Film & video arts

Emí Laará: Little Stories to Dream – Where Gods Inspire Dreams

Join the mischievous Lucumí gods on magical adventures across Cuba, where storytelling, captivating visuals, and immersive sound bring to life a universe filled with myth, humour, and ancestral wisdom.

Bold, vibrant, and unforgettable — Emí Laará celebrates the essence of Cuban culture, featuring special guest Bella Ríos, who performs Yoruba Lucumí songs, transforming this experience into a unique sensory and cultural journey.

When: Thursday, October 23, 2025 at 10 am to 1 pm
Where: Ideas Lounge (EL1270),
Mount Royal University Library
74 Mt Royal Cir SW
Calgary, AB T3E 7N5

Register now and be part of this magical adventure!
👉 https://librarycal.mtroyal.ca/event/3909549

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Join the mischievous Lucumí gods on magical adventures across Cuba, where storytelling, captivating visuals, and immersive sound bring to life a universe filled with myth, humour, and ancestral wisdom.

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Emí Laará: Little Stories to Dream – Where Gods Inspire Dreams
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Join the mischievous Lucumí gods on magical adventures across Cuba, where storytelling, captivating visuals, and immersive sound bring to life a universe filled with myth, humour, and ancestral wisdom.

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Emí Laará: Little Stories to Dream
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Join the mischievous Lucumí gods on magical adventures across Cuba, where storytelling, captivating visuals, and immersive sound bring to life a universe filled with myth, humour, and ancestral wisdom.

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WOMEN WHO DIG Documentary Film – Community Screening

WOMEN WHO DIG showcases Canadian women on a journey to combat food insecurity and the industrial farm system by utilizing traditional farming techniques rooted in ancestral history. The small family farm is often perceived to be an occupation of the past that is being overtaken by large-scale industrial farming practices. Big Ag wreaks havoc on our global climate, all the while creating a GMO monoculture that contributes to an enormous loss of our planet’s biodiversity. Adapted from the book Women Who Dig: Farming, Feminism, and the Fight to Feed the World by Trina Moyles, this documentary, filmed over the course of three years in cinema veritas, offers an intimate portrait of the lesser-told story of women farmers and land stewards pushing back against industrial practices.

There will be a Q&A before the film screening.

Join Anna Kuelken, Trina Moyles, and the film’s powerhouse cast—five female farmers and land stewards from Western Canada—for a thought provoking discussion on the making of this project as well as vital themes of gender equality, social justice, food sovereignty and climate change, facilitated by poet and author Rayanne Haines.

Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025, 6:45 pm MT

Location: Metro Cinema, 8712 – 109 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta

INFO & TICKETS:

https://metrocinema.org/production/women-who-dig/

$14 (Adult) & $11 (Youth, Student, Senior Citizen).

Metro Silver Screen passes accepted.

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Join Anna Kuelken, Trina Moyles, and the film’s powerhouse cast for a thought-provoking discussion on the making of this project as well as vital themes of gender equality, social justice, food sovereignty and climate change, facilitated by poet and author Rayanne Haines.

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WOMEN WHO DIG Documentary Film – Community Screening
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Join Anna Kuelken, Trina Moyles, and the film’s powerhouse cast for a thought-provoking discussion on the making of this project as well as vital themes of gender equality, social justice, food sovereignty and climate change, facilitated by poet and author Rayanne Haines.

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WOMEN WHO DIG Documentary Film – Community Screeni
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Join Anna Kuelken, Trina Moyles, and the film’s powerhouse cast for a thought-provoking discussion on the making of this project as well as vital themes of gender equality, social justice, food sovereignty and climate change, facilitated by poet and author Rayanne Haines.

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Edmonton
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WHISPERS FROM THE BLACK GODS

They Are… The Black Gods.

Film, object theatre, and poetry intertwine in a contemporary ritual that awakens memories, reveals identities, and honours Afro-Cuban resilience.

Five centuries ago, these voices crossed the seas, and today they continue to remind us that hope is a duty.

This is not just theatre… it is a tribute to our roots, our strength, and the magic that binds us to our ancestors.

When: Saturday, October 25, 2025 at 4 pm
Where: SpanicArts - 131 6 Ave SW
Calgary, AB T2P 0P5

Register and be part of this unique experience.    

