Ward 3 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?
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2. What role do you see for the arts in building a strong, vibrant Calgary in the future?
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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.
Siraaj Shah has not yet completed the survey.
#1: My Daughter and her High School Concert Choir were invited to sing at the Mayor’s Celebration for the Arts event which was an amazing showcase of Calgary’s artists. I loved the variety of visual and musical talents we have in this city!
#2: I truly think the arts inspires our communities. Last year our Nose Creek Preservation Society were successful in getting a micro-grant for a community mural in Coventry Hills. It was a full year process in getting approval and took about a week to paint the mural. I think the moment I realized the power of art was when I was driving by our mural with my toddler aged niece and nephew. The kids, without prompting, raved about the colours and how cool it was! A drab wall transformed by art inspired 2 kids! We definitely need more of this inspiration in my Ward!
#3: As someone who lives in Ward 3 we definitely could use more arts venues. Over the years our kids have been able to utilize programs at North Mount Pleasant Arts Centre and Storybook Theatre. I would love to have arts spaces like these in our Ward 3. We have a lack of venues for music, theatre and collaboration. At the doors I met a senior who is looking for local programming, but is forced to find these spaces outside our ward, through long transit rides. Travel which is challenging at her age. I hope that if I am successful in earning the votes in Ward 3 that my term can help facilitate an art’s revitalization in our local communities.
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.