If you're trying to contact anyone on the CADA team by telephone in the short term, I expect you're experiencing frustration.  So are we!

At this point, we are in the midst of moving offices, and unfortunately, due to delays in the work required of our new space, we do not have telephone access.  In addition, our team is telecommuting from various locations around Calgary.

Your best for contacting us is via e-mail or, believe it or not, Twitter! (@calgaryartsdev, @TerryAtCADA, @EricaAtCADA).

The good news is, you'll LOVE the new space!

Terry (cell: 403-681-2909)

What is Calgary Arts Development doing now? You can find out now on Twitter. The team here has started dishing out tasty tidbits of information via this micro-blogging platform.  If you are not familiar with the service, here's an introduction:

Twitter in Plain English Video

Our Twitter is grabbing all of the content appearing on CalgaryArtsDevelopment.com so you can follow us there to stay informed.  New classified advertisements posted on our website will go out through Twitter as well so you too can tweet to the Calgary Arts Development followers.

@CalgaryArtsDev

The past two months at Calgary Arts Development have been among the most intense we’ve experienced in the 3+ years of our existence. So much to do, so little time, such big stakes. If you’ve been wondering where we are, or why we haven’t had much to say on our blogs, it’s because we’re moving so fast on so many things, that we really haven’t had the time. I’m happy to say that we’re nearly through this difficult period, and I have some news to report.  read more »

It's been a rush. Since today is my last day at Calgary Arts Development, I thought I would attempt writing a blog. I have to admit I've been sort of afraid of blogging (even though blogging dates back to 1983 and I still haven't tried it). How does one write about something in a way that is interesting to read; conversational, yet not silly? But, like Terry says when referring to accepting new technologies, “jump on the train”.  read more »

Keen observers of this website will have noticed an increase in blogging over the past week. In case you're thinking "maybe they're bored..." I thought I'd provide a little meta-post (blogging about blogging) to shed some light on what's up.

In a previous incarnation I was a business professor (cue dramatic music). I specialized in Strategic Management, Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Over the years I became generally fascinated with the ways humans organize to get things done. My studies took me all over the map, into anthropology, economics, psychology, sociology (social network theory mostly), and technology.  read more »

Today a new version of Ubuntu, the popular Linux distribution, was officially released. I've been using Ubuntu in both server and desktop environments at Calgary Arts Development for two years now and I can say from experience that the OS is robust, accessible, and just plain works (plus compiz-fusion is bling and how can you not like release names like 'Gutsy Gibbon').

As ICT Coordinator here I rely not only on Ubuntu, but on a whole host of open source projects. Yesterday I was handed a DV tape with the intention of publishing a video of our Art Spaces Investment Process Information Session. I'll trace the process with the open source software applied to the task:  read more »

It's been a wild 2007 at Calgary Arts Development. Among the many highlights, we've got a new baby, programs being renewed and launched, a completed thesis (fingers crossed!), a wedding coming up...

PHEW!! It's time for a break to get ready for the fall! And as I make my way into the wilds of Saskatchewan, I'd like to leave you with this... officially in the running for "CEO mantra of the year" in the office (an office thats as active as any deli counter in the city... check the link to decipher)!

(link and photo courtesy Merlin Mann at the excellent 43Folders website)

If you've visited our site before you've probably already noticed that things are a little different. Besides the new look, we've upgraded our web application framework to version 5.1 of the excellent Drupal CMS, reintroduced the Creative Calgarian Journals, and have set up a system for classified ads.

If you haven't already, please sign up for an account on our site and you'll be able to post journal entries and classified ads as well as define subscriptions that will deliver site content to your email.

Please take a look around, kick the tires, and tell us what you think.

For the few who did not come out to today's City Council Standing Policy Committee on Community & Protective Services (there were well over 60 people in attendance), I'm happy to report that our report was unanimously approved by committee. It now goes to the full City Council on April 16th.

We've known all along that space for the arts is a top concern of the community. We were pleased with the enthusiastic response to our research, but we were frankly floored to see 21 people speak in favour of the report today. Thanks to those who made it out, your support is tangible evidence that we're starting to make a difference.  read more »

After more than a year of research and hard work, we released a study on Cultural Space for the Arts this week.

Here are some links to media coverage from FFWD Weekly, the Calgary Sun and CBC Radio (you'll have to scroll down a bit). If you haven't had a chance to read the full report yet, it's available here. Stay tuned for more updates on this project!