Calgary Arts Development and CalgaryCulture.com welcome Calgarians and visitors to Culture Month, an opportunity to celebrate and experience the diversity of talent within Calgary’s arts and creative industries scene. 

Culture Month is a new annual initiative to promote and celebrate the arts and creative industries in Calgary during the launch of the fall arts season each September. Starting off the month, Calgary plays host to WorldSkills 2009, which will draw international attention with a global skills, trades and technology competition. First Thursday takes place on September 3rd in the Cultural District, and the ArtCity Festival of Art, Architecture and Design will bring visual art to all Calgarians in a variety of urban settings from September 4th to 13th. Stylocity, a new downtown fashion event, will take place from September 8th to 12th. Alberta Arts Days celebrates art across the province from September 18th to 20th, and the Mayor's Evening for Business and the Arts will recognize the contributions of Calgary artists and patrons on September 21st. At the end of the month and leading into October, the Calgary International Film Festival will celebrate their 10th anniversary from September 25 – October 4. 

“Like many world-class cities, Calgary has a thriving arts community,” said Mayor Dave Bronconnier, who officially proclaimed September as Culture Month in Calgary at a press conference last week. “Culture Month gives us the opportunity to showcase why Calgary was once again named the most cultured city in 

Canada.” 

”We’re thrilled to be part of launching Culture Month as a way to celebrate Calgary’s thriving arts sector,” says Terry Rock, President & CEO of Calgary Arts Development. “Calgary’s arts scene is becoming known nationally and internationally as one to watch, and it’s time for us to start taking notice of this as a city. We hope Calgarians and visitors will see Culture Month as an opportunity to learn more about our city’s arts and cultural scene.” 

For more information on Culture Month, visit CalgaryCulture.com, your one-stop source for arts and culture listings in Calgary. Everyone is encouraged to sign up for the weekly Calgary Culture newsletter, which provides detailed information on upcoming arts events, festivals and cultural activities in Calgary.