AWARENESS AND CONNECTION
Through our website; newsletter, including the popular Classifieds section and our Storytelling Project; social media platforms: Facebook, CADA X, yycwhatson X, Instagram, LinkedIn; online community directories; and events, we strive to be an information hub for the arts in Calgary.
Signature events in 2023 included our Report to Community at cSPACE King Edward on June 13; Celebration for the Arts hosted by Mayor Gondek at the Jack Singer Concert Hall on October 18, including the presentation of the Cultural Leaders Legacy Arts Awards; and the Living a Creative Life Congress: Art for Social Change at the Central Public Library on November 14 and 15.
The Report to Community was a community gathering on June 13 including a presentation of the year in review (2022) followed by a reception. The event was started with a blessing by Elder Saa’kokoto before President & CEO Patti Pon presented a summary of the previous year (2022). The presentation also included a recap of the 2022 Calgarian Engagement survey as well as an introduction to our 2023-2026 strategic framework.
The Celebration for the Arts hosted by Mayor Gondek took place at the Jack Singer Concert Hall in Arts Commons on October 18. Pre-show entertainment included an installation of the DOORS by Big Art, a participatory art project led by Paula Timm, and fanfares performed by Foothills Brass.
The onstage performance was hosted by Calgary Poet Laureate Wakefield Brewster and included performances by the Celebration House Band (Cédric Blary, Mark Limacher and Jason Valleau), Wild Mint Indigenous Dance with Welcome remarks by Blackfoot Elder Saa’kokoto, Madhuban Performing Arts, a Super Choir, Wakefield Brewster with Leah Kind, Reuben and the Dark with the Bullhorn Singers, the Heebee-jeebees with Mayor Gondek, and a grand finale featuring Klave Latin band (Jorge Chaviano, Raul Gomez Tabera, Orlando Retana, Tricia Edwards, Mario Ochoa and Stephen Williams) with dancers (Mara Esnard, Ingrid Díaz, Shae McLean and Dayana Valle).
Speakers included Patti Pon, Chima Nkemdirim, Simon Mallet, Sarah Garton Stanley and Mayor Gondek. The after-party featured DJ Goodword, Calgary’s Finest Dholis – Bhangra Drummers and Three Left Feet.
This is a much-anticipated event in Calgary’s arts community, a true celebration, with more than 700 people in attendance.
Recipients of the 2023 Cultural Leaders Legacy Arts Awards were announced at the event in video segments featuring interviews with award-winners and sponsors. Each Legacy Award winner received a $5,000 cash prize funded by a contribution from a local philanthropist or organization. Recipients are selected by a jury of peers.
In 2023, 65 outstanding artists and organizations were nominated, representing just some of the artistry that vitalizes our city every day. We thank all the nominees and congratulate this year’s recipients:
The ATB Powering Possibility Through the Arts Award recognizes and supports organizations that are committed to enriching Calgary through arts programming that powers possibilities for the local creative community. Award recipient Elephant Artist Relief Society (EAR) develops and presents programming that supports artists of all disciplines to help sustain their well-being and livelihood.
The Calgary Catholic Immigration Society New Canadian Artist Award was established to recognize that artists from all parts of the world enrich Calgary’s arts sector, to help artists pursue their artistic work and connect with the institutions and support networks that are available to all Calgary artists. Award recipient Sahar Hakimi is a visual artist whose work focuses on the human rights of minority groups, mental health and cognitive barriers, while providing meaningful experiences and services for people with disabilities, children and newcomers.
The Legacy of Doug and Lois Mitchell Outstanding Calgary Artist Award was established to honour artists who are lauded for their work in national and international arenas and choose to make Calgary their home. Award recipient Francis A. Willey is a multi-disciplinary artist and a pillar of the arts community in Calgary. Throughout his long and illustrious career, Francis has worked as a fine art photographer, poet, musician, visual artist, curator and mentor to emerging artists in Calgary.
The Mamdani Arts Leadership Award recognizes and rewards the integral role of board members who lend their expertise, talent and time to supporting the work of arts organizations and festivals that make Calgary a vibrant and creative city. Award recipient Tara Vahab is board chair at LOUD Art Society. Her leadership skills include steering LAS to attain CRA charity status, developing operational strategies, engaging volunteers, mentoring youth and advocating arts therapy.
The RBC Emerging Artist Award was established to recognize up-and-coming Calgary-based artists. Award recipient Cassie Suche is an exceptional talent who has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to Calgary through her experimental art practice and outstanding contributions to the city’s arts community.