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/susurros-de-los-dioses-negros-tickets-1772698010469?aff=oddtdtcreator

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They Are… The Black Gods: A spell of memory and magic that awakens roots, identity, and the ancestral power of Afro-Cuban heritage.

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WHISPERS FROM THE BLACK GODS
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They Are… The Black Gods: A spell of memory and magic that awakens roots, identity, and the ancestral power of Afro-Cuban heritage.

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WHISPERS FROM THE BLACK GODS
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They Are… The Black Gods: A spell of memory and magic that awakens roots, identity, and the ancestral power of Afro-Cuban heritage.

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EMI LAARA: LITTLE STORIES TO DREAM

Get ready for Emí Laará — an exhilarating cinematic journey that blends captivating storytelling with stunning visuals and immersive sound.

Join the mischievous Lucumí gods as they lead you through adventures brimming with magic, wit, and laughter across the enchanted landscapes of Cuba, where Santería — a vibrant fusion of Yoruba spirituality and Catholic beliefs — comes to life.

Bold, vibrant, and unforgettable, this project celebrates a rich and extraordinary culture, echoing the timeless words of Kwame Nkrumah:

“I am not African because I was born in Africa, but because Africa was born in me.”

When: Friday, October 24, 2025 at 6:30 pm
Where: SpanicArts
131 6 Ave SW
Calgary, AB T2P 0P5

Register and be part of this unique experience. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/emi-laara-pequenas-historias-para-sonar-tickets-1772690618359?aff=oddtdtcreator


 

 

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Emí Laará: Where Afro-Cuban identity, imagination, and magic come alive.

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EMI LAARA: LITTLE STORIES TO DREAM
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Emí Laará: Where Afro-Cuban identity, imagination, and magic come alive.

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EMI LAARA: LITTLE STORIES TO DREAM
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Emí Laará: Where Afro-Cuban identity, imagination, and magic come alive.

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FOR THE BIG KID IN YOU

Discover a universe of stories for “big kids. For those who dream, imagine, and transform the world around them.

Film, puppetry, and much more to reflect on society, celebrate diversity, and question the world we live in.

Come take part, be surprised, and connect with stories that inspire change and imagination.
An experience for everyone who still carries the spirit to explore and transform the world!

When: Thursday, October 23, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Where: SpanicArts
131 6 Ave SW
Calgary, AB T2P 0P5

Register and be part of this unique experience.  

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cosas-de-un-nino-grande-tickets-1772661451119?aff=oddtdtcreator
 

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Film, puppetry, and theatre that inspire us to dream and reflect on social justice, diversity, and transformation.

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FOR THE BIG KID IN YOU
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Film, puppetry, and theatre that inspire us to dream and reflect on social justice, diversity, and transformation.

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FOR THE BIG KID IN YOU
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Film, puppetry, and theatre that inspire us to dream and reflect on social justice, diversity, and transformation.

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Voluntary Based Arts Organizations Operating Funding

Grant subtitle
Annual funding for arts-based organizations that foster community connections and primarily rely on volunteers to operate.
Select staff contact
Arts Development Consultant - Sector Support
Apply Now: Link to GATE
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Organization
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All disciplines
Dance
Film & video arts
Indigenous arts
Literary arts
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Voluntary Based Arts Organizations Operating Funding
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Annual funding for arts-based organizations that foster community connections and primarily rely on volunteers to operate.
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Voluntary Based Arts Organizations Operating Funding
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Annual funding for arts-based organizations that foster community connections and primarily rely on volunteers to operate.
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Arts Services Consultant - Communications
Overview

This grant provides annual funding to arts-based organizations that foster community connections and primarily rely on volunteers to carry out their mission and mandates.

