Culturally Promiscuous • Artistically Agnostic • Socially Curious • Curiously Social • Leading
@YYCarts
• Canadian with stints in New York City & Buenos Aires
Booing an elected official is the ugliest version of Calgary I have encountered since moving here. I thought we were better than this. There are better ways to engage in democracy than by being petty and ugly towards people whose job it is to fight for our city. Shame on us.
Vote for candidates who believe in public funding for the arts because they are a vehicle for: celebrating cultural identities, building healthy communities, contributing to our economy, attracting/retaining talent & making our cities better. Our ROI/SROI is real.
Let’s be clear: businesses who choose not ask for proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 tests are not doing it because they are (all of a sudden) embracing “diversity, equity & inclusion.”
I have fallen in love with Calgary. For my birthday I want desperately for Calgarians to pick a mayor & council that have a clear, ambitious vision for our future & the courage—smilingly, non-apologetically—to say ‘no’ to things because our city has a bigger ‘yes’ burning inside.
I am so damn proud to live in a city that—despite the petty, yet dangerous, hatred of the loud few—finds time to celebrate queer artists & the queer community that makes Calgary such a loving & wonderful place to live, work, & create. Thank you
@chinookblast
& all the
This is disgusting. I am disgusted. All Calgarians should be disgusted. If you’re not, then you’re part of the problem. This hate speech cannot be tolerated and those responsible should be held to account.
Today
@cityofcalgary
sent a powerful message to the world: investing in the arts is an investment in a city’s vibrancy & future. Honoured that the Arts Commons expansion is part of Calgary’s vision for a prosperous future.
As we reflect on 2022, I remain grateful that we moved to a city that
@TheEconomist
’s Intelligence Unit has praised as the
#1
place to live in North America. We’re not perfect & we have a lot of work to do, but—boy oh boy—do I love Calgary!
It’s a big year for political elections in Alberta & Canada. I hope we’re all taking a long hard look at what is happening across the US & see it as a cautionary tale of what is bound to happen when we vote for people who don’t lead with love, compassion & kindness for all.
This is the version of Calgary I love the best: the one that loves fiercely, loves all, & loves unapologetically. I’m so proud to be a part of a community that stands up to hate.
#CalgaryPride
It's not every day that we get to dance in the streets, but when Calgary Pride & our friends across Arts Commons come together to celebrate, it's hard not to show our colours (and dance moves)! 🌈
#WeAreCalgaryPride
#PrideAtWork
Tonight we celebrated the Calgary arts community at the Mayor’s Celebration for the Arts, hosted by the amazing
@JyotiGondek
&
@CalgaryArtsDev
at
@yycARTS
. I’ve NEVER seen a city embrace its arts sector like in Calgary! ❤️
The embarrassement I feel by the sickness & violence of people who think they speak for all Albertans is overpowered by how proud I am to call this province home. It’s unacceptable & needs to be condemned by all Albertans.
@cafreeland
I look forward to welcoming you in Calgary.
“Artists are not only indispensable, but also vital, especially now” — Germany Has Rolled Out a Staggering €50 Billion Aid Package for Artists and Cultural Businesses, Putting Other Countries to Shame
This morning we revealed to Calgary & the world our vision for the future of the arts in Canada. Two years of work with the best design team imaginable. So proud of who we are & who we are becoming. Breaking ground later this year! Learn more at
THREAD (bear with me): for too long arts organizations have debated whether the “arts for arts’ sake” argument was enough to keep us relevant—IT IS NOT. In fact, to some we have become a luxury good that is over-consumed by too few people. That perception needs to change. (1/10)
We moved to YYC from NYC in 2020 & fell in love with a city that was welcoming, clean, efficient. Taxes were the lowest we’d ever experienced from any city we’ve lived in & public services were the highest. While there’s always more work to be done we owe
@nenshi
so much!
