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{{more citations needed|date=July 2015}} {{Infobox company | name = Arts Commons | logo = [[File:Arts_Commons_Logo.png|250px]] | caption = | trading_name = | native_name = | native_name_lang = <!-- Use ISO 639-2 code, e.g. "fr" for French. If there is more than one native name, in different languages, enter those names using {{tl|lang}}, instead. --> | romanized = | former type = | type = [[Nonprofit organization|Not-for-profit]]<br/>[[Charitable organizations (Canada)|Registered Canadian charity]] | traded_as = | industry = | foundation = {{Start date|1985}} | founder = | defunct = | location_city = [[Calgary]], [[Alberta]] | location_country = Canada | locations = <!-- Number of locations, stores, offices &c. --> | area_served = | key_people = Alex Sarian ([[President (corporate title)|President]] & [[CEO]]) | products = | production = | services = | num_employees = | parent = | divisions = | subsid = | homepage = {{URL|http://artscommons.ca}} | footnotes = | intl = | bodystyle = }} '''Arts Commons''' (Formerly EPCOR Centre for the Performing Arts<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arts Commons {{!}} The Canadian Encyclopedia |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/epcor-centre-for-the-performing-arts |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca}}</ref>) is a multi-venue [[arts centre]] in [[Downtown Calgary|downtown]] [[Calgary, Alberta]], Canada, located in the [[Olympic Plaza (Calgary)|Olympic Plaza]] Cultural District. Occupying a full city block, Arts Commons is a multi-level complex measuring over {{convert|560000|sqft|m2}}. It is one of the three largest arts centres in Canada and is home to six resident companies, including [[Alberta Theatre Projects]], Arts Commons Presents, [[Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra]], Downstage, [[One Yellow Rabbit]], and [[Theatre Calgary]]. Approximately 200 community groups make use of Arts Commons facilities every year. In addition to a variety of performance and gathering spaces, Arts Commons also houses rehearsal halls, theatre workshops, offices, meeting rooms, a café, and visual and media arts galleries. ==History== [[File:JackSingerExterior.jpg|thumb]] The oldest part of the city block that houses Arts Commons is the [[Burns Building]], named after noted Calgarian [[Patrick Burns (businessman)|Pat Burns]]. Construction began in April 1912 and was completed at a cost of $350,000. In the late 1970s, the demolition of the Burns Building became a possibility, because it was on land needed for the construction of the Calgary Centre for the Performing Arts. Demolition proposals were defeated by the Calgary City Council by one vote, and, along with the [[Calgary Public Building]] (built in 1930/31 at a cost of almost $2 million), the building was incorporated into the plan for the Arts Centre. In 1979, the Public Building was bought by the City of Calgary for $3.8 million and its upper floors are still occupied by City of Calgary offices. The newly created Centre was officially opened on September 14, 1985 by the then [[Premier of Alberta]] [[Peter Lougheed]]. After a donation by [[EPCOR]], an [[Edmonton]], Alberta-based utilities company, the name was changed to the '''EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts''' on May 1, 2001. On December 17, 2014, at the Annual General Meeting, it was publicly announced that the performing arts centre would be rebranded as '''Arts Commons''', the name which represents "the Arts" and which expands the organization's offerings beyond the performing arts to a wider variety of arts and genres. "Commons" is derived from the old town square concept where ideas are shared, people from all walks of life gather, and different perspectives are welcomed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.artfulconversations.com/transcriptions/2019/1/4/ep-4-johann-zietsman|title=Ep. 4: Johann Zietsman|website=Artful Conversations|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-16}}</ref> ==Amenities offered== Almost 400,000 people attend 1800-plus performances and events each year at the Arts Commons, including productions and presentations by the six resident companies, including [[Alberta Theatre Projects]], Arts Commons Presents, [[Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra]], Downstage, [[One Yellow Rabbit]], and [[Theatre Calgary]]. Such events include live theatre, dance, spoken word and readings, children's events, experimental theatre, art exhibits, public forums, weddings, training sessions, meetings, arts education activities, sporting events and competition, award ceremonies and live music concerts ranging from symphonic to jazz, to folk, blues, world, and rock. ==Performance and other facilities== * '''Jack Singer Concert Hall''', with 1,800 seats, “the Jack” is the largest venue in the building. Suspended above the stage is a 185,000-pound laminated [[spruce]]-wood acoustical canopy, which can be raised or lowered to tune the hall according to the specific needs of each performer. Named for [[Jack Singer]], the Concert Hall is the permanent home of the [[Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra]], which employs 65 full-time musicians, and the 6,040-pipe Carthy Organ. * '''Max Bell Theatre''' is a 750-seat theatre and is home to [[Theatre Calgary]]. * '''Martha Cohen Theatre''' is a 418-seat theatre and is home to [[Alberta Theatre Projects]] (ATP). * '''Big Secret Theatre''' is a 190-seat theatre and is home to [[One Yellow Rabbit]]. * '''Engineered Air Theatre''' is used for concerts, films, plays, weddings, receptions, and galas. Can seat up to 185 theatre-style. * '''Motel Theatre''' is a 50-seat black box, multi-purpose venue used for plays, experimental theatre and performance art and is home to Downstage. ==Activities and performances== Arts Commons Presents is the presenting arm of Arts Commons. Series presented include the BD&P World Stage, Classic Albums Live, National Geographic Live, PCL Blues, and TD Jazz. Arts Commons also offers Arts Education programs (One Day Arts School, The ConocoPhillips Hub for Inspired Learning and Artist-in-Residence). Arts Commons also houses five additional resident companies, including: [[Alberta Theatre Projects]], [[Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra]], Downstage, [[One Yellow Rabbit]], and [[Theatre Calgary]], all