Mayoral Candidate Information
All candidates were asked to respond to the following questions:
1. How do you experience the arts in Calgary? What are some of your recent experiences?
2. What role do you see for the arts in building a strong, vibrant Calgary in the future?
3. Other than in the municipal budget, how would you champion the arts in the community as a city councillor or as mayor - to funders, the business community, and constituents?
4. Given what you know about the importance of the arts in building a competitive, prosperous city and your position on public arts funding, please choose which of the following statements best aligns with your perspective:
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I believe a thriving, prosperous city must have a vibrant arts scene in order to succeed. The municipal government should prioritize finding strategic ways to increase investment in the arts sector.
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I believe Calgary currently has many important civic priorities, including the arts. Current municipal investment in the arts is sufficient and should be maintained at its current level.
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I believe the arts are a nice-to-have, not a need-to-have for Calgary. Calgary is facing a diverse range of challenges and it is not viable for municipal arts funding to remain at its current level.
Below are their responses verbatim, with no edits or omissions.
#1: We [The Calgary Party] experience the arts in Calgary both as active supporters and engaged audience members. Members of our team have played leadership roles—professionally and as volunteers—in shaping the arts community, helping build platforms and spaces where creativity thrives. At the same time, we deeply value being part of the audience: attending Folk Fest, catching performances at Alberta Theatre Projects, enjoying Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra concerts, and visiting local exhibitions and galleries. We've also experienced the arts through family outings, sharing Calgary’s creative spirit with the next generation. From boardrooms to back rows, the arts have been a meaningful and multifaceted part of our lives in this city.
#1: I like going with my wife to everything from local theatre to Arts Commons Classic Rock Live. I like enjoying the arts with my family. I want to expose my children to the arts as it will only enrich their lives. I have 3 children. They are 16, 12 and 10.
#2: The arts must be treated as foundational to Calgary’s future—not an afterthought. A truly vibrant, world-class city embeds arts and culture into its economic, civic, and community-building strategies. From drawing in tourism to supporting talent attraction and retention, the arts play a critical role in shaping Calgary’s identity and economic strength. A strong cultural scene helps fuel the hospitality industry, adds to our quality of life, and drives broader investment by making Calgary a more desirable place to live, work, and play. Culture contributes $5.3 billion annually to Alberta’s economy and creates over 53,000 jobs. While many artists face low wages, the broader impact of the sector is undeniable. Whether it’s Folk Fest bringing thousands to our parks, or local theatre and music scenes engaging Calgarians and newcomers alike, the arts are essential infrastructure for a future-focused city. If we want to attract global talent, keep young people here, and grow our local economy, investing in the arts isn’t optional—it’s strategic.
#3: As a mayor or city councillor, championing the arts goes far beyond budget lines — it’s about reframing the sector as a driver of economic, social, and civic growth. To funders and the business community, we would position arts and culture as essential to Calgary’s competitive edge that requires both public and private sector investment. . Culture contributes $5.3 billion annually to Alberta’s economy and supports over 53,000 jobs. A thriving arts scene is directly tied to tourism, hospitality, talent retention, and innovation. We would actively seek cross-sector partnerships that embed the arts into economic development, infrastructure projects, and placemaking strategies, treating artists as co-creators of Calgary’s future. We would encourage the business community to do their part, by investing in the arts, through sponsorships, philanthropy or engaging artists for their events. To constituents, we would highlight the lived experience: Calgarians engage in an average of 2.5 cultural activities each month. Arts are already a core part of people’s lives — whether through festivals, local theatre, music, or public art. We would champion grassroots arts initiatives, support activation of public spaces, and advocate for better access to affordable arts venues, including in underserved communities. Ultimately, we would use our platform to celebrate artists as builders of the city’s spirit, economy, and shared identity — and ensure their work is valued and visible across Calgary.
Statement Chosen:
I believe a thriving, prosperous city must have a vibrant arts scene in order to succeed. The municipal government should prioritize finding strategic ways to increase investment in the arts sector.
#2: A vibrant arts sector is incredibly important in attracting global talent to Calgary. The arts play a big part in building a strong community. The arts provide a 7 to 1 return on the monies invested. Many studies have been done to show the incredible economic impact of the arts.
