If you haven’t clued into Calgary’s vibrant arts and creative industries scene, now’s your chance.
In September, Calgary will experience its first-ever Culture Month - an initiative to celebrate the arts in Calgary and encourage everyone to take advantage of the city's extensive offering of arts events.
September is one of the best months of the year to experience the arts in Calgary. Hot on the heels of Calgary's busy summer festivals season, the month is packed with new plays, gallery openings, concerts and other events that call attention to Calgary's exciting year-round arts scene.
Starting off the month, Calgary plays host to the World Skills Competition, which will draw international attention with a global skills, trades and technology competition. The ArtCity Festival of Art, Architecture and Design will bring visual art to all Calgarians in a variety of urban settings from September 4th to 13th. Alberta Arts Days celebrates art across the province from September 18th to 20th, and the Mayor's Awards for Business and the Arts will recognize the contributions of Calgary artists and patrons on September 21st. At the end of the month and leading into October, the Calgary International Film Festival will celebrate their 10th anniversary. While these are all exciting happenings, September isn't the only time you'll find them in Calgary. Calgary offers a diverse selection of arts events throughout the year, every year - and it's only getting better.
Just ask the rest of the world. Recently, a number of local artists and groups have received a lot of outside attention. Alberta Ballet recently announced it will produce a new work based on the music of Elton John, choreographed by Alberta Ballet artistic director Jean Grand-Maître, who is also responsible for choregraphing the opening ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Elton John approached the ballet about the project last September after seeing a production of The Fiddle and the Drum, a collaboration with Canadian music icon Joni Mitchell that made its debut in January 2007 and toured internationally. The Calgary International Film Festival launched Mavericks, their new competition for emerging first and second-time feature-length filmmakers with a $25,000 prize - the largest international feature film prize in Canada. The Cantos Music Foundation is in the midst of a major rejuvenation project that will establish a national music centre in the historic King Eddy blues bar. Local musicians like Chad VanGaalen and Women have scored record deals across the border. Bee Kingdom, a collective made up of three young Calgary artists (graduates of the Alberta College of Art + Design) are making waves in Europe and the U.S. with exhibitions of blown-glass work created in the hot-glass studio in their backyard garage in northwest Calgary. There are many more success stories like these ones - all go to show that Calgarians have a great deal to be proud of when it comes to this city's artistic achievements.
Calgary's arts scene has arrived, and it's yours to explore. Looking for ways to get involved? Check out our top picks for September events.
WorldSkills Competition
Sept 1-7
Over 900 competitors will compete simultaneously in 45 skill categories during four days of intense competition at Stampede Park in Calgary. Hailed as the pinnacle of global skills, trades and technology competition, this biennial event promotes excellence and international competency industry standards.
First Thursdays in the Cultural District
Sept 3
Theatre, art openings, food and drink specials, free talks, tours and more, all in the Cultural District on September 3rd! With so much to do from 9am – 2am, why not make a day (or night) of it?
ArtCity Festival of Art, Architecture & Design
Sept 4-13
The ArtCity Festival is Calgary's annual celebration of visual art, architecture and design. For 10 days each year, new artworks, installations and projects are temporarily inserted into the urban landscape for discovery and engagement by all people.
A Taste of the CPO
Sept 9
Join the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra as they kick off their exciting 2009/2010 Season! Enjoy a musical sampling of the upcoming year from the Classical giants to the rockin’ POPS. Admission is FREE – donations in support of the CPO's Community and Education Programs are welcome and will be accepted at the concert.
Calgary Pecha Kucha Night
Sept 14
Calgary joins international centres around the world in bringing together our first ever PechaKucha Night. The format is simple: 20 speakers present 20 slides for 20 seconds each slide. Calgary Arts Development's first PechaKucha Night will present a dynamic list of cultural space creators together that will include Artscape Toronto's President and CEO Tim Jones and Toronto Brickworks chief architect Joe Lobko, Partner with du Toit Allsopp Hillier I du Toit Architects Limited.
Rozsa Arts Management Awards
Sept 16
As Albertans prepare to celebrate Alberta Arts Days September 18-20, the Rozsa Foundation will lead the way by bringing arts management professionals "from back stage to centre stage" with the Rozsa Awards Celebration in Calgary on September 16th. Designed to acknowledge innovative business practices in arts management and to increase the profile for the arts management profession, the Rozsa Awards are Canada's pre-eminent business awards for the arts sector.
Alberta Arts Days
Sept 18-20
An opportunity to celebrate our community spirit and the accomplishments of Alberta's many talented artists, the goal of Alberta Arts Days is to showcase Alberta artists of all types, and to encourage others to discover and experience the arts. As Alberta Arts Days continues to grow and develop, its purpose to recognize the importance of arts and culture in the lives of Albertans and to showcase and celebrate Alberta's wealth of talent and creativity will remain the same.
Mayor’s Evening for Business and the Arts
Sept 21
The Mayor's Awards for Business and the Arts is an annual event to recognize and promote the arts, artists and partnerships that are forged with businesses and patrons of the arts in Calgary.
Calgary International Film Festival
Sept 25-Oct 4
Celebrating their 10th anniversary, CIFF is one of the largest festivals in Canada with feature films, documentaries and short films of all genres.