Who can apply

Eligible Applicants

To be eligible for Volunteer Based Arts Organizations operating funding, organizations must:

  • have public programming and participation in the film and video, literary, visual arts, and/or performing arts (dance, music, theatre) as their primary purpose and principal mandate, as stated in their incorporation documents.
  • be legally registered and operating in Alberta for a minimum of one full fiscal year, and in good standing, under one of the following Acts:
    Provincial Legislation:
    - Societies Act of Alberta
    - Companies Act of Alberta, Part 9 (Nonprofit companies)
    Federal Legislation:
    - Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act and registered in Alberta under Part 21 of the Business Corporations Act
    - Special Act of the Parliament of Canada
    - Income Tax Act of Canada, operating in the Province of Alberta as a charity

Eligible organizations must also:

  • have an Alberta-based address
  • have 50% or more of their board members living in Alberta
  • demonstrate good governance principles, effective administration practices, and a commitment to fiscal responsibility
  • operate as a stand-alone arts organization, at arms-length from municipalities, commercial enterprises, or organizations and institutions receiving annual operating funding from other Government of Alberta sources or their affiliates

First-time applicants:

If this is your organization’s first application for AFA operating funding, you must contact the AFA at least three months before the deadline for a preliminary eligibility assessment and program fit.

As a first-time applicant, your organization must provide board-approved financial statements that demonstrate the organization has positive net assets immediately prior to application.

Ineligible Organizations:

The following applicants are not eligible for AFA operating funding:

  • municipalities
  • for-profit organizations
  • funding agencies or other funders
  • organizations not registered under one of the above-mentioned Acts
  • organizations  that primarily benefit those outside of Alberta
  • organizations engaged primarily in competition-based activities or events
  • organizations  focused on the applied arts including, but not limited to, gaming, architecture, interior design, commercial photography, graphic arts, and fashion design
  • organizations that are eligible for operating funding under another AFA funding opportunity
  • organizations  with overdue or incomplete accounting/reporting related to any grant previously awarded by the AFA or Alberta Arts, Culture and Status of Women
  • individual and collectives 
     
What does this funding support?

This program supports arts organizations that foster a strong sense of community in the arts through the engagement of the voluntary sector. Funding supports a broad range of artistic activities, including the production, presentation, and dissemination of artistic works and/or providing artists with support in alignment with an organization’s mission and mandate.

This funding supports organizations that rely primarily on volunteers to foster a strong sense of community participation and shared purpose with minimal or no paid staff.

Acceptable use of funds:

AFA operating funding supports expenses including, but not limited to:

  • fees for artists, curators, and technicians
  • cultural protocol, including honoraria, tobacco offering and fees for Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and Cultural Advisors
  • production and programming
  • marketing, communications, and promotion
  • salaries and professional fees
  • rent, utilities, and insurance
  • maintenance of equipment, fixed assets, and costs for facility operations
  • other expenses as required to fulfill your organization's mandate

Unacceptable use of funds:

AFA operating funding cannot be used for expenses including, but not limited to:

  • scholarships, prizes, gratuities, and awards and payments for individual benefit
  • endowment funds
  • third-party funding to another organization, including donations, grants, scholarships, or prizes
  • consignment fees
  • capital costs for renovations or facility improvements, land or facility purchase, and major equipment and/or vehicle purchase
  • bad debt or debt reduction
  • other expenses deemed unreasonable by the AFA
How to apply

The AFA only accepts applications through Alberta’s Digital Grants Service (DGS). To access DGS and apply for funding, applicants must first register an Alberta.ca Account for Organizations, which enables you to conduct business with the Alberta government on behalf of your organization.

Full details on how to create and manage your Alberta.ca account are available at Alberta.ca Account for Business Use. Once your account has been created, use your Alberta.ca log-in credentials to sign in directly to DGS and submit your application.

Applications must be received through DGS no later than 11:59 p.m. Mountain Standard Time on the deadline date. If the deadline falls on a statutory holiday or a weekend, it will be extended until the next working day. Late applications will not be accepted. 

Applications will be ineligible for consideration if incomplete, or the applicant has overdue or incomplete accounting/reporting related to any grant previously awarded by the AFA or Alberta Arts, Culture and Status of Women.

