Local artist Elle Virago stealthily left one of her Guerrilla Hearts on the doors of the Art Gallery of Calgary, locking the front doors with a chain and combination lock that held the heart in place. 

Virago has placed hearts around the city, including on the old King Eddy, a small pixelated heart in front of Caffe Beano and downtown in the Bow Valley Square Plus-15.

This particular heart was made of cleaning implements — gloves, sponges and scrubbing pads — symbolizing the hopes of many in the arts community that the gallery can clean up its act and get back on track. This comes after former president and CEO of the AGC, Valerie Cooper, was let go and is currently being sued by the gallery for $500,000 and is facing six counts of fraud … Read More

Following in Spring’s footsteps, artists are gathering in Calgary this weekend to showcase their blossoming talent. It’s a great opportunity to esccape winter hibernation and take in some of the local (and out of town) artwork. With so many openings this weekend it’s not a matter of if anything is happening as it is a matter of which one to attend. Here’s a short list of what’s happening in the Calgary art scene this weekend. 

Turner Prize* @ The New Gallery — The dreamy Saskatchewan-based collective comes to Calgary to debut their full collection of performative photographs. Social practice, film, photography and new media combine to create a truly original body of subconciously inspired work (pictured above). March 23 - April 28.  … Read More

Like talking art? And politics? While drinking beer? Well, then, you’re certainly in luck tonight — ArtsVote Calgary is hosting a little get together at the Auburn Saloon, with the promise of all three of those things.

ArtsVote, of course, is the advocacy entity committed to making sure arts issues are part of the focus in both municipal and provincial elections. Tonight’s event, a “We Should Know Each Other” party, promises a lively discourse between elected officials, candidates and their staff with ArtsVote committee members and the general public (which, unless you’re a politician, means you).

Plus there’ll be beer.

The good times start at 7 p.m.

Calgary 2012 has just announced over $800, 000 worth of investment into the local arts, culture and heritage communities this morning.

It’s the first of several cultural cash infusions that will be announced over the course of the year.

This time around, $425,000 goes to 75 individual artists and arts organization as part of the 2012-Projects grants program. An additional $393,000 will be awarded to 24 organizations through the Connecting Calgary program.

The aim of Connecting Calgary is to further artistic interactions between Calgary and the rest of the world — i.e. bringing high-profile projects to city while exporting work created here —while 2012-Projects focuses on awarding grants to individuals and organizations … Read More

This year’s Laureates of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards were announced this morning at news conference here in Calgary at Theatre Junction Grand.

Recipients of the 20th Annual GGPAA Lifetime Artistic Achievement honour are as follows: concert pianist Janina Fialkowska, dancer and choreographer Paul-André Fortier, theatre director and production designer Denis Marleau, film director Deepa Mehta, comedian Mary Walsh and…. Rush! (All three of ‘em.)

Also: longtime arts supporter Earlaine Collins receives this year’s Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Voluntarism in the Performing Arts, and Tony-award winning director, writer and composer Des McAnuff takes the National Arts Centre Award thanks to his … Read More

Members from across the province’s cultural sector — close to 400 delegates representing everything from multicultural organizations to arts groups to private sector entities— will convene in Red Deer this weekend for Culture Forum 2012. Hosted by the Alberta government — Culture and Community Services Minister Heather Klimchuk and Premier Alison Redford will be participating — the cross-disciplinary discussion on culture is unprecedented in terms of both size and scope.

The opening ceremonies begin at 7 p.m. tonight (Friday, February 24) at the Performing Arts Theatre of Red Deer College.

If you can’t attend but are curious nonetheless, live streaming of tonight’s activities and Sunday’s closing ceremony will be … Read More

A group calling itself Art Works for Special Places put a fun twist on the protests against logging in the Castle region today, yarn bombing trees along Highway 774, where picketers have been set up for weeks.

Logging began in the region on February 1, shortly after four protesters were arrested for trespassing.

We could say more, but you should just have a look at the "temporary public art project."

Now it's down to six.

Calgary's search for a poet laureate is entering the final phases with a handful of local poets up for the prize: Derek Beaulieu, Daniel Bennett (better known to you as Transit), Kris Demeanor, Diane Guichon, Tyler Perry and Sheri-D Wilson.

It's not  suprising to see any of those names on the shortlist, which I suppose is a good thing. They've picked some of the best-known poets to vie for the prize, and have a good mix of genres (if that's even the right word).

After being whittled down by a committee, Calgarians will have a chance to judge the finalists at a free event at Hotel Arts on March 1. The night will feature readings by the poets, plus a discussion on what they'd bring to the role. You can suggest questions for the … Read More

Theatre Junction Grand celebrates the 100th anniversary of its theatre this Saturday, Feb 4 with a big birthday blow-out.

Among the many who will be on hand entertaining revelers are: Dan Vacon (of The Dudes), DJ Pump, Samantha Savage Smith, Ill Movements Hip Hop Collective, and Sled Island showcase and more. Plus: breakdancing! And a sneak peak preview of Theatre Junction's Attempt on Her Life! Annnnnnd, for the grande finale, an all vinyl set by the aptly-named Vinyl Ritchie. 

Phew. That's a whole lot — good thing the festivities are scheduled to run for 12 hours (2 p.m. - 2 a.m.) with performances happening every hour. It's also free until 10:30 pm.

When the Triangle Gallery changed its name to the Museum of Contemporary Art Calgary late last year, it was a step towards recreating the gallery and the organization into a proper collecting contemporary art museum — something that has been sorely missing in Calgary's art scene.

Today, MOCA announced a memorandum of understanding with another group that has long sought space for a similar intiative — the Institute of Modern and Contemporary Art (IMCA). On the surface, the press release reads like non-news. Oh great, two groups are going to talk about things for a while. The cynic inside says nothing will come of it.

But there's real hope here. Jeffrey Spalding, the still-new artistic director of MOCA, isn't known for sitting on his … Read More