News releases

Below you will find a collection of recent news items from CalgaryCulture.com about events and activities going on in the city. Also be sure to sign up for our weekly newsletter for more information on arts events and festivals in Calgary. You can also follow us on Twitter.

Calgary revealed as 2012 host city for the Magnetic North Theatre Festival (June 28) Calgary will host the 10th edition of the Magnetic North Theatre Festival, Canada’s National Festival of Contemporary Canadian Theatre in English, in June 2012. 

Calgary to enter bid process for 2012 Cultural Capital of Canada (June 21) Today the City of Calgary announced the intention to bid for the designation of the 2012 Cultural Capital of Canada. The Canadian Heritage Cultural Capitals of Canada program is a national annual awards initiative to celebrate and promote arts, culture and heritage in Canadian municipalities by recognizing the achievements of cities with an ongoing commitment to arts and culture.

FunnyFest Calgary Comedy Festival Celebrates its 10th Anniversary (April 30) The FunnyFest Calgary Comedy Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary this year with nonstop laughs from over 70 stand up comics, variety performers and sketch comedy troupes.

The Calgary International Spoken Word Festival Presents an Eclectic and Exotic Collection of Events (April 23) The 7th Annual Calgary International Spoken Word Festival is back with a vengeance, bigger and better than ever with 27 events and over 100 artists presenting an eclectic and exotic collection of spoken word.

Calgary artists bring Warriors back to the city after 20 years (April 14) Twenty years after its first English performance, Les guerriers Co-op brings Warriors back to Calgary audiences from April 15 - May 2 at The Studio at Vertigo Theatre.

Business and arts team up to preview future of East Village - Pilot project will breathe new life into Seafood Market (April 8) The stage is set for an innovative new partnership in East Village. Today, the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) and the Calgary Arts Development Authority (CADA) announced a pilot project that will provide local artists temporary access to the vacant Seafood Market building this spring.

Poets collaborate to kick off National Poetry Month (March 31)  To celebrate National Poetry Month, four of Calgary's poetry groups will come together for the Cultural District's First Thursday celebration to present the reading series I Heart Poetry.

Local teams to take on 48-Hour Movie Making Challenge (March 25) This weekend, 22 teams will compete in the 48-Hour Movie Making Challenge as part of the 7th Annual Calgary Underground Film Festival, which runs April 12 - 18, 2010.

Calgary artists raise funds in cross-country Haitian relief effort (March 9) Calgary artists will gather in concert to raise funds for a Canadian-founded, Haitian orphanage in Calgary Artists for Haitian Relief, presented at the EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts on March 10 at 7:30pm.

Dine Out Calgary and Calgary's arts scene make the perfect pairing (March 3) For ten days, March 5 - 14, Dine Out Calgary presents a once-in-a-year opportunity to sample some of the city's top restaurants at value prices. The event makes the perfect pairing to this week's arts events like Theatre Junction's On the Side of the Road and the Calgary Artists for Haitian Relief concert.

12,000 up-and-coming artists perform at the 79th annual Calgary Kiwanis Festival (February 24) The city’s best and brightest young artists in musical theatre, drama, vocal and instrumental performance compete at the 79th annual Calgary Kiwanis Festival from March 1 - 20.

Calgary shakes off its winter blues this week (February 17) Shake off your winter blues during the Calgary Midwinter Bluesfest, running February 22 - 27.

Plan a date with Calgary culture for Valentine's Day (Feburary 9) Romance-themed arts and culture events on this week offer unique Valentine's experiences to share with that special someone.

New Fashion Central building launches at February's First Thursday celebration (February 3) Fashion Central's grand opening celebration takes place during First Thursday, the Cultural District's monthly cultural crawl, on February 4th from 5-9pm.

Exposure 2010 showcases nearly 40 photo-based exhibitions during the month of February (February 2) Throughout the month of February, Exposure 2010 celebrates nearly 40 exhibitions of photographic works in galleries throughout Calgary, Banff and Canmore, alongside panel discussions, lectures and special events.

Happening Festival of New Music and Media connects remote musicians in live concert (January 27) The Happening Festival of New Music and Media 2010, running until January 29 at the University of Calgary, highlights established and emerging new media practices in sound and music, including a live music concert with participants from around the world.

CalgaryCulture.com is the place to find arts and culture deals (January 12, 2010) CalgaryCulture.com has launched a special offers section to provide arts and culture deals to locals and visitors to the city.

January's First Thursday celebration is tomorrow in the Cultural District (January 6, 2010) January’s First Thursday celebration, the monthly cultural crawl through the Cultural District, is January 7.

Calgary's High Performance Rodeo Festival begins this week (January 5, 2010) The 24th annual High Performance Rodeo, Calgary’s International Festival of the Arts, begins this Thursday, January 7.

CalgaryCulture.com gives last minute shoppers unique and affordable holiday gift ideas (December 17) Last minute holiday shoppers can look to CalgaryCulture.com to find unique and affordable gift ideas from local arts organizations.

