. Our Vision: A creative and compassionate society, inspired through the arts. Our Mission: To bring the arts This is YOUR …to life. Arts Commons Crafting paper puppets at Happenings 13 © Will Young Snotty Nose Rez Kids perform at National Indigenous Peoples Day © Elizabeth Cameron Report to the Community 2017-18 Arts Commons 1 Artists from Classic Albums Live speak to members of Founders Circle © Will Young Selci performs at Happenings 13 © Will Young Table of Contents This is YOUR Arts Commons message from the Board PG 2 Our Mandate is… to foster, present, and promote the arts PG 4 to provide and care for our assets PG 6 to ensure optimal access and utilization of our assets PG 8 Arts Commons Presents… creates connections PG 12 inspires learning PG 14 uplifts and energizes PG 17 is for you PG 18 Arts Commons demonstrates sustainability PG 20 thank you PG 22 2 Arts Commons Report to the Community 2017-18 Report to the Community 2017-18 Arts Commons 3 What’s in a year? This year has been another interesting these trying times, and the Calgary The rebranding of the Centre as Arts Commons Presents programming one for Calgary. While we are still seeing International Children’s Festival made the Arts Commons exemplifies the values by adding programs like National some lingering effects, the economic difficult decision to close its doors after and vision that Johann brought to his Geographic Live, and instituting our downturn seems to have finally turned 32 years. tenure – “A creative and compassionate growing volunteer Concierge program upwards. In this past year, we have seen a society, inspired through the arts”. have all contributed to this. In addition, So, what about the last nine years? It was number of new businesses open, and the A place open and welcoming to all - a the building’s infrastructure, visible nine years ago that Johann Zietsman City has invested more in arts and culture place of equity, diversity, and inclusion. and invisible, has been upgraded joined what was then the EPCOR Centre through initiatives like the opening of Under his leadership, we have become and refurbished, ensuring the best for the Performing Arts to become our cSpace King Edward, the Beltline Mural a values led organization, focusing on experiences for our patrons. President and CEO. At the end of this Project, and the invaluable support three core values: Do the Right Thing, year Johann will be leaving Arts Commons of ongoing Arts Commons lifecycle Be Our Best Always, and Be Open: Minds, Johann also brought energy and to accept the position of President and projects. There was also a proliferation Hearts, and Arms. ideas to the broader Calgary scene, of new art within Arts Commons’ CEO of the Adrienne Arsht Center of becoming a huge supporter of the walls. Theatre Calgary partnered with Miami-Dade County, in Miami, Florida These values and his personal style have City and its arts community. This past The Old Trout Puppet Workshop in an - an extraordinary opportunity for him led to: a high functioning, professional, year, Arts Commons was awarded the impressive production of Twelfth Night; and his family. We will miss him dearly, and empowered leadership team and “Ultimate Host City” designation – a Alberta Theatre Projects celebrated but he leaves behind a wonderful legacy staff at Arts Commons, collaborative designation awarded by Tourism Calgary Canada’s first national female hockey and a sound foundation for the ongoing relationships with the City of Calgary to organizations who demonstrate league through music and dance, in evolution of Arts Commons. and our Resident Companies, improved leadership in taking Calgary to the next Glory; One Yellow Rabbit had another access to the arts by the community level. To date, only 13 organizations have Within months of starting, Johann unforgettable High Performance Rodeo; through partnerships with organizations been awarded this recognition. recognized that we were headed to a the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra like Action Dignity, and imaginative projected deficit of over $900K and led welcomed the legendary Yo-Yo Ma; community and education initiatives such Johann will be greatly missed by his the very difficult task of “righting” the and Arts Commons Presents welcomed as the Hub for Inspired Learning. Arts Commons family. We’ll miss the ship before moving the organization new donors, embraced long-standing stylish bow ties, the South African idioms, forward. We ended the fiscal year with sponsors (such as Burnet, Duckworth Johann brought with him a passion for his love of ice cream, and his passion for a small consolidated surplus of $38K. In & Palmer LLP, ConocoPhillips Canada, the arts, but also a passion for open, the arts and for this city. the eight fiscal years since then (2010 – and TD Bank), introduced a new series principled, and creative management. 