All in Arts Essentials

Virtual Experiences and Radical Imagination in the Arts: An Interview with Alex Sarian   

Virtual Experiences and Radical Imagination in the Arts: An Interview with Alex Sarian   

Celina Vides
Arts Essentials, Behind the Scenes

I recently had the pleasure of being a Zoom fly on the wall for my mother’s 50-year High School Class reunion. I was a powerful fly (or a Zoom host, whatever you want to call it) who had the ability to mute everyone in the room, provide in-chat tech support, and spotlight participants at random while staying unnoticed in the background. This virtual version of what should have been a real-life celebration with her classmates back home, turned out to be an emotional and unforgettable night for my mother. And I got to witness it all as the Zoom ghost that I have become in the past 8 months.

A Generosity of Spirit - The Rozsa Foundation celebrates 30 years of supporting the arts

A Generosity of Spirit - The Rozsa Foundation celebrates 30 years of supporting the arts

Tasha Komery
Inspiring Stories, Arts Essentials, Behind the Scenes

If you work in the arts sector, whether as an artist or an arts administrator, you are likely familiar with the crucial role the Rozsa Foundation plays in the Calgary and Alberta arts community. On the 30th anniversary of the Foundation, we sat down with Simon Mallett, Executive Director, and Mary Rozsa de Coquet, Board Chair, to reflect on the past three decades.

Save Our Music – Keeping Music Education Alive in Our Schools 

Save Our Music – Keeping Music Education Alive in Our Schools 

Alex Bonyun
Arts Essentials, Inspiring Stories, Artist Perspectives

In a couple of weeks students will return, for the first time in six months, to their classrooms across Alberta. Teachers are having to confront a very different, and often frightening reality of teaching in a completely new headspace, one that involves masks, frequent sanitation, and, for music teachers in particular, the elimination of high-risk activities such as singing.

New Beginnings in Times of Change

New Beginnings in Times of Change

Alex Sarian
Arts Essentials

None of us know what tomorrow will bring; but I promise you this: Arts Commons will continue to evolve as one of Canada’s most important arts centres and continue to bring the transformative nature of the arts to the lives of our fellow Calgarians. - A letter from our incoming President and CEO.

The Curtain Will Rise Again

The Curtain Will Rise Again

Tasha Komery
Arts Essentials

Arts Commons core purpose is to serve our community. With the spread of COVID-19, we did that by suspending our events and closing our doors to the public in order to ensure the health and safety of our community. But that was just the beginning…