Creative City Network of Canada

Creative City Network of Canada CCNC is a national network of municipal culture planners and professionals
Creative City Summit
Calgary 2026
Oct. 6-8

A reminder that early-bird registration for the Creative City Summit: Calgary 2026 closes June 13.Join municipal arts, c...
06/09/2026

A reminder that early-bird registration for the Creative City Summit: Calgary 2026 closes June 13.

Join municipal arts, culture, and creative sector leaders from across Canada for three days of applied learning, peer exchange, and sector-wide dialogue in Calgary, Alberta.

October 6–8, 2026

Register before June 13 to take advantage of early-bird rates:
https://zurl.co/kEnTu




Creative City Impact Cultural Planning AwardStrong cultural planning helps communities identify their cultural assets, e...
06/08/2026

Creative City Impact Cultural Planning Award

Strong cultural planning helps communities identify their cultural assets, engage residents, and align culture with broader municipal priorities.

The Cultural Planning Award recognizes municipalities that have developed, adopted, and implemented a culture plan, or reviewed, revitalized, and implemented an existing plan, through a process that demonstrates leadership and best/new practices in cultural planning.

Submissions may highlight:
• Collaborative public engagement
• Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility (IDEA) and Truth & Reconciliation
• Strategic integration across municipal priorities
• Community vitality and sustainability
• Innovation and best practices in cultural planning

This category celebrates the plans, partnerships, and long-term vision that help shape communities through culture.

📅 Submission deadline: June 26, 2026

🔗 Learn more and access nomination forms:
https://zurl.co/8ZInW





Where would we be without our amazing Host Cities? Thank you to The City of Calgary for hosting the Creative City Summit...
06/03/2026

Where would we be without our amazing Host Cities? Thank you to The City of Calgary for hosting the Creative City Summit this year.

Below please find a special message from Franca Gualtieri, Manager of Arts & Culture, The City of Calgary:

We look forward to welcoming you to the 2026 Creative City Summit in Calgary, where the Bow and Elbow rivers meet on the ancestral and traditional territory of the Blackfoot Nations, the Îethka Nakoda First Nations and the Tsuut’ina First Nation. The City of Calgary is also homeland to the historic Northwest Métis and to the Otipemisiwak (Oti-pe-MES-se-wa) Métis Government, Métis Nation Battle River Territory (Nose Hill Métis District 5 and Elbow Métis District 6).

This annual gathering is an opportunity to collaborate with people who understand the work you do and why it matters. Together, we will imagine what's next for arts and culture in our cities.

Calgary offers a wide range of creative experiences that inspire and connect, from public art and street murals to theatre, live music, dance, festivals and cultural celebrations. We are excited to take you beyond the surface to explore innovative spaces, projects and partnerships that support creative expression and investment in the creative economy.

Come connect with Calgary in a new way and tap into your creative flow. Experience Calgary’s culture in our Blue Sky City, alongside colleagues from across the country.

We look forward to seeing you in October for a meaningful exchange!

Franca Gualtieri, Manager of Arts & Culture, The City of Calgary
Host city for the 2026 Creative City Summit
City of Calgary – Your Local Government

National Call #3 | Thursday, June 25, 10:00 AM (ET); 1:00 PM (PT) | Unlocking Culture Data: Insights from CCNC, Statist...
06/02/2026

National Call #3 | Thursday, June 25, 10:00 AM (ET); 1:00 PM (PT) | Unlocking Culture Data: Insights from CCNC, Statistics Canada, and Canadian Heritage

At CCNC's next National Call get ready to dive into the data shaping our cultural landscape! Join the Municipal Culture Statistics Strategy Partnership Leadership Team for an interactive, deep-dive session.

📊 Future Outlook
Opening remarks and an exclusive preview of CCNC's upcoming data and research priorities.

📈 Inside the Data
A featured presentation from the Department of Canadian Heritage and Statistics Canada exploring the Culture Statistics Strategy, how cultural data is collected, and how datasets are developed. Panelists TBA.

👉 Register at the link in our bio.

✨ Access to our National Calls program is a member benefit. Not yet a member? Join today at creativecity.ca/membership ✨

🆕 New for 2026: Festivals & Events Process AwardSuccessful festivals and events rely on more than great programming. Beh...
06/01/2026

🆕 New for 2026: Festivals & Events Process Award

Successful festivals and events rely on more than great programming. Behind the scenes are the municipal processes, partnerships, and systems that help make them possible.