Even though today is my final Council session, I didn’t expect it to be emotional - however the rally of supporters surprising me to start my day was so touching.
#ThankYouNaheed
“Calgary doesn’t do black tie,” they said.
That changed tonight as
@yycARTS
&
@TeatroGroupYYC
hosted their 1st joint gala celebrating arts education. Thank you to everyone who helped raise a record $250K for our work with students & teachers!
Humbled to join
@yycARTS
as its next President & CEO. I look forward to building on the great work of all those who have cared for Canada's 3rd largest performing arts center & am eager to see what we accomplish together in the years ahead.
At tonight’s free concert for Calgary we announced a giant gift to Calgarians who helped keep us safe… 10,000 free tickets for them & their families. Thank you.
For over a year you have worked tirelessly to take care of us all. Now it's our turn to say thank you.
Today we launch Season of Gratitude, providing free tickets to those that identify as essential workers & their families. Learn more at .
I know Calgary is a music town, but oh boy was its dance talent on full display for the entire city to enjoy tonight! Congrats
@DecidedlyJazz
& thank you for a magical evening! You have two more weekends to enjoy this free performance!
Alongside our partners
@cityofcalgary
and
@yycarts
we are excited to announce KPMB (Toronto), Hindle Architects (Calgary), Tawaw Architecture Collective (USA) and SLA (Denmark) as the prime design team for the Arts Commons Transformation. /1
Hey Canada, I honestly don’t think you’re ready for what we’re going to unveil in 2024. Arts Commons is dreaming up the future of the arts—and all eyes will be on Calgary as we chart a new path with the largest cultural infrastructure project in Canadian history.
Kids! I know many of you are already in bed. (LUCKY!!) Because there has been such incredible interest in this week's at-home cooking camp, I'm going to do two of each class each day, one at 10 MT, and another at 2 MT. Zoom link + recipes will be the same!
Many care about the arts & our economic/social impact on Alberta. I’ve long encouraged ALL parties to articulate their commitment to our sector’s success. Here’s a platform that was released today. I’m grateful & look forward to more debates on this topic.
As someone who’s lived in cities & countries around the world, I’m feeling particularly privileged & blessed to call Calgary, Canada home on this, our first
#CanadaDay
. Thank you for welcoming us into your community.
An evening of live performances doesn’t just bring much needed respite to audiences of all ages—it provides outlets for entire workforces to bring their expertise & passions to life. Sending love to all the artists, crew members & arts organizations having to cancel shows. ❤️
For the holidays this year give the gift of artistic experiences with loved ones. Whether it’s tickets, a membership, or a donation in someone’s name, there are amazing arts organizations in your community that are doing incredible work. ❤️
Oh hey
@PMJofficial
—welcome to Calgary &
@yycARTS
! We’ve gathered 1,200 of our closest, masked & vaccinated friends to celebrate the return of the arts.
As an Armenian/Jewish couple who lives in Inglewood, the “genocide” signs are particularly offensive & just highlight how out of touch, uneducated & insensitive these people really are.
Without Papers + POW Pizza are still holding anti mask/vaxx rallies every Thursday aft/eve, spilling into the ParkPark lot on the corner. In response
@CalgaryParking
is closing the lot on Thursdays-limiting parking for local business-and their holiday kickoff is this Thurs👎🏻
#yyc
“The arts are the opposite of a diversion from reality; they might just be the most realistic glimpse we get into the meaning of life. If you make time for art—the same way you make time for work & exercise & family—you’ll find your life getting fuller.”
This is the version of Calgary I like the best: Summer. Music. Incredible artists. 53,000 of our neighbors building community together in and around the arts. Congrats
@calgaryfolkfest
on an incredible 44th Festival! I can’t wait for next year!
Arts Commons does not succeed if our local artist community does not succeed. If our resident companies suffer—we suffer. If artists are forced to leave YYC, we stand to lose. That is why organizations like ours need to invest in programs like this 👇 Help us spread the word.