#3: I would continue to remind Calgarians of the economic impact of the arts. I would make attending arts events a priority for me as Mayor. I would also encourage all of City Council to get out and support the arts. During my term as City Councillor from 2017 to 2021, i was part of a group responsible for the largest increase to CADA's budget at that time. We also supported Arts Commons as one of 3 'Mega' arts projects in downtown Calgary. I would continue to champion our film industry and help bring more productions to our City like the 'Last of Us'..
Statement Chosen:
I believe a thriving, prosperous city must have a vibrant arts scene in order to succeed. The municipal government should prioritize finding strategic ways to increase investment in the arts sector.
#1: As a kid in Dover, I rarely saw the arts up close. Creativity wasn’t missing—but the outlets for it were. We didn’t have galleries down the street or weekend theatre camps in the community hall. No one I knew had a piano in their house or took dance classes after school. I didn’t know what a dress rehearsal was, or that there were careers in the arts beyond being “famous.” It wasn’t until later in life—thanks to groups like the National Access Arts Centre, the Burns Visual Arts Society, Loose Moose Theatre, and the Magyar Gala, where I perform the traditional Hungarian polotás and Viennese waltz dances each year—that I truly began to understand how essential the arts are to every part of life. More recently, seeing the performances of amazing Calgarians at the recent Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts and attending Alberta Theatre Project’s opening night performance of “King James” affirmed how lucky we are to have a vibrant art culture in Calgary.
#2: In the next decade, Calgary may grow to 3 million people. This may be the biggest challenge and opportunity we’ll ever face—and we won’t meet the moment without our city’s creators, storytellers, and placemakers. Every kid, and every Calgarian, deserves access to the arts—not just as entertainment, but as a path to belonging, confidence, and economic opportunity. The creative sector contributes billions to Canada's GDP, fuels tourism, drives innovation, and helps cities compete for talent and investment. The arts are deeply connected to everything from tech to film to hospitality to real estate. For Calgary to be an economic leader, we need to treat the arts and community spaces not as “nice-to-haves,” but as a critical strategic advantage. And creative work is economic work. To drive growth, attract talent, and diversify our economy, we must better connect the arts with innovation, tech, and business.
#3: I released 25 commitments in my "The Arts Mean Business" Policy Brief that includes: Supporting the arts in every neighbourhood As mayor, I will: 1. Work with community associations and expand community investment grant streams to establish mini cultural hubs across the city, using National Access Arts Centre and West Hillhurst model as a guide. 2. Incentivize developers to collaborate directly with local artists—not just install art, but integrate creativity into community design. 3. Create a Community Arts Infrastructure Fund to support retrofits, expansions, murals, and construction for under-resourced groups—like artist collectives, cultural groups, and inclusive studios. 4. Dedicate a portion of major arts infrastructure investments to smaller, shovel-ready projects under $3M. 5. Champion housing choice and affordability as part of how we build a more creative and competitive city. Whether it’s a young artist renting their first place or a senior trying to stay in the neighbourhood they love, I’ll work to ensure Calgary is a city where people of all ages, and incomes, can thrive. Locking in long-term investment: As mayor, I will help support a sense of ownership in how Calgarians view and value the arts: 6. Maintain and index per capita funding for Calgary Arts Development so that support grows with the city and keeps pace with inflation. 7. Require transparency and accountability in all publicly funded arts investments, including clear and measurable goals around community engagement, diversity, and economic impact. 8. Create multi-year operational grant streams for eligible organizations—so they can plan ahead, retain staff, and focus on creation, not just survival. 9. Tie major capital investments (like a new theatre or museum expansion) to required community benefit agreements—e.g., public workshops, youth programming, partnerships with underserved communities. 10. Pilot a "Creative Spaces Guarantee": lean in with support for initiatives like cSPACE Projects’ SpacePilot, working with landlords and nonprofits to secure long-term, affordable space for artists and cultural workers, especially in underutilized city-owned buildings or land. By locking in long-term return on investment, we will give Calgary’s arts sector the stability it needs to grow, innovate, and deliver lasting value to our communities. Elevating Calgary’s creative talent As mayor, to lead efforts to make the arts more visible and valued across the city through, I will: 16. A City of Calgary Artist Laureate Program: Explore partnerships with the private sector to establish a two-year, paid position to elevate one local artist as an ambassador for Calgary’s creative community—helping connect City Hall with cultural sectors. 17. Reimagine the annual Celebration of the Arts into a must-attend high-profile, public-facing celebration of local creators, entrepreneurs, and community builders—by bringing it out into the community, including venues east of the Deerfoot. 18. Launch a Made-in-Calgary Creative Expo: A yearly festival to showcase local film, music, fashion, digital media, and design alongside international partnerships. 19. Work with Tourism Calgary to position arts and culture as a core part of Calgary’s identity to visitors—from Indigenous heritage to street art to cutting-edge galleries. 20. Build a Citywide Creative Directory to help artists connect with opportunities in film, tech, education, and public projects—making it easier for businesses and organizations to hire and spend local. Linking arts to Calgary’s Innovation Economy As mayor, I will: 21. Launch a Creative-Tech Innovation Council to connect artists, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders in joint ventures—from immersive experiences to digital storytelling. 22. Advocate for expanded tax incentives and support for Calgary’s film and digital content industries, positioning Calgary as the most production-friendly city in Canada. 23. Promote local arts and culture in all tourism and economic development strategies, so the world sees creativity as part of Calgary’s identity. 24. Create a Calgary Creators Marketplace to connect local artists and designers with buyers in tech, real estate, hospitality, and public procurement. 25. Develop a “Film-Ready Calgary” strategy to streamline permitting, support services, and training to grow film-sector jobs and investment.