Flamenco troupe heats up Calgary this week (December 9) One of Canada’s most exciting and innovative new flamenco companies from Montréal, La Otra Orilla, heats up Calgary in From Spain to Calgary via Montréal, December 10 and 11 at the Arrata Opera Centre.

Calgary’s second PechaKucha Night is tomorrow (December 2) Calgary’s second PechaKucha Night is tomorrow, Thursday, December 3rd at 7:30pm at the Uptown Stage and Screen.

Calgary’s Annual Disability Arts Festival showcases work from 100 disabled artists (December 1) Balancing Acts: Calgary’s Annual Disability Arts Festival celebrates its ninth year with the work of 100 artists this week.

Calgary’s second PechaKucha Night explores “How We Live Together” (November 18) Calgary Arts Development is pleased to announce Calgary’s second PechaKucha Night on Thursday, December 3rd at the Uptown Stage and Screen.

First annual Calgary Children’s Book Fair & Conference to launch this week (November 12) The first annual Calgary Children’s Book Fair and Conference launches this Saturday and features over 20 local children’s authors and illustrators.

The Honens International Piano Competition picks a winner tonight (November 6) Tension builds as the search for the Honens International Piano Competition Laureates progresses to its final stage tonight.

November's First Thursday celebration offers over 30 events and deals (November 3) This month's First Thursday celebration offers over 30 events and deals in the Cultural District on November 5th. From watering plants using Twitter, to world-class pianists, a wearable art fashion show and cakewalk, laughter yoga, rockabilly music, unique art gifts and more, First Thursday offers something for everyone.

Calgary’s arts scene tricks-and-treats with seedy Parisian nightlife, zombies and aliens (October 28) Calgary’s arts scene offers tricks and treats like seedy Parisian nightlife, zombies and aliens as part of this week’s must-see Halloween lineup.

International pianists come to Calgary to compete for world-class prize (October 21) Beginning tomorrow, international pianists from 12 countries will be competing in the Honens International Piano Competition for a prize valued at more than $500,000, in addition to $100,000 in cash prizes.

Calgarians and artists from around the world share their stories during this week’s culture lineup (October 14, 2009) Calgarians take part in sharing stories this week with the launch of this year’s WordFest, the 2nd Annual Home Movie Day and Glenbow Museum’s one minute video challenge.

From Bugs Bunny to urban dance, Calgary’s arts scene offers unique cultural experiences (October 7, 2009) Calgary’s arts scene offers unique cultural experiences in this week’s event lineup. From Bugs Bunny to urban dance, those looking for a novel experience will find it in Calgary’s arts and culture scene.

October's First Thursday events continue Calgary's fall celebration of culture (October 1, 2009) Calgary celebrates the success of its first-ever Culture Month and launches into the remainder of the fall arts season with tonight's First Thursday events in the Cultural District.  

Calgary's arts scene presents a range of quality events during the final week of Culture Month (September 30, 2009) Calgary shows off the strength, diversity and quality of its arts scene with a wide range of arts and culture events happening during the final week of the city's Culture Month celebrations.

Nuvo Hotel Suites Offers Visiting Creatives a Free Hotel Stay (September 28, 2009) Nuvo Hotel Suites and Calgary Arts Development will partner to offer visiting artists and creators the opportunity to be awarded a free stay in a suite at Nuvo.

Calgary play host to top cultural talent this week (September 22, 2009) Calgary plays host to some of the world’s top cultural talent this week with the launch of an outstanding fall arts lineup.

Celebrate Culture Month with over 150 events this week (September 15, 2009) Calgary is celebrating Culture Month with over 150 arts and culture events happening around the city this week.

Calgary's first-ever PechaKucha is tonight! (September 14, 2009) Calgary’s first PechaKucha Night will take place at tonight at Theatre Junction Grand at 6:30 pm.

First-ever PechaKucha Night in Calgary! (September 10, 2009) Calgary Arts Development is pleased to announce that Calgary’s first PechaKucha Night will take place at Theatre Junction Grand on September 14th at 6:30 pm, as part of Calgary's Culture Month celebration.

Announcing CalgaryCulture.com (September 9, 2009) Calgary Arts Development is pleased to announce the launch of CalgaryCulture.com, a new, one-stop source for arts and culture in Calgary. 

The Fall 2009 Cultural District Arts & Dining Guide is now available (September 4, 2009) The Cultural District is pleased to announce that the Fall 2009 Arts & Dining Guide is now available online and will shortly be available on stands throughout the Cultural District. 

First Thursday Offers a Taste of What Calgary Culture is All About (September 2, 2009) Calgarians looking to take part in Culture Month have a perfect opportunity this week: come down to the Cultural District this Thursday, September 3 for First Thursday – Calgary’s monthly cultural crawl.

Welcome to Culture Month! (September 1, 2009) Culture Month is a new annual initiative to promote and celebrate the arts and creative industries in Calgary during the launch of the fall arts season each September.