Purpose of the Hub
The ASCN: Calgary Hub operates in partnership with Calgary Arts Development, Trico Changemakers Studio, and the International Centre of Art for Social Change. The primary mission of the Calgary Hub is to cultivate, promote, and nurture the field of art for social change and community-engaged arts in Calgary, harnessing its potential as a tool for driving social transformation.
We connect a dynamic community of Mohkínstsis (Calgary) art for social change practitioners, community leaders, non-profit organizations, art-based groups, and individuals committed to social transformation using art-based practices. We come together to share stories, resources, and initiatives and build relationships to strengthen the Art for Social Change field. Together, we inspire social innovation through the power of art.
How We Came to Be
In the Fall of 2021, the Calgary Hub embarked on a journey to uncover the landscape of Art for Social Change (ASC) in Mohkínstsis/Calgary through an outreach and mapping project. Through this project, we wanted to find the practitioners Mohkínstsis who are using arts to inspire and catalyze social change. We explored who is doing the work, how the work is done, and what conditions enable or inhibit Art for Social Change in Calgary. Over three months, we engaged with over 190 artists, art administrators, and representatives from various organizations and communities. Our findings showed that the question of resources continues to be present for most practitioners, and more interesting was the apparent need for connection within the field. More often than not, practitioners highlighted the challenges of connecting with colleagues and sharing their artistic endeavours. This has since become the Calgary Hub's first objective: connecting and engaging ASC practitioners in Mohkínstsis.
Our Guiding Collective
Stacey Perlin
Wunmi Idowu
Cesar Cala
Chris Gamble
Upcoming Events
Living a Creative Life Congress
The 2024 Living a Creative Life Congress focuses once again on Art for Social Change and continues to probe the question: How might artists lead the way to a more equitable, inclusive, and accessible city where everyone belongs?
This year we are exploring that question through the lens of our city’s new branding, Blue Sky City, as we look at ways Calgary can live up to the promise and potential of truly being a blue-sky city.
Get inspired, hear about some of the amazing work being done by Calgary artists, exchange ideas, and possibly find new collaborators for future projects. If that’s not enough, we invite you to enjoy some good food as well! An online option is available for those who can’t attend in person.
The congress runs from 12:30pm on Wednesday, December 4, through to 5pm on Thursday, December 5, 2024
Learn more and register here.
Subscribe to: Art for Social Change Network (ASCN) to receive a monthly e-newsletter sharing the latest updates on ASCN Mohnkistists and upcoming Calgary Hub events and workshops. Add yourself or your organization to the ongoing Art for Social Change (ASC) Roster to share what you are working on. This is part of our ongoing goal to connect the ASC Community in Calgary.
Outreach + Mapping Report
Art for Social Change in Calgary: Outreach + Mapping Project
Appreciating the diversity of this field, we have investigated Calgary’s existing landscape of Art for Social Change (ASC) through an outreach and mapping project. This report illustrates Art for Social Change practitioners in Calgary, who they work with, conditions enabling or inhibiting Art for Social Change in our city, and hopes for the future. Furthermore, I hope that this report is used as a starting point to highlight and unite the Art for Social Change community in Calgary in
order to create more opportunities for the sector to grow and thrive.
Read the report here.
Artist as Changemaker Card Deck
Artists are the Changemakers of our times.
They are able to influence mental models, build empathy, and support group processes through their artistic practice. We built this deck as an open and adaptable tool for artists and groups who are doing changemaking work together. Use it to build common ground, unpack ideas, get inspired, understand impact, and dream big.