Rumors (Research to date)

This is what we’re hearing. What else can you tell us?This is some of what we understand so far.There is a demand for more space for:

  • theatre
    • - for community and professional companies (upwards of 25 companies that would use more space if it existed)
    • - with the following seat numbers: 60-80, 100, 150, 200, 800, 1000, 1200
  • music
    • - venues for presenting, studios for recording and production
  • contemporary dance
  • independent film festivals
  • an artist-run cinematheque
  • exhibitions for visual arts
  • artistic incubation
  • festivals, in general
  • artist-run centres
  • a major visual art museum
  • rehearsal space
  • studios for printmakers
  • studios for ceramicists
  • studios for glass blowers
  • studios for textile artists
  • access for youth in the arts
  • studios, in general
  • affordable living for artists
  • live / work studios
  • storage
  • offices for arts organizations
  • meetings
  • the public
  • intersections of diverse communities
  • temporary/spontaneous projects
  • education

Proposed or current development / expansion / revitalization projects (to name a few and in no particular order):

  • Urban Campus Partnership
  • Pumphouse Theatre
  • Epcor Centre 2010 project
  • International Avenue of Arts and Culture Centre
  • Olympic Plaza Cultural District
  • Eau Claire Market
  • Calgary Public Library
  • Bow Valley College
  • Encana
  • Glenbow Museum
  • Creative Kid’s Museum
  • Alberta College of Art & Design

Recent cultural space success stories in Calgary:

  • The GRAND Theatre
  • Vertigo
  • Art Central
  • Calgary Opera
  • Motel
  • Loose Moose Theatre

What are we missing?

Idea

[edu] 1. A major centre of arts research (academic and economic). 2. A large, public contemporary art museum/ gallery. 3. A lot more studios at cheaper rates and opportunities for artists-in-residence with different organizations.

Idea

Calgarians are having babies, who will need Youth Run Arts centres. No matter the genre YouthRun is the key.

Idea

A municipal Art Gallery that exhibits all kinds of art.

Idea

Whatever happened to IMCA?

Idea

More $$ support for existing venues so they can continue to be available to small companies.

Idea

[edu] Cultural Youth spaces for performing and rehearsing with resources for learning.

Idea

Subsidized studios or spaces for artists on AISH or with disabilities.

Idea

People downtown don't support/ value buskers. No standard for buskers.

Idea

Equal promotion of emerging artists, not an after thought.

Idea

Subsidized studio spaces for artists and a building donated for artist run centres.

Idea

[performance] Performance art.

Idea

[visual} Public visual art gallery.

Idea

Flexible use of space within civic public art gallery. Peer adjudicated arts council with sustainable dollars. Urban design/ green space, plan long-term (not driven by developers).

Idea

Youth? What about the Prime Years!

Idea

An affordable space like Art-Central for several artist-run studios of different disciplines will create interesting discourse and attract public interest, so it would be an automatic success.

Idea

[edu] All great universities have great art departments. What's happening at the U of C? Very disappointing.

Idea

I've heard about an upcoming Encana complex, would love to see some dedicated space for crafts.

Idea

All new developments (ie: new office towers) should have dedicated artistic space.

Idea

Artist-Run centres-- artist-run archive and resource centre.

Idea

Foster/ heal the artists community. Interactive membership.

Idea

[performance] Apparently Mount Royal College is looking into building a provincial performance venue. BUT priority will be given to school requests before they entertain requests from community groups. Rumour? Who knows?

Idea

[printmakers] Alberta Printmakers Society cannot find new space (or afford it) may have to shut down by August. It would be a shame to lose this organization.

Idea

[craft] Mecha Glass studios are asking for support for their collective which includes a public studio, residencies, courses/ teaching, and collaboration possibilities. 277-7375.

I have not found this to be

I have not found this to be true. People from all walks of life have expessed their support (verbally, financially...) to an extent that surprises me. I feel more valued in Calgary than I have in any other Canadian city. As for standards...standards work themselves out. Public spaces are for all of us to express ourselves in in a reasonable manner. Regulation almost inevitably creates a less welcoming environment for buskers. Rather than spending money on regulation or 'buskers festivals' (an oxymoron), spend it on maintaining a secure downtown environment where people feel free to wander and happen upon some spontaneous entertainment. 

Creative Commons License
This web site is licensed under a Creative Commons License, although certain works referenced herein may be separately licensed.