives.

Resiliency Fund

Applications are now open for the second intake of the Resiliency Fund. Be sure to submit your application via the online grant interface before October 19, 2020.

Resiliency Fund

Applications are now open for the first intake of the Resiliency Fund. Be sure to submit your application via the online grant interface before September 14, 2020.

Recovery Fund

Applying to the Recovery Fund? The letter of intent and opt-in deadline is July 27, 2020. Be sure to review the guidelines for full details before submitting.

Recovery Fund

This fund provides organizations with up to $50,000 to develop and implement strategic recovery and resiliency plans that will help ensure your long-term sustainability.

Emergency Resiliency Funds

Calgary Arts Development has been granted $2,000,000 by The City of Calgary in one-time Emergency Resiliency Funds and will be invested through two programs.

Project Grant Program – Organizations

The Project Grant for Organizations will no longer be offered in 2020 and is replaced by the Resiliency Fund for non-profit arts organizations.

Operating Grant Increase

The Operating Grant Program provides stable, predictable funding to arts organizations in Calgary. Applications are now open for Operating Grant funding increases.

COVID-19 Short-Term Relief Funding

As the entire available pool has been distributed, we are unable to reopen applications for the COVID-19 Short-Term Artist Relief Fund.

COVID-19 Short-Term Relief Funding

As announced at Calgary Arts Development’s town hall, $1.15 million has been allocated toward providing immediate relief.

Grant Investment Programs

Calgary Arts Development is pleased to announce its 2020 grant investment programs for arts organizations, individual artists, and artist collectives. Learn more about the changes.

Original Peoples Investment Program

Calgary Arts Development is hosting a Community Circle and Information Session on February 8, 2020 from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Organizational Access Program

Calgary Arts Development is pleased to release the results of the 2019 Organizational Access Program.

Individual Artist Program

Supporting the artist’s overall practice and removing financial barriers, Calgary Arts Development is pleased to release the results of the 2019 Individual Artist Program.

OG+ Program

Providing one-time funding to organizations funded through the Operating Grant program, Calgary Arts Development is pleased to release the results of the 2019 OG+ sub-program.

Grant Investment Programs

Calgary Arts Development will be announcing its 2020 grant investment programs for arts organizations, individual artists, and artist collectives on January 7, 2020.

Individual Artist Program

Interested in applying to the Individual Artist Program? Calgary Arts Development is offering two information sessions this July. RSVP to learn more about the guidelines and process.

Operating Grant Program

In consultation with the organizations in the Operating Grant Program, Calgary Arts Development has decided to move the deadline for the OG+ Program to June 28, 2019.

City-Builder Program

The Calgary Arts Development board of directors approved combining the funding for the City-Builder Program into the OG+ Program for 2019. This change does not alter the amount available.

Organizational Access Program

Get an overview of the full Organizational Access Program guidelines and learn how to best tell your story through the application process.

Grant Investment Programs

As a public agency stewarding public dollars to the benefit of all Calgarians, Calgary Arts Development is pleased to announce 2019’s Grant Investment Programs.

Original Peoples Investment Program

Our free day-long workshop for the Original Peoples Investment Program takes place on January 19, 2019 at SAIT’s Chinook Lodge.

Publications

Useful information and research

Cover of 2022 Calgary Engagement Survey

2022 Calgary Engagement Survey

Despite a global pandemic and rising inflation pressures, the 2022 Calgary Engagement Survey shows Calgarians continue to explore and find ways to connect with the arts.

An image of the cover of the Accountability + Impact Report 2021

Accountability + Impact Report 2021

We are the city’s designated arts development authority, created to support and strengthen the arts to benefit all Calgarians. Read on to see what 2021 asked of us.

A graphic for the Organization Structural Change Grant Opportunity Creation Process Narrative

Organization Structural Change Grant

In 2021, Calgary Arts Development engaged Brian Loevner of BLVE Consults to undertake an evaluation and live case study of the Organization Structural Change Grant. 

The cover of the 2020 Calgary Arts Development Arts Professionals Survey

Arts Professionals Survey

In the fall of 2020, Calgary Arts Development undertook a survey of arts professionals to better understand their status in Calgary. Download the full report to learn more.

Fieldnotes

Observations, thoughts, and tips from Calgary Arts Development's staff and board

Coming out on the other side of a pandemic

Research & Policy Specialist Stephanie Solomon polled our Operating Grant clients in 2022 to shed some light on what challenges the community is facing coming out of the pandemic.

Covid-19 2022 update

In mid-2022 we did a check in with our operating grant clients about the impact of COVID-19 — research manager Greg Burbidge noted some interesting results compared to 2020.

Getting technical about art

Our Digital Specialist, Angèle Bleackley, reflects on the ways art and technology can work together to reach new audiences and create new experiences.

So here are some stats… now what?

Since 2018, Chromatic Theatre has been collecting statistics on racial diversity in Calgary theatre. Although the numbers have improved, increased diversity isn’t always welcomed or celebrated.

Tips to improve your smartphone event photos

Communications Specialist Aaron Chatha shares his tips and tricks on how to take the best photos at events with just a mobile phone. See what he has to say in this fieldnote.

Staying on Track from Home

After working from home for the past two years, our grant coordinator Van Chu has discovered a valuable organizational tool for project management. Read all about it in this fieldnote.

A New Role

In her new role as director, community investment and impact, Melissa Tuplin shares her transformative vision for the community investment programs. Read all about it in this fieldnote.