Dr. Vote’s Clinic for Not Caring
by Fem Assembly
A mock medical clinic that treated voter apathy. Set up at student centers in universities, Dr. Vote’s Clinic for Not Caring provided prescription of hope through civic participation — and trustworthy voter information.
“We had so many meaningful conversations. Several were new voters, and seeing them grow their excitement to vote was so wonderful. We had several eligible voters who planned not to vote thinking they couldn’t, but they learned they could. We also had many people who planned to vote but couldn’t find information, and we filled that information gap.”
Project Your Voice
by CRATE-IVE CREW
A hands-on, art-meets-action pop-up that invited Calgarians to illuminate their hopes for the city’s future. Participants created messages and mini projectors that became part of public projection artworks, lighting up the city with community voices and ideas.
“Participants were energized by the idea of literally illuminating their voices — casting their words and hopes onto public spaces. The projections transformed their creative messages into something visible and shared, sparking curiosity among both participants and onlookers.”
Make Your Move Matter
by Error 404 Dance Collective Not Found
An action to connect, dance, and feel the power of moving to vote. This interactive street performance was a playful opportunity for Calgarians to learn their civic power.
“It was wonderful to witness how eager people were. Participants were enthusiastic to dance, move, and watch, showing genuine excitement and openness. In a very short amount of time, we were able to build a beautiful community, connecting people who hadn’t met before through movement, shared words, and playful interaction.”
Silent Protest
by Ayo Collective
An invitation for BIPOC Calgarians to reclaim their presence in civic decision-making. Columns of empty chairs filled with cardboard signs and paper silhouettes represented voices that are all-too-absent in civic spaces. Members of the collective talked to people who stopped to view the interactive installation about participation, visibility, and belonging.
“One visitor stopped in front of the empty chairs and said, ‘It feels like this is what our community looks like at the polls — half the seats are still empty.’ That comment sparked a group conversation among strangers about what it means to ‘show up,’ not just for yourself but for your city. It was a reminder that art can create space for reflection and connection in everyday public places.”
Crafting Chinese Civic Engagement
by Triple A Club
A community art initiative to help Chinese newcomers understand Calgary’s civic systems. The multimodal project included a civic toolkit in Mandarin, a ceramic tile workshop, and group visits to local art events that fostered belonging and participation.
“We were surprised by the depth of community engagement. What started as a single project evolved into a self-sustaining community, where members now help each other navigate Calgary’s civic and cultural life.”
The Process
Creating Our Calgary was a four-part program.
1. Kickoff Intensive
We started with a 3-day, in-person inspiration and ideation intensive in the summer. The collectives ended the intensive with starter ideas for their projects — plus lots of new friends and tools for their work.
2. Campaign Testing and Development
In the late summer and early fall, the collectives continued to develop their projects. They workshopped, prototyped, and iterated, and they also connected with local community groups for greater reach.
3. Final Activations
In the lead-up to the elections, the collectives realized the full versions of their projects. Together, they reached over 17,500 Calgarians!
4. Evaluation
We wrapped up the program by evaluating everything that happened and strategizing how to continue to advance a culture of artist-led civic participation in Calgary.
Success Together
The program was only a success because of our partners. A HUGE thanks to:
- Helen, Cherie, Greg, and everyone at CADA for their vision in the program and trust in us to help lead it,
- Tyson of Recess Calgary, who was a seamless partner in facilitation and vital faunt of local activism and art,
- the 16 incredible artist participants, who pushed themselves out of their comfort zones and made projects more successful than we could have dreamed, and
- all the Calgarians who came to learn about the projects in November.
