By Hannah Caparino, January 19 2025—
Calgary’s downtown will undergo a major renovation in the iconic Olympic Plaza to reinvent the arts and culture sector of Calgary. The area will be closed to accommodate the Arts Commons Transformation project, aimed to include more arts facilities and studios for Calgary artists. Arts Commons President and CEO Alex Sarian spoke with The Gauntlet about the future of the Arts Commons as well as the Calgary arts and culture scene.
“Calgary has grown beautifully over the past few decades and so too have the demand for experiences and cultural experiences, and opportunities. Everybody is telling us that more space is needed so that is the impetus behind the Arts Commons Transformation,” said Sarian.
Sarian outlined the three main phases of the transformation as first expanding into a new facility, reimagining the Olympic Plaza, and completely renovating the entire facility. New facilities will be part of the transformation, including more seating and space for artists to create and explore. From the original diversity of the venues like the Engineered Air Theatre or the Jack Singer Concert Hall; additions will include more intimate venues, a new 1000 seat theatre and introduce proper infrastructure to host more outdoor events.
In terms of how Calgary will become a hub for artists, Sarian explains how the Arts Commons business model will continue prioritizing expanding the campus to facilitate all artists and arts organizations within downtown. Resident companies like the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and Theatre Calgary program events and shows based on their seating. Beyond local organizations, ticketing companies like Live Nation can use the Commons for larger events. Sarian speaks on expanding the Arts Commons to support and serve all artists in the heart of Calgary.
“I always say to people if we cut the ribbon on this new campus and the artist community is gone […] then we are going to be in big trouble because we are meant to serve that artist community. So not only are we building spaces […] on behalf of Calgary’s growing arts community, but we also have a responsibility to make sure that we are nurturing them,” said Sarian. “We also have a commitment to young artists and artists that perhaps have never seen themselves reflected in the Calgary arts community.”
There are programs that work in tandem with the Arts Commons, like the TD Incubator Program to support young Calgary artists, and the new facility can expand on growing arts education and stories.
“We are a place where several stories coexist […] we have stories with emerging artists and we have stories with young school kids and families, and so I think one of the challenges we have is that […] because we do so much with so many different groups and communities, I think one of our challenges is that it’s hard to tell our stories when it is just so complex and multifaceted,” said Sarian.
The downtown culture of Calgary is incredibly layered and much of the activity in the city is linked to the Olympic Plaza, theatre district and more. It is where people can come experience all that Calgary has to offer. The support from Calgarians has been positive, and the investments that have been put into the project indicates that the transformation will reflect Calgary’s growth in both the population and arts organizations. The transformation began with the groundbreaking ceremony on Dec. 11 2024, and renovations and construction are expected to conclude in 2028. Performances and events will not be halted during the time of construction, and instead will follow a staggered timeline of renovations in order for artists to continue using the facility without decommissioning the theatres and studio spaces. Sarian discussed how the success of the project is due to how it represents a resurgence of culture and excitement in Calgary.
“One of the reasons I think we have been so successful and continue to be successful is because the city of Calgary has embraced this project, not just as an arts and culture project, but as an element of a downtown revitalization that has been essential to our cities future,” Sarian said. “So that to me is the greatest gift of all, is that people are excited about this, not just because of what it means for the arts community but what it means to our city at large.”
Information about the Arts Commons Transformation can be found on their website. For details about the upcoming events at the Arts Commons, click here.