Spaces
Calgary Herald: MRU Breaks Ground for Bella Concert Hall
- Posted by Mike Scullen on April 27th, 2011
Calgary’s newest performing arts hall is going to be a real Alberta beauty.
Mayor Naheed Nenshi was among the dignitaries on hand at Mount Royal University Tuesday for the sod-turning of the university’s new $73-million Bella Concert Hall and Conservatory.
The new venue, which the university anticipates will open in the fall of 2013, will provide the campus, and the entire city, with a state of the art performing arts venue and arts educational hub. read article
East Village Experience: Artists Pioneer in East Village
- Posted by Mike Scullen on April 27th, 2011
Developers may just be drawing up designs for new condos in East Village, but city artists have already turned an existing EV building, the former Seafood Market, into a living, breathing, hub of the emerging neighbourhood.
The Seafood Market Studios, a CMLC initiative in partnership with Calgary Arts Development Authority (CADA), opened its doors just last September. Today, the studios house 45 artists of all disciplines in all stages of their careers: there are playwrites and visual artists of every medium, emerging talents and well-established figures. It’s a microcosm of the East Village to come: varied, dense, friendly, creative...and very good at ping pong.
FFWD: Calgary’s neglected downtown block
- Posted by Mike Scullen on March 21st, 2011
The 100 block of Seventh Avenue S.W has an opportunity to transform into a space devoted to arts and culture.
It’s a one-block strip with a reputation for cultivating drug habits, criminal behaviour and discomfort for passersby.
But a local developer with a soft spot for restoring historic buildings thinks he can salvage the notorious 100 block of Seventh Avenue S.W. and its crumbling historic buildings by developing the area into a thriving arts and culture hot spot.
A New York Story About Artists' Value as Neighbours
- Posted by Karen Ball on June 22nd, 2010
I have really fond memories of my last trip to Williamsburg 10 years ago. The vibe was one that only a strong grass roots artist run culture can create. Unfortunately, New York, like many cities does not have a strong track record of preserving the artistic core of its neighbourhoods, think Soho and the Village. So I was prepared to experience a very different Williamsburg if I ever was to return.
This article in today's New York Times was heartening. It tells the story of one Williamsburg Landowner and his appreciation of the value that artists have brought to the nieghbourhood and the need to preserve artist space in order to preserve what it is that is making that small New York suburb so vibrant. 
Exciting News for Calgary's All Ages Music and Arts Scene!
- Posted by on March 18th, 2010
First of all, it's been a while since I posted a blog entry, I know - Shame on me!
But the good news is that we've been busy developing our art space program at Calgary Arts Development! We have been in the street seeking out art space opportunities and trying to match artists and arts organizations to these spaces. Identifying space opportunities involves keeping an ear to the ground, tapping into knowledge networks, and actively brokering relationships.
Anyway, enough about us; the purpose of this blog is to bring attention to the wonderful developments, stories and inspiration related to space development in Calgary, Canada and the world!
Congratulations to Comrad Sound and Local Library!
It is extremely exciting to see the development of these two new all ages spaces (or every-age space, as denoted in the attached Local Library invite). As a local musician I have been following the all-ages music scene in Calgary for some time - through peaks and troughs - and am very excited to see artists and musicians creating their own spaces. First the New Black Centre was established and then Comrad Sound and now Local Library!
The music is only one of the highlights of these two new multi-disciplinary spaces! Comrad Sound has hosted a music gear trade day, movie nights, and even a guitar set-up workshop! Local Library will have a visual art component to go along with the all ages music programming.
This is great news for a downtown Calgary that has seen the closure of spaces and the expulsion of all ages music programming from the premises. There was the Multicultural Centre (a mecca for the all ages music scene for a time) and the Carpenter’s Union Hall. One problem with sustaining space for the all ages music scene is that a few wreck it for all, which creates a stigma that is often unfairly attached to all ages shows and their patrons. Well Calgary can be proud of our new all ages space-makers who - young and not-so-young, have taken the initiative to open space where kids can partake in art, culture, community and creativity.
Visit Local Library this Saturday at 6 - 11 pm for their grand opening celebration!! (Local Library is housed at Central United Church at 131 7th Ave SW and is accessible by the alley entrance between 7th and 8th Ave.)
In case you missed it, here’s an article with the same theme from the FFWD a few weeks ago: click
Here’s the Comrad Sound calendar: www.comrad.ca
Also check out the New Black Centre: www.thenewblackcentre.com