2018), we have had surpluses in seven Please join us in reflecting not only on this (Classic Albums Live), and put forth In a difficult economic environment, he of those years and now have a working past year, but on the past nine, and help several new community initiatives. Sadly, leaves Arts Commons on solid financial capital reserve of over $1.3M. us wish both Johann and his wife, Tharrie, not all organizations were able to survive footing. His initiatives in making full use of the Centre’s venues, expanding the very best on their new adventure! Scott Hutcheson Henry Sykes, Q.C. John McWilliams Chair, Board of Directors Past Chair, Board of Directors Past Chair, Board of Directors 4 Arts Commons Report to the Community 2017-18 Report to the Community 2017-18 Arts Commons 5 Our Mandate is… 389,363 total attendance to foster, present, to a ticketed event at Arts Commons “We loved the way the and promote the arts music transported us to another place and culture” The past came to life this season at Then, former CBC broadcaster Tetsuro ~ Patron from Monsieur Periné Arts Commons, as we toured through Shigematsu explored history through the lives of legendary musicians, father the lens of his rocky relationship with and son relationships, classic rockers, his emotionally reserved father in and Shakespeare, and also said a final Empire of the Son, presented by Alberta goodbye to a beloved festival. Theatre Projects & One Yellow Rabbit. From the ashes of Hiroshima to the Theatre Calgary partnered with swingin’ 60s, Shigematsu painted an The Old Trout Puppet Workshop to intimate portrait of love that father and take audiences back to the 1600s son struggled to express. for a brilliantly inventive take on Shakespeare’s classic comedy: Speaking of the 60s – audiences tuned Twelfth Night. Fast forward a few in to hear The Beatles – Abbey Road Students enjoy The Path of Dreams at the Calgary International Children’s hundred years to the 1930s with as performed by Classic Albums Live! Festival © RocketHouse Arts Commons Presents BD&P World A debut for Arts Commons Presents, Music’s presentation of: PIAF! The Classic Albums Live then came back for Calgarians who can credit the Festival for Show. Starring Anne Carrere, the show a second monumental show performing introducing them to the transformative chronicled the life of the legendary Fleetwood Mac – Rumours. Due to its nature of the performing arts. French chanteuse using her own music undeniable popularity, Classic Albums and never-before-seen images in a Live has become an official series in the Looking to the future was The Listening theatrical, multimedia event. Arts Commons Presents lineup. Room by Michaela Jeffery, presented by Azimuth Theatre and Downstage. At the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, A chilling vision of the future, the play legendary cellist Yo-Yo Ma performed an was also a triumph for the hardworking intimate solo recital, continuing a life- team of emerging professional artists. long mission to unite humanity through Michaela is also an Arts Commons the connective power of music. employee, and we shone with pride during this play’s debut. Unfortunately, after 32 years, the 2017-18 season was the last for the While this is a very brief history of this Calgary International Children’s season, we reflect on a year that was full Festival. They leave behind a legacy of enlightening and enriching moments of love, laughter, and generations of serving to entertain and inspire. Classic Albums Live perform Fleetwood Mac - Rumours © Will Young The Old Trout Puppet Workshop at Theatre Calgary with members of Founders Circle © Will Young 6 Arts Commons Report to the Community 2017-18 Report to the Community 2017-18 Arts Commons 7 Our Mandate is… to provide and care “The upgrades to the heating system, in a building this size, will have a significant for our assets positive environmental impact.” ~ Founders Circle Member Arts Commons is proud to be the support we received from the City of equivalent of removing 6,300 cars from custodian of Canada’s third largest Calgary ($7 million), the Government of Alberta roadways. and most comprehensive arts facility. Alberta ($1 million), and the Government Within the walls of our building are five of Canada ($900K). Just because Building renovations aren’t just about theatres, a world-renowned concert hall, Arts Commons is a historic building, going green, however. Arts Commons arts education spaces, costume and set it doesn’t mean it has prehistoric is an inclusive space that welcomes all building shops, rehearsal spaces, visual standards when it comes to emissions Calgarians and visitors alike, with open arts galleries, a café, and administrative and saving energy. Upgrades included arms, hearts, and minds. In this spirit, we offices for some of the most ground- work on the air handlers, replacing the undertook a $354K project to upgrade Members of Founders Circle seeing the new breaking and accomplished performing main and secondary electrical switches, several public washrooms throughout boiler and electrical upgrades © Will Young arts companies in Canada.