What to include in your application:

  • Contacts: Includes a primary contact for your application that will be the point of contact for any communications regarding your application or application status.
  • Board of Directors: Includes a list of all board members for the applying organization, as well as their position titles, cities, term start dates, phone numbers and emails.
  • People: Includes a tallied summary of staff and volunteers engaged by your organization. Does not include artists or artist groups paid for performances, presentations, exhibitions, workshops, etc.
  • Artistic Programming: Includes a tallied summary of public programming and events, participating artists and artists fees paid, attendees and program participants, and event revenue (when applicable). Also includes samples of promotional material demonstrating AFA logo recognition requirements.
  • Revenue and Expenditures: 
      - Includes a summary of revenues according to earned revenue, net investment income (when applicable), public funding, private sector/fundraising/donations, and other revenues. Revenues must match total revenues as reported on your included financial statements.
      - Includes a summary of expenditures according to artistic programming, facilities, marketing and communications, fundraising, and administration expenses. Expenses must match total expenditures as reported on your included financial statements.
     - Includes a summary of ineligible expenses that will be deducted from your total expenses used to determine your eligible grant request, as outlined in the How will my application be assessed section of the program guidelines.
     - Your organization’s most recent, board-approved annual financial statements. See note below on Acceptable Financial Statements.
  • Diligence Questionnaire: Includes brief questions on successes, changes to finances, programming objectives, and changes to banking information (when applicable).
  • Planned Activities: Includes a summary of upcoming artistic programming and activities
  • Applicant Agreement: All sections of the application must be completed before the agreement can be signed. A user with signing authority for the applying organization must log into DGS to complete this task.

Acceptable financial statements:

For returning applicants, the level of financial statements required are determined by an organization’s prior year AFA grant. Financial statements must include a Balance Sheet, Statement of Revenues and Expenditures, and Statement of Cash Flows. If the prior year grant was:

  • $25,000 or less include, at minimum, a financial statement approved and signed by the treasurer and two additional board members
  • $25,001 to $50,000 include, at minimum, a Notice to Reader or Compilation Engagement financial statement provided by an independent, professionally designated accountant
  • $50,000 to $100,000 include, at minimum, a Review Engagement financial statement provided by an independent, professionally designated accountant
  • $100,001 or higher include a full Audited financial statement provided by an independent, professional designated accountant

For first-time applicants, board-approved financial statements should comprise a Balance Sheet, Statement of Revenues and Expenditures, and Statement of Cash Flows. The level of financial statement is determined by your organization, but future applications must meet the conditions outlined above.

How will my application be assessed?

Funding awarded through this program is determined based on an organization’s most recent, board-approved financial statements and according to:

  • total eligible expenses to a maximum of 10 per cent
    - organizations located outside the Calgary and Edmonton metropolitan regions may be eligible for an additional 2 per cent subject to available funds
  • equitable distribution of available funds to all eligible applicants

For the purposes of your grant request, total eligible expenses exclude any costs associated with:

  • amortization or depreciation expenses
  • capital expenses
  • third-party funding
  • consignment fees paid to artists
  • public sector in-kind or non-cash contributions

Funding for Volunteer Based Arts Organizations is established by the AFA Board of Directors based upon the annual AFA budget allocated by the Government of Alberta. Department staff evaluate applications according to eligibility criteria and prepare recommendations to the board, which reviews and approves all funding.

All decisions are final and no appeals will be considered.

When will I hear?

Applicants will receive email notification upon AFA board approval, generally between four to six months from the application deadline.

Conditions

Organizations are only eligible to receive support from one AFA operating grant stream at any given time. Multiple applications to the Volunteer Based Arts Organizations program or to other AFA operating grant programs will not be accepted.

Funding is intended for the activities planned for your organization’s current or next fiscal year, based on information provided in your application, and in accordance with the acceptable use of funds. 

The AFA or its authorized representatives may examine your financial and other records to ensure funding is used for its intended purpose:

  • Recipients must return unused portions of the grant to the AFA

The AFA Fair Notice Policy  applies to this grant program. The AFA may cancel, suspend, reduce, or demand repayment of the grant in circumstances where the AFA is concerned with the viability of the organization.

Funding Acknowledgement:

Organizations that receive operating funding must credit the AFA for financial support in any publicity prepared in relation to their activities, including in electronic, print, or visual materials.

  • If your organization fails to satisfy AFA recognition requirements, it may be subject to a 10 per cent funding reduction in subsequent grant applications.
  • Continued failure to meet recognition requirements may result in ineligibility to apply for future AFA funding.

Download versions of the AFA logo and guidelines for usage.

Reporting

Reporting is not required for Volunteer Based Arts Organizations funding.

Helpful resources

Download the Financial Statement Board Approval Signature Form to include with your grant application. 

Visit the Help and Resources section of our website to find additional resources for organizations.

