In 2014, something remarkable happened for the arts community in Calgary when three arts organizations combined with the dream of turning the former science centre into a contemporary art museum.

Some 10 years later, that dream has turned one of the most beloved buildings in Calgary’s history into a home for some of the most important modern and contemporary art shows that have toured the city.

That, in addition to becoming a major hub for arts that extends to music, film, and performances.

“So much has happened in those 10 years, and so much frankly happened in the many decades before, in realizing a significant contemporary art space in our city,” said Contemporary Calgary CEO David Leinster.

Leinster, who had been involved with contemporary art in Calgary even before Contemporary Calgary was formed, also played a leading role in the expression of interest in transforming the Centennial Planetarium into a gallery.

For him, one of the first successes of the organization was to shepherd that change in January of 2020—just before the pandemic hit—which saw a record 1,241 people visit Contemporary Calgary to see the transformation.

“I think it was based on this built anticipation of one day seeing this space used as a contemporary art gallery that caused a tremendous imagination in the community, and they really showed up. So, that was an exciting moment,” he said.

“I remember standing there with Mayor Nenshi at the time with our board chair Elizabeth Carson, and looking out over the atrium, and there wasn’t a single spot where you could sit. I remember feeling a tremendous amount of pride and seeing faces that had been a part of this vision, for literally decades, standing there cheering us on with big smiles on their faces.”

Just seven weeks later, the gallery was forced to close to the public due to the spread of Covid-19 worldwide.

Leinster said one of the proudest things that the gallery was able to do was to keep its obligations to artists by being able to mount exhibitions, despite restrictions.

“We mounted incredible exhibitions featuring the work of Yoko Ono and Senegalese painter Omar Ba, we mounted exhibitions with local artists like Corri-Lynn Tetz and Simone Elizabeth Saunders, and many other incredible exhibitions in that time that honoured the space and worked through the challenges,” he said.

“There’s just so many exhibitions that have come since. There’s dozens of them that have really inspired the community.”

Among the transformations of the science centre included a renovated Flanagan Family Gallery, Morris and Ann Dancyger Observatory Gallery, and a restoration of the Pleiades Theatre.

The latter of which is set to be dedicated to Heather Edwards later this month.

“We envision it as a space not just for contemporary art, but partnerships and collaborations with other arts organizations, and to be generous in the way that our building is not just our building, it’s the community’s building. So we curate and partner with One Yellow Rabbit and the Calgary International Film Festival and Sound Atlas festival, Chamberfest West, and countless other organizations and individuals,” said Leinster.

“That’s really what makes me so proud, and I know our entire team so proud, is that this is a place that has been as much more than just an art gallery. It is a place in our community that celebrates many different forms of artistic expression and that’s what makes us, I think, unique.”

What has happened is Contemporary Calgary has become not only recognized within the city as a place of artistic excellence but also internationally, he said.

“The expression that I always hear people say is ‘Calgary having a cultural renaissance,’ because all they’re hearing about is all the incredible things that are happening out here. I think that’s a point of pride for all of us who work in the arts, who really punch above our weight,” Leinster said.

“We are doing amazing, and the recognition is not just coming out from our own backyard, but right across the country. That makes me feel proud that more than anything, the work that we’re doing is not only resonating here but much further afield.”

Big goal to make art even more accessible for the next decade of visitors

As part of the celebrations for their first decade, and the decade to come, Contemporary Calgary has set itself a lofty goal of getting to 10,000 annual members by Dec. 31—although, said Leinster, that work to bring in more members would be ongoing.

“The push towards membership is really about thinking about Contemporary Calgary in the same way that you think about the library as an institution in our community that you go back to time and time and again. It presents an opportunity for you to learn new things, to explore new ideas, to entertain yourself, to build community,” he said.

“So, like having a library card, we want everybody in Calgary to come to the gallery and experience the incredible programming that we have. We’re not a museum. We are an exhibiting gallery.”

That distinction was that the art on display and the programming taking place are constantly changing, he said.

“Contemporary Calgary isn’t a place that you’ve done your annual trip to the gallery, because you have missed 16 other experiences,” Leinster said.

Part of the campaign as well was to try and break down that barrier of what kind of knowledge a person has to have when walking in the door.

Italian artist Paola Pivi, who opened her show at Contemporary Calgary—her first ever major institutional show in Canada—spoke to that by saying for her show there was no need to have any knowledge about art to enjoy her works.

“Do you need a degree in forestry management to have a walk in a park?” Pivi said.

Quoting her philosophy, Leinster said that you don’t need to know anything about contemporary art to come and immerse yourself.

“I loved how she said that, because I think it applies directly to how we think about this art gallery in the community. This is a place where it is accessible to attend, the content is far-reaching, and it represents so many diverse and incredible voices from artists here, nationally and around the world,” he said.

“We want every single Calgarian to come, and we would just encourage people to really just dip their toe if they’ve never been. We promise that they will have a meaningful experience.”

That experience is also one of the least expensive in Calgary, as a visit costs $12 and an annual membership costs $24. Calgarians who already have a Calgary Public Library card, they can check out a membership at branch locations for free.

“It’s $2 a month to have incredible art experiences all year round,” said Leinster.

“We would encourage everybody in Calgary to consider, if they want to do something nice for somebody, to give them the gift of art, and give them the gift of experience, and give them the gift of connection in our communities.”

For more details on visiting Contemporary Calgary, or purchasing annual memberships as holiday gifts, www.contemporarycalgary.com/visit-us.