There are many ways for you to Take Action and be involved in the advocacy work we are doing at ArtsVote Calgary. Check our blog for specific events and upcoming opportunities to advocate for the arts. You can be active everyday in the following ways:
Write a Politician
Your voice is important! Write your Alderman to express your opinion on issues effecting the arts in Calgary. Everything from budgets to secondary suites is voted on by Calgary city council and the aldermen are looking to their constituents for guidance on what the people want. Find out who your Alderman is and how to contact them on the City of Calgary’s website. Have an opinion on the arts in Alberta? Write your MP. Their job is to represent you so you have to tell them what you think is important to Albertans. Find your MP and contact them through the Legislative Assembly of Alberta website.
Attend Arts Events
There are multiple arts events in Calgary every single day. Go see your favourite company, or see something you’ve never seen before! The higher attendance numbers are at arts events in the city, the greater our case to city council is about the impact of the arts on every single Calgarian. There are many event listings around the city: Calgary Culture and FFWD Weekly are two great sources!
Join an Advocacy or Community Group
Join ArtsVote Calgary! Or join one of the many other groups in the city who believe in making Calgary a vibrant city. CivicCamp Calgary is open to anyone who wants to talk about ways to improve the place in which they live. The Federation of Calgary Communities improve neighbourhood life by providing services and programs that create, support and sustain vital and representative community associations.
Talk about the Arts
Discuss the importance of the arts in your everyday life. Tell your neighbour, your co-worker, your babysitter about an arts event you went to that you know made Calgary a better place to live. ArtsVote Calgary wants to create a city-wide conversation around the arts; we want everyone to recognize why the arts are vital to a great city. It takes every single one of us supporting the arts each and every day whether we attend an event or post our views on Twitter or Facebook. ArtsVote Calgary is currently creating an ‘elevator speech’ on the importance of the arts and we will be sharing it with Calgary soon. We believe that by having a common goal and language that the citizens of Calgary will start to recognize and relate to our message more clearly.