Statement Chosen:
I believe a thriving, prosperous city must have a vibrant arts scene in order to succeed. The municipal government should prioritize finding strategic ways to increase investment in the arts sector.
#1: It has been a privilege to advocate for the arts in Calgary, and to amplify the strength of our arts sector to other orders of government as well as the philanthropic community. In order to be an informed advocate, I have taken the time to meet with sector leaders and attend events that allow me to speak with lived experience and conviction. This ranges from acting as the narrator for the children's performance of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra's production of Peter and the Wolf, to touring Robert Houle's "Red is Beautiful" at Contemporary Calgary, to playing the bass on stage with the house band for the Mayor's Evening of the Arts. I have also been a guest speaker at the Calgary Arts Academy high school graduation ceremony, as well as attending their end of year concert at the Ironwood this past spring. It's my perspective that artists take chances every day, putting themselves and their talents out there for others to experience. I do my best to live with a similar philosophy, of putting myself and my ideas out there for others to consider.
#2: I believe that any strong city has a thriving arts scene, one where local talent can be supported and international talent wants to engage. In Calgary, we have made important moves, like: - our investment in Contemporary Calgary, ensuring that visual arts are publicly accessible; - our investment in both the Glenbow revitalization project and Arts Commons Transformation, creating a physical hub for the arts and reimagining space for the public to engage with performing and visual arts; and - diversifying our approach to music festivals and concerts by leveraging tents during the Calgary Stampede, creating a true music festival experience for the 10-day period. This work was done in partnership with other orders of government, arts-supporting organizations, the private sector and philanthropists, clearly demonstrating that building a strong arts community is truly a public-private partnership. Investing in the arts also accomplishes the goal of strengthening the creative economy, resulting in more jobs and greater contribution to the GDP. Further, the investments in Arts Commons and Glenbow serve to attract further private sector investment in commercial real estate, resulting in a stronger downtown tax base that generates the revenue required to deliver quality public service.
#3: When I became the Ward 3 Councillor in 2017, I took the time to work with my colleagues to help them understand why further investment in the arts was imperative for the future of the city. By building an advocacy package that outlined the mental health and early childhood brain development value of the arts, I was able to gain Council's support to increase arts funding. In addition, I demonstrated the business case for the arts by outlining the positive effect on GDP and job creation. Since the pandemic, I have actively amplified the examples of resilience demonstrated by the arts community. I believe that in addition to funding, it is my role to voice the benefits of the arts in a growing city like Calgary. Early in my term as mayor, I took the time to tour film and television production facilities in the Calgary region, ranging from indoor converted and purpose-built spaces within the city to the ranches and farms that act as locations for a variety of Westerns. Getting to know the operators and understanding their experiences has allowed me to meet with production companies in Los Angeles and assist in attracting new business to Calgary by advocating for our locations, facilities, crews, credit programs and commitment to sustainability. The City of Calgary has also supported the Business and Local Economy team to create a Film Friendly initiative that expedites permits and permissions for timely decisions that allow film and television productions to operate efficiently.
Statement Chosen:
I believe a thriving, prosperous city must have a vibrant arts scene in order to succeed. The municipal government should prioritize finding strategic ways to increase investment in the arts sector.