The new Festivals & Events Process Award recognizes municipalities that have demonstrated leadership through the development or implementation of a municipal process, framework, program, or initiative that supports the planning and delivery of festivals and events.

Eligible submissions may include:
• Event permitting or licensing frameworks
• Event coordination models
• Grant or support programs
• Policies and strategies
• Other municipal systems that improve how festivals and events are planned, managed, or supported

This category celebrates the municipal work that strengthens relationships, improves coordination, reduces barriers, and supports vibrant community events.

📅 Submission deadline: June 26, 2026

🔗 Learn more and access nomination forms:
https://zurl.co/e6dzj





Meet the Opening Forum panel.Following Alex Sarian's provocation, The Civic Case for Culture, three Calgary leaders will...
05/29/2026

Meet the Opening Forum panel.

Following Alex Sarian's provocation, The Civic Case for Culture, three Calgary leaders will respond from the perspectives of municipal culture, downtown strategy, and cultural development:

• Franca Gualtieri, Manager of Arts and Culture , The City of Calgary
• Thom Mahler, Director, Downtown Strategy , The City of Calgary
• Patti Pon, President & CEO , Calgary Arts Development

Together, they will explore how culture can support community vitality, economic resilience, and broader municipal priorities.

October 6–8, 2026 | Calgary, AB
Early Bird rates available until June 13: https://zurl.co/uiCt2



🆕 New for 2026: Creative City Impact Awards: Public Art – Enduring ImpactSome public artworks continue to shape communit...
05/29/2026

🆕 New for 2026: Creative City Impact Awards: Public Art – Enduring Impact

Some public artworks continue to shape community life long after their unveiling.

The new Public Art: Enduring Impact category recognizes municipality-supported public artworks that have been installed for five or more years and continue to hold cultural value through ongoing relevance, interaction, and municipal stewardship.

We are looking for artworks that have grown in meaning over time through public use, community attachment, evolving interpretation, or continued integration into civic life.

Examples may include:
• Commemorative works
• Historical artworks
• Artworks that have become gathering places or community landmarks
• Works that have taken on new significance through changing community contexts

This category celebrates the lasting influence of public art and the municipal leadership that helps sustain it.

📅 Submission deadline: June 26, 2026

🔗 Nomination forms and award information:
https://zurl.co/v1yxU

If you are unsure about eligibility or fit, please reach out to [email protected]

If you experience any accessibility challenges or if the application process poses a barrier, please reach out to Tara-Lynn Kozma-Perrin by June 5, 2026



Image Credit: 2024 Creative City Impact Award Nominee - "World's Largest Coast Salish Welcome Figure", by Brandon Gabriel, City of New Westminster

2026 Call for JurorsThe 2026 Impact Awards program is opening for nominations soon, and CCNC is seeking experienced cult...
05/27/2026

2026 Call for Jurors
The 2026 Impact Awards program is opening for nominations soon, and CCNC is seeking experienced cultural professionals to serve as jurors.

As a juror, you will review nominations in the following categories:
• Cultural Leadership
• Cultural Planning
• Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility
• Public Art
• Cultural Festivals & Events

This volunteer role requires a commitment of approximately 6 hours in June/July.
If you have expertise in one or more of these areas, please consider joining our 2026 jury. If you plan to nominate your municipality’s work, kindly mention this in your inquiry.

Inquire by May 30, 2026:
Send your CV and an email outlining your expertise in any of these areas—or in Canada’s cultural sector generally—to [email protected]

Creative City Impact Awards: New categories for 2026 Now accepting applications for the Creative City Impact Awards in P...
05/26/2026

Creative City Impact Awards: New categories for 2026
Now accepting applications for the Creative City Impact Awards in Public Art.

Public art is shaped not only by what is created, but how it is developed and how it lives in the community over time.

New Category: Public Art Process
These are projects and programs distinguished by the quality, integrity, and clarity of the process used to develop the work.
These projects stand out for:
• their engagement with communities,
• thoughtful collaboration, and commitment to dialogue,
• participation, and shared authorship.

This category honours teams who demonstrate exceptional care, transparency, and innovation in shaping public art through process-driven practice.

Key Information
• Eligibility period: Projects must take place between May 2024 – May 2026
• Submission deadline: June 26, 2026
Who can apply:
• Class A members

Questions? Reach out to [email protected].
Before your apply, please review these important resources to support your application😀

Visit our website to view past winners’ achievements and access your nomination forms here:
🔗 https://zurl.co/zjyit

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