Deadline information

AFA Film and Video Grant Webinars in 2026

Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 6 pm - Register Here
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 6 pm - Register Here

As the AFA's Film and Video Individual Grant deadline approaches on March 2, 2026, Arts Development Consultant Nick Haywood is providing two free webinars for those interested in applying. 

Please note that these funding opportunities are available to independent artists or collectives only. Incorporated companies cannot apply.

AFA Individual Project grants can provide up to $18,000 to support the development of individual Alberta artists, arts administrators, or an ensemble of artists by providing funding for:

  • the development of a specific artistic work
  • to pursue training,
  • to pursue research, or,
  • to pursue marketing activities. 

Nick will be providing tips and other useful information to apply for all project types, helping you develop your funding application and increase your chances of success.

Take a look at the Film and Video Individual Project grant guidelines ahead of the webinar and come with any questions. Nick will be happy to answer them!

Questions? Email nick.haywood@gov.ab.ca 

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Nick will be providing tips and other useful information to apply for all project types, helping you develop your funding application and increase your chances of success.

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AFA Film and Video Grant Webinars in 2026
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Nick will be providing tips and other useful information to apply for all project types, helping you develop your funding application and increase your chances of success.

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AFA Film and Video Grant Webinars in 2026
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Nick will be providing tips and other useful information to apply for all project types, helping you develop your funding application and increase your chances of success.

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BE Collective Connect-Hire Career Expo

On October 27, 2025, 1844 Studios and BE Collective will host the FREE Connect-Hire Career Expo at MacEwan University, bringing together over 15 exhibitors and more than a hundred participants. The event will create a vital bridge between BIPOC jobseekers and Alberta’s film and television employers, offering keynote talks, networking opportunities, and hands-on introductions to career pathways.

Film Screening: Pride vs Prejudice: The Delwin Vriend Story

This Queer History Month, join us for a special screening of Pride vs. Prejudice: The Delwin Vriend Story. This award-winning documentary explores the landmark case of a gay Alberta teacher whose firing led the Supreme Court to take up the issue of sexual orientation as a human right. We’ll open the show with a performance from local drag artist Hot Wheelz! Be sure to stick around after the film for a short Q&A with director Darrin Hagen.

Film Rating: PG

Heather Edwards Theatre Space Available

At Contemporary Calgary, we believe that art sparks conversation, inspires critical thinking, and invites the exploration of new ideas. Guided by this vision, we strive to be a resource for our community while also welcoming new voices and expanding our reach.

Thanks to the generous support of Heather Edwards, we are proud to offer our space at an accessible rate—supporting the presentation of work that is relevant, meaningful, and thought-provoking.

Are you an arts and culture organization, collective, or individual hoping to bring your work to the stage? Do you want to realize your projects with all the equipment of a modern theatre? Contemporary Calgary is seeking community partners to bring engaging cultural experiences to the Heather Edwards Theatre as well as to contribute to the development of Calgary’s performing arts community.

We invite you to share your ideas for this space as we continue to build bridges across communities through shared experiences of contemporary art. If you have an idea and are interested in developing a partnership with us, please visit us at our website at https://www.contemporarycalgary.com/heather-edwards-theatre



 

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Are you an arts and culture organization, collective, or individual hoping to bring your work to the stage? Do you want to realize your projects with all the equipment of a modern theatre? Contemporary Calgary is seeking community partners to bring engaging cultural experiences to the Heather Edwards Theatre as well as to contribute to the development of Calgary’s performing arts community.

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Heather Edwards Theatre Space Available
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Are you an arts and culture organization, collective, or individual hoping to bring your work to the stage? Do you want to realize your projects with all the equipment of a modern theatre? Contemporary Calgary is seeking community partners to bring engaging cultural experiences to the Heather Edwards Theatre as well as to contribute to the development of Calgary’s performing arts community.

Twitter title
Heather Edwards Theatre Space Available
Twitter description

Are you an arts and culture organization, collective, or individual hoping to bring your work to the stage? Do you want to realize your projects with all the equipment of a modern theatre? Contemporary Calgary is seeking community partners to bring engaging cultural experiences to the Heather Edwards Theatre as well as to contribute to the development of Calgary’s performing arts community.

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Dance
Film & video arts
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Calgary
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