With Calgary’s current cultural plan timeframe set to expire, the push is on to chart the path forward on the next 10 years of the city’s creative evolution.
Councillors approved further debate on a potential long-term arts, music, culture and creative economy strategy, as a Notice of Motion sponsored by several members passed technical merit at the April 14, 2026, Executive Committee meeting.
The motion called for a long-term cultural vision for Calgary that brought together all genres of the arts, tying it together with positive economic outcomes. It would be a comprehensive plan for economic impact, talent attraction, tourism development and the capital spending requirements to execute the plan.
It would establish clear and measurable outcomes and performance indicators to track ongoing progress in Calgary’s arts, music, cultural and creative economy.
Ward 6 Coun. John Pantazopoulos said that the city has the Route Ahead strategy for transit and transportation, GamePlan for recreations, Home is Here for housing – so it made sense to develop a Calgary long-term strategy for arts and culture.
“As we build a world class city, we get to 2 million people, let’s have a cultural plan, arts and creative industries, as well plans that we can guide for it as we move forward,” he said.
Pantazopoulos said that it was important to make clear the tie between arts and culture investments and the value of the creative economy.
“I think it’s massive. I think when you look at the strategic plan for Calgary Economic Development, creative Industries is a cornerstone,” he said.
“It’s something, whether you think of the film industry, whether the art industry, you name it, it is a huge component. Arts, by definition, cannot just be based on what drives the best rate of return from an economics perspective, but it creates all of those synergies across the whole city.”
Arts, economy support for long term Calgary culture plan
An October 2025 update on the impact of Calgary’s creative industries, put together by Root Economy for Calgary Economic Development, showed that in 2022 (the latest available data), the creative sector in Calgary contributed $2.63 billion in direct revenue, and $1.33 billion in GDP.
Calgary Economic Development, the National Music Centre and the Werklund Centre (formerly Arts Commons) all provided letters of support for the proposed Calgary long-term arts and culture strategy.
Brad Parry, President and CEO of Calgary Economic Development wrote that they support the focus on measurable outcomes, integrated planning and strong partnerships across sectors, including the creative economies.
“Across the city, creative industries are diversifying our economy, creating jobs, attracting investment and strengthening Calgary’s appeal as a place to build a career,” he said.
“From film and television to digital media, design and lived experiences, the creative economy also plays an important role in downtown revitalization and in building more connected communities.”
Andrew Mosker, President and CEO of the National Music Centre, said that they see firsthand the impact of a strategic investment in the arts and culture in Calgary.
“This motion represents an important and timely step toward establishing a coordinated, forward-looking approach to growing Calgary’s arts, culture, and creative economy, especially as it relates to Calgary emergence as a recognized music city,” he wrote in an attached submission.
“As one of Canada’s fastest-growing cities, Calgary has a significant opportunity to align its cultural vision with broader economic, tourism, and city-building objectives, ensuring that creativity remains a central pillar of its future prosperity.”
While the Notice of Motion was approved on technical merit, it will still need to be approved at a full meeting of Calgary city council. If it’s approved there, the motion calls for a proposed strategy to be brought back by the end of 2027.
