Storytelling Podcast Living a Creative Life

As an artist, covering medical costs or seeing yourself through a life-altering event can sometimes mean the difference between getting by and falling through the cracks financially. Elephant Artist Relief Society was founded in 2007 to assist artists who find themselves in these situations, and when Marianne Elder joined its team as a manager, being a community builder and artist herself, she saw an opportunity to help build up the arts community here in Calgary.

Tune into this week's Storytelling Podcast to hear more about Marianne Elder's work with Elephant Artist Relief Society, the impact it's had on the community and the origin of the organization's name.

June is National Indigenous History Month, and Sable Sweetgrass, Director of Engagement and Reconciliation at Calgary Arts Development (CADA), is excited about all that is happening — not just the numerous celebrations around Calgary, but also some new opportunities for Indigenous artists, including creating more Indigenous representation in public art.

Photo: Sable Sweetgrass

The reimagined BMO Centre is officially open to the public, and art that reflects the land and people of southern Alberta is proudly at the forefront. In this podcast, we hear from two of the people who have been key to making art such a significant part of the new building. The works featured — both inside and out — were carefully chosen and curated, starting with a massive new addition at the main entrance.

Tune into this week's Storytelling Podcast to hear more about the artists feature in and around the new BMO Centre, and how the Calgary Stampede Foundation plans to continue to promote art both locally and internationally.

When Harvey Nichol found himself having to make some hard choices after moving to Calgary/Mohkinsstsis from Manila as a teenager, he couldn't have known that the struggles he was currently facing would indirectly guide him into a career as an artist.

Photo: David Jaesun

When Słavek Pytraczyk had the opportunity to create public artworks for banners on bridges and lightposts leading into the downtown core, he invited Calgarians to participate by identifying their favourite works of architecture.

Słavek is an interdisciplinary artist whose work focuses on photography and mixed media. As a Polish immigrant who moved to Canada back in the late 1980s, Słavek fell in love with the hustle and bustle of the big city.

Photo: Brendon Many Bears & Slavek Pytraczyk

Calgary-based artist and community builder Stacey Perlin encourages positive and constructive conversations around mental health.

Tune in to this week’s Storytelling Podcast to learn more about Stacey Perlin and how she took lessons from her own challenges and the search for answers to create the Perlin Foundation for Wellbeing.

Photo: Stacey Perlin