The Rozsa Foundation Emerging Arts Manager Award is intended to honour an early career arts administrator who is doing noteworthy work, both within the organizations that they are working for, but also in the broader community. Award recipient Kadra Yusuf, Artistic Director at EMMEDIA, has made measurable impact on diversity and inclusion, created innovative programs and fostered productive collaborations, positioning herself and the organization for future success.
TD Bank Group is very proud to sponsor the Indigenous Artist Award and to recognize this year’s winner, Kristy North Peigan. This award was created to recognize the contributions of Indigenous artists, crafts peoples and knowledge keepers to Calgary. Kristy North Peigan is a member of the Piikani First Nation and a freelance artist and designer in Calgary. She is a graduate of the Alberta University of the Arts and uses Indigenous teachings and subject matter to portray a modern view of Indigenous voices.
We acknowledge and thank the benefactors whose generosity made these awards possible:
Learn more about the Cultural Leaders Legacy Arts Awards here.
2023 Living a Creative Life Congress: Art for Social Change took place at the Central Public Library on November 14 and 15. The event kicked off with keynote speaker Marc Bamuthi Joseph, VP of Social Impact at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Arts in Washington, D.C., presenting insights on art, community development and social impact. The keynote was followed by a panel moderated by Ken Lima-Coelho with Patti Pon, Karen Youngberg, Tamara Cardinal and Wunmi Idowu. The following day featured a showcase of artists working in the realm of art for social change hosted by Sally Njoroge with MelVeeX, Jarret Twoyoungmen, Stephanie Banszky, Tyson Bankert, Dean Bareham, Teresa Tam and Skye Louis; and a panel of community leaders hosted by Cesar Cala with Sharon Stevens, Jennifer Buchanan and Cheryl Foggo.
The afternoon included the following Learning Labs:
Inspiring Youth Voices through Storytelling and other Artforms
led by Karen Youngberg and Chantal Chagnon
Black Art is our Resistance
led by Wunmi Idowu and Priscille Bukasa
Reimagining the Identity of our City
led by Bethel Afework and Dennis Lee
Brave Spaces – increasing our capacity for uncomfortable feelings
led by JD Derbyshire
Building Confidence to Tell Our Stories
led by Gayathri Shukla
Online Learning Lab
led by Stacey Perlin
The congress was an important gathering that offered moments of inspiration, made visible the breadth and depth of the Art for Social Change practice in Calgary, provided a resource kit for participants, and offered opportunities for artists to meet others doing this work.
More about the 2023 congress can be found here.
In April 2022, Wakefield Brewster was appointed as Calgary’s sixth poet laureate, and Calgary’s first Black poet laureate. Though COVID-19 restrictions were present during the start of Brewster’s term, the lift in restrictions on June 14, 2022, allowed for an increase of in-person events. The precedent for digital events during COVID-19 restrictions, however, led Wakefield to have both a strong digital and physical presence during his term 2022–2024.
During his tenure, Wakefield made 50 media appearances ranging from CBC Live and CTV to the Calgary Herald and local podcasts. Though his media appearances presented a large stage, it’s his work on the small stage he’s most proud of, specifically as a community builder by encouraging diversity and inspiring future generations through the arts.
His prior work often spoke to his experience as a Black man, including work published in two anthologies featuring the work of Black writers: The Great Black North, Frontenac House, 2013; and The Black Prairie Archives: An Anthology, Wilfred Laurier University Press, 2019. As Poet Laureate, he continued to challenge preconceived notions and encourage diversity.
During his two-year term, he attended 25 BIPOC events (meetings, performances, presentation and rehearsals) with over 850 people. Notably, he also performed on May 10, 2023 for the City of Calgary’s New Anti-Racism Strategic Plan.
His mission to inspire future generations led him to perform for, educate and inspire over 9,500 students across 100+ visits to 25 schools. As well, he collaborated with the Calgary Catholic School District to host Black History Month PiPP (Professional Interactive Poetic Presentations) for over 6,000 students from 100+ schools. His dedication to mentoring youth continued with his legacy project, Private Poetry Session Series, in which students were selected from across all grades to prepare for their own public performance.
Over his two-year term, Wakefield wrote 30 new poems; eight in 2023 and 22 in 2024. In addition to his work as poet laureate, in 2023 he became the TD INCUBATOR Fellow for the 2023–2024 Season through which he mentored over 30 emerging artists from Calgary across various disciplines. His eagerly awaited full-length poetry manuscript, WakeWord, was released in April 2024 during National Poetry Month.
For further information on Wakefield Brewster visit wakefieldbrewster.com.
We thank Calgary Foundation and Calgary Public Library for their support of the Poet Laureate Program.