of which program their own individual seasons within the spaces of Arts Commons. Collaboration between companies is common and the 6 companies together form the Arts Commons ecosystem. Arts Commons also provides free events for the community, including Arts Commons Cabarets, National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations. == Jordan Peterson Controversy == After the announcement of the University of Toronto professor [[Jordan Peterson]] giving a lecture at Arts Commons was announced, several Calgarian art groups addressed an open letter<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfpTG-2F9jLUt357wCZ4dXCNTWEl8LqojPk6YVAVqDc5xHJBg/viewform?c=0&w=1|title=Open Letter to Arts Commons re: Jordan Peterson|work=Google Docs|access-date=2018-09-10}}</ref> to the Arts Commons' Board of Directors on July 24, 2018. The letter demanded that the event be canceled, that they provide diversity training for their staff, and issue a public apology to the "LGBT community".<ref>2SLGBTQIA = Two-Spirited, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Asexual & Aromantic, Intersex, and beyond. See, for example: ([https://nsrap.ca/ NSRAP]) A similar acronym 2SLGBTQQIA means Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning,intersex, and asexual.</ref> It expressed the "deep shock and disappointment" that the artists and organizations signing the letter felt over Arts Commons' choice to host the speaker, who in the past has been criticized for his online and public arguments against government mandated speech laws<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/outintheopen/freedom-ltd-1.4505386/i-decided-a-long-time-ago-that-i-was-going-to-pay-for-saying-what-i-thought-1.4505538|title='I decided a long time ago that I was going to pay for saying what I thought' {{!}} CBC Radio|work=CBC|access-date=2018-09-10|language=en-US}}</ref> and his opposition to [[Bill C-16]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/11/19/new-words-trigger-an-abstract-clash-on-campus-dimanno.html|title=New words trigger an abstract clash on campus: DiManno {{!}} The Star|work=thestar.com|access-date=2018-09-10|language=en}}</ref> The letter was signed by staff of several small artist run [[Canadian artist-run centres|centres]], including [[Untitled Art Society]], [[TRUCK Contemporary Art in Calgary]], [[Stride Gallery]], [[The New Gallery]], other organizations such as the M:ST Performance Artist Festival Society and VOICESYYC, and over 1200 individual signatures.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/arts-commons-censorship-1.4818284|title=Arts Commons accused of censorship for removing LGBTQ artist's work|work=CBC|access-date=2018-09-13|language=en-US}}</ref> A responding statement<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/petition-calls-for-arts-commons-to-cancel-speech-by-controversial-professor-jordan-peterson|title='We value diversity': Controversial professor will speak despite petition, says Arts Commons|date=2018-07-26|work=Calgary Herald|access-date=2018-09-10|language=en-US}}</ref> written by the CEO of Arts Commons at the time, Johann Zietsman, expressed Arts Commons' support for free speech which meant, "not censoring someone because we don't agree with what they have to say." The event was not canceled and was held on July 27, 2018. == Censorship Controversy == In early September 2018, [[The New Gallery]] released a statement describing the circumstances of what it said was censorship of [[Transgender|trans]] artist, [[Beck Gilmer-Osborne]], exhibiting in a vitrine space within the Arts Commons building and Calgary [[+15]] Network.<ref>{{Cite web|title=B.G-Osborne's A THOUSAND CUTS: Misconceptions of Trans People in Popular Culture|url=https://lumaquarterly.com/issues/volume-four/014-fall/b-g-osbournes-a-thousand-cuts-misconceptions-of-trans-people-in-popular-culture/|access-date=2021-07-30|website=Luma Quarterly|language=en-US}}</ref> The New Gallery's said Arts Commons had turned off the 3-channel video work being exhibited in the space because, Arts Commons said, it contained swearing and nudity that had garnered complaints from patrons. On August 29, 2018 Arts Commons sent The New Gallery a letter saying the video work would have to be edited to remove the nudity and coarse language or the artwork would be taken down.<ref name="cbc.ca">{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/arts-commons-censorship-1.4818284|title=Calgary venue accused of censorship for removing transgender artist's work {{!}} CBC News|work=CBC|access-date=2018-09-13|language=en-US}}</ref> In response, on September 8, 2018, the exhibiting artist, B.G-Osborne, stated "rather than re-edit and censor my work to comfort certain viewers who are offended by the very banal acts of swearing and non-sexual nudity, I have decided to remove the piece from the space entirely." Arts Commons programming director Jennifer Johnson said in an emailed statement to [[CBC News|CBC]] that "while Arts Commons believes the piece, A Thousand Cuts, has merit, the language and images contained in the video and audio component are not a fit with our commitment to creating a public space for all."<ref name="cbc.ca"/> In 2006, Arts Commons (at the time the "EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts") also received criticism for censoring a transgender artist who was exhibiting in the same +15 walk way space with another of Calgary's artist run centre galleries, [[TRUCK Contemporary Art in Calgary]].<ref name=":0" /> A temporary wall was installed throughout the length of the walk way that blocked the view of the gallery space save for a smaller entrance that could be accessed on the opposite side of the walk way. The artwork was titled, 'Gaylord Phoenix in the Flower Temple' and depicted a cartoon of a gender-fluid man, touching his genitals (drawn as a noodle with paisley patterns). ==See also== *[[List of concert halls]] ==References== {{Reflist}} {{Commons}} {{Calgary landmarks}} {{Authority control}} {{Coord|51.0452|-114.0593|type:landmark_region:CA|format=dms|display=title}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Arts Commons}} [[Category:Performing arts centres in Canada]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Calgary]] [[Category:Theatre in Calgary]] [[Category:Music venues in Calgary]] [[Category:Theatres in Edmonton]]
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