Applications are
#OPEN
for a first-of-its-kind professional artist development program: Arts Commons Incubator is set to elevate the artists who reflect the diversity & vibrancy of Treaty 7 territory. Deadline Aug 31, 2021. Visit:
It’s no secret that these are difficult times. An investment by all orders of government to create 1000s of construction jobs in Calgary to build a home that will create a hub for artistic, economic & social activity is a beacon of hope.
Day 1 of leading & serving this great institution of ours. We have lots of great work ahead of us—let’s roll up our sleeves & get to it! The arts are getting us through self-isolation & will help us heal through collective experiences of joy! The world needs us more than ever!
Happy
#WorldTheatreDay
from our home to yours. I can’t wait until we’re able to safely gather in these beautiful venues again. Cheers and thanks to all theatre professionals around the world, and to all those who make our work possible. ❤️
The arts teach critical thinking. They allow us to see others’ perspectives & empower us to observe beyond the obvious. If we are going to evolve through community & conversation, we need more arts for all.
Today we announced
#artsXpedition
as
#ArtsCommons
’ gift to
@cityofcalgary
. Unexpected outdoor performances across the city where Calgarians can reconnect with the arts in safe & physically-distant ways. Follow
@yycARTS
for more info!
I’m so excited for what this means for Arts Commons, for the Calgary arts community, and the evolution of the Canadian arts scene. Please join me in welcoming out new Vice President of Programming!
Following an international executive search,
#ArtsCommons
is thrilled to announce an acclaimed creative industry leader as our new VP of Programming,
@sarahgstanley
.
Read the full release here:
Being invited to flip pancakes with
@ddyedlin
&
@JyotiGondek
to help kick off the 2023 Calgary Stampede was surprisingly moving & emotional. Calgary never stops amazing with its kindness, warmth & hospitality.
#yahoo
As we think about the future of vibrant cities, let’s not forget that the arts have an impact on the economy, education, life long learning, community development, infrastructure, livability & so much more. We’re not just the icing—we’re the cake. (Thx
@jonHinojosa
for the pic!)
Arts Commons brought the arts to Calgary this summer:
- 22 neighborhoods
- 78 performances
- 100+ local artists
Now go vote for someone who supports a thriving arts community!
22 neighbourhoods, 100+ local artists, 78 performances, & 1 thriving summer of
#ArtsXpeditions
! We had a blast popping up all around
#YYC
& can't wait to bring it back next year. Until then, enjoy a few of our favourite snapshots from the summer ☀️
Today we introduced the world to the mind-blowing team of architects that will reimagine the future of the arts in Canada. Join us on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure as we embark on the largest cultural infrastructure project in recent Canadian history!
May love and laughter light your days, and warm your heart and home. May good and faithful friends be yours, wherever you may roam. Happy New Year, friends!
Thank you
@AvenueMagazine
for shining a light on how Indigenous architecture is shaping Canada’s largest cultural infrastructure project & the future of Downtown Calgary! So excited to reveal the Arts Commons Transformation design later this year!
Let me be 1 more person to share
@bamuthi
’s powerful truth. Let’s normalize talking about racism & the collective creation of pathways for young people to lead. “Racism is so American that when we protest RACISM, the average American thinks we’re protesting AMERICA.”
#artssummit
These are the partners, architects, theatre designers, accousticians & construction experts that are pouring their souls into Canada’s largest cultural infrastructure project. Breaking bread with them reinforced how lucky I am to be surrounded by such vision & kindness!
What a day for Arts Commons. What a day for Calgary and Alberta. What a day for the arts in Canada! It truly took a village to get this far. More work to be done—but for now, we celebrate! ❤️
@ABDanielleSmith
@YourAlberta
@tanya_fir
The size of ACT and OPT has now exceed $420 million in funding with this announcement from the province, says
@alexsarian
, which will let Albertans “experience firsthand what it means to build community through the arts.”