Calgary Arts Development is pleased to welcome a new staff member to the team! Lauren Simms, a recent graduate of the University of Calgary's Department of Fine Arts and a practicing visual artist, has joined Calgary Arts Development as our new Program and Office Assistant. Lauren will play an important role in helping us serve arts organizations and artists through our Community Investment programs. She will also support our internal operations through general office administration.

“Lauren is already actively involved in the community as an artist and audience member, and we know she will make a great contribution to our team and to the artists and arts organizations we serve,” said Terry Rock, President & CEO of Calgary Arts Development. “She's been in the office for only a few days and is already doing a great job.”  read more »

Calgary Arts Development has just posted granting deadlines from other major arts funding programs accessible to Calgary artists and art organizations. They are listed on our events calendar. (Upcoming events are posted on our home page as well.)

We can't guarantee the info will stay current, but we'll do our best to keep it up to date. Absolutely, check with the funding bodies themselves for any details about their programs. We're happy to post other deadlines, so please let us know if you have other suggestions.

Information about Calgary Arts Development's 2009 Community Investment Programs will be available in late September. We look forward to working with the community in this exciting new program.  read more »

Thank you to everyone who participated in the ArtsMart newsletter survey. We gained some valuable feedback and would like to share it with you! The results will be useful in planning ArtsMart into your marketing strategy this year. Click here to access the report.

If you're not using ArtsMart to promote your events, please use our online submission form to add your events and benefit from this free service owned and operated by the team at Calgary Arts Development. Your events may also be listed on the ArtsMart e-newsletter delivered weekly to over 6000 members' inboxes. ArtsMart is your guide to Calgary arts and entertainment events and a resource for our city's community of artists and presenters.  read more »

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.

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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.

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