The National Director’s Blog – On the Red Arrow bus from Calgary to Edmonton
CALGARY — Ah Calgary! What a warm welcome, and I am not referring to the spring-like temperature or the radiant sunshine of the past two days! It began yesterday at the airport where Michael Green, Curator and Artistic Director for Calgary 2012 was waiting to take me to my hotel and it went on until Tom McCarthy, General Manager of Calgary Arts Development, dropped me at the Red Arrow bus terminal today. I was welcomed with open arms in this modern metropolis in expansion mode. Calgary is proud of being a 2012 Cultural Capital, a title it fully deserves. I must say to the usual wags that arts and culture occupy a growing place in the Canadian petroleum capital. Over the past ten years or so, Calgarians have grown more and more conscious of the important contribution the arts make to the quality of life of their community, and they invest time and money in the sector accordingly. On the infrastructure front alone, the city will dedicate in the next few years some $165 million in the creation of new cultural spaces!
I sensed this energy and enthusiasm during the reception hosted by Doug and Lois Mitchell, two prominent “movers and shakers” of the Albertan community. Close to 40 people responded to the invitation sent by Calgary 2012 and gathered for wine and cheese in an elegant reception room of the legal firm Borden Ladner Gervais, on the 19th floor of the Centennial Tower. They were curious to hear about the CCA, a not so well-known organization from out east. This being an an informal meeting, my usual formal presentation would have been out of place. So I presented a Twitter version and in just over four minutes, I sketched the origins of the CCA, its past glories, its unique place in the Canadian cultural ecology, its current challenges and the vision it puts forward. This was followed by a Q&A of about 15 minutes which carried forward to one-on-one conversations. Many people expressed their interest in the CCA and asked how they could help with our future plans. I collected many business cards and promised that I would follow up. The first opportunity to do so will be in just a month: I will be back here on March 4th as Board member of the Governor General Performing Arts Awards Foundation, to participate in the events around the unveiling of the recipients of the 20th anniversary of the awards. It will be the first time that this announcement takes place outside of the Toronto-Ottawa-Montréal triangle. I sensed a feeling of pride about that.
Today, I had a meeting with some ten people who were invited by the Calgary Arts Development Agency. This small number clearly disappointed the organizers but the more intimate character of the meeting led to a rich exchange between participants. Here again, the CCA was a totally unknown entity but after two hours, it is fair to say this was no longer the case! I think I made converts to the cause. Like yesterday, the call for greater solidarity and putting an end to excessive fragmentation of the sector resonated with participants. Building connections will not be easy, but I received sage advice along with many words of encouragement. I also had a short but stimulating conversation with the Manager of the Arts and Culture Division for the City of Calgary. We agreed to meet again when I return in March.
I want to end this blog with a beautiful metaphor from of a participant in this afternoon’s meeting. She told me not to lose hope: the CCA is like a bamboo plant, she said. For many years, it has been growing deep roots that go unseen, but like bamboo, it will soon sprout above ground and people will be able to see it grow rapidly. I could not have dreamed of a better way to end a memorable visit!
–Alain
Alain, I am very much enjoying reading your articulate and enthusiastic blogs from across the country. Your experiences reming me of my own cross Canada travels for the CCA and PACT during the 80’s. I am however, a little surprised by the lack of knowledge of the CCA and its achievements in the west. I am so pleased you are working effectively to raise the profile and level of appreciation for an organization which, even after more than half a century of work on behalf of the arts, still remains relevant and current. Congratulations and thank you. Curtis
Just to say that is was a pleasure to meet you Alain and to learn something more about CCA. I look forward to meeting you again at some future event or events. All good things with the plans for the future.