#1: My favourite way to experience art is Calgary is with my family. Seeing it through the eyes of my two boys is so meaningful. Watching how they respond to music, theatre and visual arts have gifted me with a renewed appreciation for both creativity and storytelling. I especially love seeing how they interpret it and make it their own. Whether through school projects, piano lessons, or even digital ways to create, they appreciate and make art all on their own. They remind me why the arts are so important: because of the joy and discovery that the arts naturally inspires. One tradition that stands out for my family and the arts in Calgary is attending A Christmas Carol each year during the holiday season. It’s more than a tradition that marks the beginning of the holiday season - it’s a reminder of the values of generosity, family and community. I make a point of supporting and celebrating local artists throughout the year. Live events, galleries, shopping at local curated shops, and reading books by Calgary-based authors. I love attending the ballet, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Storybook Theatre, the Civic Symphony, Contemporary Calgary galleries, or open-mic nights at our local pubs. The arts in Calgary are vibrant and diverse, and being a part of it, especially with my kids alongside me, feels both inspiring and grounding. It’s been a powerful way to reconnect with the arts myself, not just as a spectator, but as a parent helping shape their sense of culture and imagination.
#2: The arts means everything to this city. It’s what makes our city rich. The arts play a vital role in building a strong and vibrant Calgary. Art fosters connection, sparks dialogue, and reflect the diversity of our communities in ways that very few other sectors can. That’s why it’s important for City Council to prioritize spaces for arts to grow. As Mayor, I will champion the arts in every corner of our city. Any investment into the arts is also an investment into our economy, community, diversity, and our people. As this city continues to grow, so will its creative economy. I will make that commitment to invest because the arts are a sense of belonging and identity that brings together generations, cultures, and backgrounds. Creativity is so powerful. It fuels innovation in unique business ideas, adding vibrancy to otherwise boring sidewalks and streets, creating jobs, expanding options for post-secondary education, and making our city attractive on the national and global stage. I also believe Calgary’s cultural sector plays a vital role in shaping our identity and how we’re perceived across Canada and around the world. A city that values and elevates its artists and creators becomes a city that is remembered, visited, and respected. The arts are not a sidepiece to growth, they are essential to how we define ourselves moving forward. I want to take that future even one step further, because I know the arts still has more to offer than that. As Mayor, I want to give the arts the recognition it deserves. Some Mayoral candidates will view the arts as a “nice to have”, rather than a “need to have”. That’s not how I see it. I see the arts as a key driver of inclusion, resilience, and a key contributor to making Calgary safe, affordable and attractive. Whether through public art, live performances, festivals, or community-based projects, the arts have the power to animate our neighbourhoods and make Calgary not just a place we live, but a place we’re proud to call home.
#3: Of course budget is the opportunity for City Council to put their money where their mouth is, and that’s really powerful. We have to remember that new artists need support, as this isn’t necessarily a lucrative business but it is an important one. New artists need to be able to count on us, Council and Calgarians, to show them love so they don’t leave our city. But there’s more than that to be done. I’ve always said that I want to be a ‘boring’ Mayor. I shouldn’t be the one in the forefront. I want to empower, elevate, and showcase Calgarians - their work and their art. I’ve seen firsthand in Ward 1 how important it is to give artists a voice at the table, not just during arts-specific conversations, but in broader city-building discussions. Whether it’s local muralists revitalizing underpasses, musicians bringing life to community events, or designers influencing public spaces, I’ve made a point of supporting their work and including them in decision-making. I see a gap in the way the arts community is engaged with The City in infrastructure projects, Planning & Development, and even events that The City hosts. Looking ahead, I want this community to have a seat at the table that is accessible and not just a ‘check-box’. That’s how you show funders, business community, and every day Calgarians that the arts belong here and should thrive here. By bringing the arts along, every step of the way, to fully unlock the potential of attraction, resilience, and cultural vibrancy. Artists are powerful community-builders. The arts are more than performance or display, they’re tools for neighbourhood storytelling, place-making, and building trust among neighbours. When we integrate local creatives into the planning, design, and daily life of our communities, we create stronger, more connected places to live. That’s what putting communities first really looks like. As Mayor, I will honour this commitment. I will be the Mayor that helps Calgary become a city that celebrates its diversity, tells its own stories, and inspires the next generation of creators and change-makers.
Statement Chosen:
I believe a thriving, prosperous city must have a vibrant arts scene in order to succeed. The municipal government should prioritize finding strategic ways to increase investment in the arts sector.
