This August is bursting with arts and culture events in the city. Whether you're a seasoned festival-goer or a curious explorer seeking unique experiences, Calgary has something for everyone.
Art Party Ignites Creative Spark
Arts Commons was bursting with creativity on July 4th at the final Art Party of the season. The evening pulsed with creative energy, welcoming guests to engage with a mix of artistic mediums and stories.
Taking Time to Breathe: The Art of Rest for Artists
I’m Priscille Bukasa, a spoken word artist, teaching artist, and arts facilitator at Arts Commons. I’m also a full-time professional artist, and I’ve been reflecting a lot on the importance of rest lately. So, I wanted to share with you about how I’ve learned to be intentional about making time to rest and recoup over the past year.
What Do a Former Figure Skater, an Aspiring Astronaut and a Bioengineer Have in Common?
The answer is National Geographic Explorer Kakani Katija. The intrepid intellect spent her youth doing triple axels and dreaming of journeying to the stars, an unlikely start for the now principal engineer at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. Kakani Katija earned her master’s degree in aeronautics at the California Institute of Technology with her goal firmly set on exploring space. She quickly became enamoured with the scientific applications of fluid dynamics but it wasn’t until she had the opportunity to collaborate on a research project studying the fluid dynamics of jellyfish that she found her true calling.
Plaza for All Rocks Olympic Plaza this August with Emerson Drive and Kyle McKearney!
Arts Commons has established a tradition of giving summer a final send-off with a free concert of epic proportions. It was seems only fitting, that in this last summer before Olympic Plaza has it’s dramatic makeover, that we bring Alberta-born Emerson Drive on their farewell tour to rock the night away. Arts Commons invites you to join us on Olympic Plaza for an all ages event celebrating the best of Albertan country music that you won’t want to miss.
Largest Philanthropic Gift to the Performing Arts in Canadian History Announced!
Last Wednesday, Arts Commons was thrilled to welcome the Calgary community to celebrate in a landmark announcement with the largest known philanthropic gift to the performing arts sector in Canadian history. With immense gratitude for this historic donation, Arts Commons will invest the $75 million gift towards construction costs, create the Dave Werklund Education Wing, as well as establish four funds to support the sustainability of the following institutional priorities: education, accessibility, operations, and an ongoing endowment to rename Arts Commons as Werklund Centre in perpetuity, starting in the 2025-26 season.
Art Making, Culture & Kinship = Primary Prevention
Ten years ago, I was asked if I would fundraise in the arts sector and my immediate response was "No!" Having spent more than a decade fundraising for social service agencies tackling addictions, domestic violence, homelessness, and poverty, I couldn’t see the urgency in fundraising for the arts. I was wrong.
Five Ways to Experience the Arts Downtown this July
It’s finally here! The warmth, the flowers and green, the sun (and rain, we love you too!) There are so many great ways to experience the arts this summer, inside and out! Check out these five and you won’t be disappointed.