You'll find Calgary's music venues and festival spaces jam-packed with regional, Canadian and international artists delivering fresh sounds all summer long.

There are great festivals happening in Calgary every weekend throughout July and August - be part of it! If you haven't already planned your summer festival itinerary, visit MusicLivesHere.ca or download the handy pocket guide below to browse through a full listing of Calgary festivals and enter to win one of three great festival prize packages.

The Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) has expanded a number of its grant programs and added a new Aboriginal program using the additional funding received through Alberta’s cultural policy - The Spirit of Alberta.

The following grant programs are helping to achieve the policy’s goals and strategies:

Community Presenting Project Grant - deadline July 15

To provide increased access and opportunities for Albertans to experience culture, the Community Presenting Project Grant assists Alberta presenters that feature artists in the community. The grant now offers additional support to present Alberta or Western Canadian artists as well as has an added focus on dance and theatre. This program received an additional $250,000, raising its total budget to $1,800,000.  read more »

Calgary Arts Development seeks a dynamic and efficient Program and Office Assistant. This full-time position is ideal for an early-career go-getter with an awesome attitude, great customer-service skills and an interest in learning about and serving Calgary’s growing and diverse scene.  read more »

Please note that the Calgary Arts Development office is closed on Fridays during the months of July and August. If you require immediate assistance on these days, please contact us as follows:

Community Investment - Karen Ball - 403.470.8114
Media/Communications - Erica Mattson - 403.978.2787
General - Suzanne Boss - 403.701.7783 or Terry Rock - 403.681.2909

Calgary Arts Development is pleased to invite members of the arts community to the Stampede breakfast being hosted by Calgary Economic Development and Tourism Calgary on Thursday, July 3, 2008. This will be a block party-style event and a celebration of the re-opening of Sixth Avenue S.W. for the 2008 Calgary Stampede parade.

EVENT DETAILS

The event will run from 7am to 10am on Thursday, July 3, 2008 with traditional Stampede-time festivities like pancakes, square-dancing and a chance to break out your western attire. Entertainment will be provided by Matt Masters and the Gentlemen of the Rodeo. The location for the party is 6th Avenue, between Centre and 1st Street SE, near the site for the new Bow building. No RSVP required - this is a public event, so please feel free to bring guests and spread the word.

PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITY

If you have events happening over the summer, please drop off brochures (approximately 50 to 100) and posters (3 or 4) at the Calgary Arts Development office (6th floor, Calgary Public Building, 205 8th Avenue SE) for distribution and display at the Calgary Economic Development / Tourism Calgary Stampede Breakfast. An estimated 3,000 to 5,000 people are expected to attend this event, including members of the corporate community, tourism industry, City Council and the general public.

   read more »

The search is underway for an 11-member council that will help guide the implementation of The Spirit of Alberta - Alberta's Cultural Policy.

"Involving Albertans and working with communities on an on-going basis will help set The Spirit of Alberta up for success," said Ed Stelmach, Premier. "We are seeking out Albertans who have their fingers on the pulse of the cultural community and can as act as liaisons between government and Alberta's cultural stakeholders."

The Premier's Council on Arts and Culture, which will fall under the ministry of Culture and Community Spirit, will be tasked with:

• Acting as provincial champions for culture and helping to build a greater awareness and appreciation of its social and economic benefits,
• Providing advice on cultural initiatives designed to address the policy's four goals: Access, Capacity, Excellence and Cultural Industries; and
• Facilitating and enhancing partnerships that strengthen Alberta's cultural community and preserve our cultural legacy.

.  read more »

The sun is finally shining! Time to start planning your summer festival schedule. Check out the special summer festival edition of ArtsMart, our weekly e-newsletter for arts events. With everything from major music festivals, free events and early bird specials, you'll find everything you need to enjoy Calgary's summer of festival fun!

Not an ArtsMart member yet? Click here to subscribe to our free weekly e-newsletter and start receiving news and event updates direct to your inbox every Wednesday.

The Calgary Foundation invites informed, interested and involved Calgarians to be citizen graders for the 2008 Vital Signs Report. To register simply complete the online registration form at www.calgaryvitalsigns.ca.

Calgary’s Vital Signs was launched in 2007 by The Calgary Foundation as a catalyst for community awareness, dialogue and action. Part of this initiative is an annual report card that looks at important indicators and provides Calgarians with the opportunity to have their say by “grading” Calgary’s quality of life. Last year 600 citizen graders participated.  read more »

Travel Alberta is producing a Winter Events Guide available to Alberta residents. Distribution is through the Travel Alberta website, the 1-800-ALBERTA call centre and Visitor Information Centres, and Alberta’s daily newspapers. The events listings are free. But, you must enter your event into the Tourism Information System (TIS) by Monday, July 21, 2008 to be considered for the printed guide. The guide will include Alberta events taking place November 1, 2008 to April 30, 2009.

Visit the Travel Alberta website for more information on how to submit your event details for this publication.

This video, recorded on May 28, 2008, provides information on our renewed granting programs for 2009 and the strategy that will guide our investment activities through the three year period running from 2009 through 2011.Much of the information in the presentation can also be found in the brochure available for download below.

MP3 audio: listen on your mobile device.
PowerPoint Presentation