#1: In ev’ry moment art connects us all, And souls of courage share our love ahead. — Library in the Afternoon My friend and I arrived at the pyramid-shaped library, our Fish Creek Library, in the afternoon. Amanda stood at the public desk, calm and certain. “I’m here to study portrait photography,” I said. “People. Calgary. The world.” She nodded once and opened the online catalogue. She wrote numbers and titles on a torn square of paper, filling every corner—the rule is simple: we fill the paper first, then find. Some titles were unavailable, but there was no disappointment. Amanda simply ordered them for me. She smiled, the quiet kind, opened the request screen, and placed a hold on the Steve McCurry volumes downtown. I pictured the Afghan girl, those eyes that never let you go—each photo a window to a connection in time. We walked the aisles. The numbers guided us, and in between we found other things. First came Calgary: floods, streets of mud, old buildings. Farther on, a book of cowboys. Its cover showed a rider and stallion rearing against a landscape in vivid colour. It caught our eyes. “Cowboys? Why not!” Amanda said. Discovery fed discovery. We carried the heavy art books to a small white table. The pages smelled of paper and time. We talked about cameras, lenses, luck, and courage to see beyond.. Then we placed the books on top of the shelf in neat stacks, thanked the place, and stepped back into our ordinary world—ordinary, but never the same. “This is why we study,” I told my friend. “So we know we can do it too, and more.” He agreed. Audio / Visual recording of story: https://www.mayorgus.ca/creative-calgary
#2: Courageous voices echo love through life, Our peaceful acts will guide each path for life. — We free the most valuable capital we have—the social capital of Home and Family, where Healthy Individuals are nurtured through reciprocity. Reclaim TIME for art appreciation and practice. Art sharpens communication, heals trauma, elevates shared stories, and binds families and communities together. Simply put, a 25‑hour work week makes room FOR the art—and the humanity—we cannot afford to lose. Key Targets: Paid work*: 25 hours per week Household administration: 5 hours per week Productivity target: ≈ 3.3 times today’s output per labour dollar Median wage: needs to be about $52 per hour in today's dollars. Property‑tax goals: 0.3 % residential, 1 % commercial Income support: negative‑income‑tax as we see about 11% of workers displaced by automation. *Relevance of paid work related to CURRENCY AS A SERVICE by our federal government: Fractional‑reserve fiat money still rests on the U.S. dollar, and Washington blocks fresh IMF SDR issuances that might dilute it. To protect that primacy, America will keep military spending high, reinforcing the financial‑security loop. As long as no alternative currency model proves itself in real markets and crises, this arrangement will keep capitalism’s hard edges intact for the next generation or two. 🖖
#3: Talent unearthed, refined, then freely shared, Visions align like streams of flowing dreams. — Art appreciation and practice start at home. Children flourish when one person can devote at least two focused years entirely to each child. Human reproduction isn’t just about replacement, (or we would just live forever, but a goal of 95 years seems good to me for now)—it’s the nature of life to multiply. When I look at data and policies, I start from the premise that people shouldn't feel pressured or penalized for choosing to have three or four children if they wish to. At the same time, supporting healthy spacing between births is essential for the well-being of mothers and families. A healthy family budget keeps housing costs below 30 % of income and aims to pay off the home within 15 years so we have money left over to invest in arts education for our families. Don't forget we want our next generation to to save 15% for retirement and 10% for charity also. Running home like a well‑run business requires mental energy; trimming the workweek to 25 hours frees five hours for focused family administration—leaving more room for art. Art needs time. I have seen it—have you? “Who said that every wish would be heard and answered when wished on the morning star? Somebody thought of that and someone believed it; look what it’s done so far.” — Kermit the Frog — P.S. I created a fun poster for CREATIVE CALGARY—see it on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16vfUe2gXJ/ About GUSTAFSON, Jaeger ✔️ Dr. Jaeger Gustafson, Dr.Ac. is an official mayoral candidate for Calgary—combines art, family wellness, and government as a service. A proven healthcare entrepreneur and visionary educator, he shows that community well‑being and creative expression go hand in hand. His platform champions every Calgarian, expands access to art and education, and attracts investment through data‑driven empathy. A long‑time arts patron, he now seeks to scale this vision city‑wide from the mayor’s office. VISION: MAYOR GUSTAFSON
Statement Chosen:
I believe a thriving, prosperous city must have a vibrant arts scene in order to succeed. The municipal government should prioritize finding strategic ways to increase investment in the arts sector.