In the spirit of respect, reciprocity, and truth, Calgary Queer Arts Society honours and acknowledges Moh’kinsstis, the lands and oral practices of the Blackfoot Confederacy: Siksika, Kainai, and Piikani Nations; the îethka Nakoda Nations: Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney; and the Tsuut’ina Nation. We also recognize this territory as home to the Otipemisiwak Métis Government, Districts 5 and 6. Finally, we acknowledge all nations, genders and spirits who live, work, and play across Turtle Island.
We are only the latest to live, create and gather here, and so it is only right that we should acknowledge those who have come before us; their feasts and family gatherings, art, music, dance, storytelling and ceremony, that have been happening right here, on this land, for more generations than any of us can count.
As we enter and care for the relationships made possible through our work, we see every gathering as an opportunity to engage and walk a path of reconciliation; in doing so, we hope to build connections of inclusion, respect, and shared creativity.
GALLERY: GALLERY: Fairy Tales Fairy Tales Queer Art & Queer Art & Film Festival Film Festival
A year of reflection, transparency and A year of reflection, transparency and momentum building... momentum building...
Calgary Queer Arts (CQA) experienced many transitions over the past few years. With the onset of the pandemic we shifted to online programming for both Fairy Tales and The Coming Out Monologues. Working virtually allowed us to reach a much broader audience –including from as far away as Europe and Australia. The international appeal of CQA’s programming was a wonderful byproduct of a strange era.
At the same time, we were experiencing significant staff burnout and organizational constraints, loss of funding (particularly from corporate donors, similarly facing challenges brought on by the pandemic), and we came face-to-face with the impacts of systemic racism on board members, staff, volunteers, and the community. While we applaud people for doing more with less, we have learned that if we don’t slow down to take care of ourselves and our community, we can cause unnecessary harm along the way.
And so, after staff and volunteers delivered on a successful 25th Annual Fairy Tales Film Festival, it was time to take a much needed break. Time to breathe and say thank you to past contributors, then welcome new perspectives with an influx of energy and commitment to the future of Calgary Queer Arts.
Twenty-five years of impact offered the chance for serious reflection, community consultation, and digging in to ask some big questions. Thanks to a Future Focus grant, we took time to reflect on the past, and consider the future of Calgary Queer Arts. This work was done in partnership with Impact8, and made possible through a Future Focus Grant, a collaboration between Rozsa Foundation, Calgary Foundation and Calgary Arts Development.
More details about our Future Focus project can be found later in this report, but spoiler alert: we have new staff and a board that is growing. We are excited and energized about the future of Calgary Queer Arts and its role in advancing Queer art, culture, and community-building in Southern Alberta.
As much as we slowed down in 2023, we began building momentum in 2024. Thanks to a grant from the City of Calgary, we expanded our signature events – the Fairy Tales Film Festival and The Coming Out Monologues – to include a Queer Arts Exhibition & Market. We are also exploring new partnerships and ideas to ensure Calgary Queer Arts is more present in community yearround. Details about the 26th Annual Fairy Tales Queer Art & Film Festival, the return of The Coming Out Monologues, new community events and partnerships, and our Future Focus project are contained in this report.
It is wild to say that we are 26 years into a passion project by our founders who brought together community and shook up the film festival scene by centering Queer narratives.
We are excited to be building on that legacy, and we are grateful to funders, community members, volunteers, Queer artists, and everyone who continues to contribute to the tapestry of our community.
Together we will continue to build platforms for and amplify Queer creativity, storytelling and community!
Sincerely,
Sam Jenkins SThistle
Sam Jenkins
Shone Thistle Board President Executive Director
Photography credit: Foreignerz & Jevan Bailey
Photography credit: Foreignerz & Michaela Neuman
PRIDE IN BLOOM PRIDE IN BLOOM
“Pride in Bloom” is the 2024 Pride Mural curated by BUMP Festival and funded through a partnership between Blakes, Calgary Queer Arts and BUMP. The incredible mural was created by local trans artist, writer, and muralist Kat Simmers.
A moment of Queer joy accessible to anyone who can see the 90 foot tall wall. This vibrant mural is a powerful tribute to the resilience, courage, and enduring presence of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in Calgary.
BUMP, Blakes & Calgary Queer Arts celebrating with Kat Simmers.
Photo credit: Foreignerz & Jevan Bailey
Photo Credit Ryan Danny Owen
2024 Year in Review 2024 Year in Review
In 2024, CQAS strengthened its role as a key arts and culture organization serving 2SLGBTQIA+ communities in Calgary. We began 2024 focused on making our events more accessible and expanding the artistic medium showcased.
Fairy Tales Queer Art & Film Festival: The 26th annual Fairy Tales Queer Art & Film Festival took place at the historic GRAND Theatre, featuring Alberta and Canadian premieres, a new Queer Art Exhibition & Makers Market, and enhanced accessibility options such as sensory break rooms and ASL interpretation. The film screening component of the festival ran for five days, including 37 short films, 7 feature films, and an industry night with a professional artist panel for emerging artists. We attracted 473 ticket buyers and hundreds more attended the industry night, market, and accessed film screenings free of charge.
The Coming Out Monologues & Art Market: Expanded programming was supported by the inaugural Presenting sponsorship of RBC, and partnership with Reckless Daughter Creative who provided a transformative 11 week program for 22 Queer storytellers building performer confidence and theatre skills. At the end of the 11 weeks, 21 storytellers used their voices, props, dance, music and visual storytelling to share their coming out stories. We were also lucky to work with Marshall Vielle, Two-Spirit artist and Circle Keeper who jointly held space, offered creative input and supported the emotional safety of program participants. The Burns West Theatre at The Confluence was SOLD OUT for all three performances, featuring musical guests Zenon, Robert Adam and KP Smith. And we’re excited to be taking the show to Contemporary Calgary 2025.
Capacity-Building Initiatives: Two project grants, one from Calgary Arts Development and another from the Calgary Foundation, allowed CQAS to invest in professional development for volunteers, coaching, and the creation of onboarding and marketing tools supporting CQAS resilience.
Queer Artist Market & Entrepreneurial Mentorship: Launched thanks to funding from a City of Calgary microgrant and supporting economic advancement and skills-building for queer artists. 47 exhibiting artists were coached on branding, exhibiting skills, and pricing their work, as well as compensated to animate event spaces outside of the Flanagan and Burns West Theatres. Also included in the markets were DJ sets and one Wild Harpist.
Other Community Events & Partnerships: Calgary Queer Arts was proud to partner with many organizations in 2025. Here are some of those highlights:
Trans Day of Visibility, film screening and panel discussion in partnership with Queer Citizens United and Skipping Stone Foundation.
Poetry on Fire, a Queer Poetry Showcase in partnership with Calgary Spoken Word Society.
International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia – Vogue Workshop plus A Meeting with Management Kiki Ball, in partnership with VogueYYC.
Juneteenth film screening and panel discussion with Black Pride YYC.
Pride in Bloom - Pride mural in partnership with BUMP Festival and Blakes.
Alphabet Mafia, multidisciplinary artist and storytelling showcase in partnership with Calgary Pride and Rockethouse’s Pechakucha Night: UNITY.
World AIDS Day film screening, poetry, drag performances and panel discussion in partnership with Safelink Alberta.
2024 Year in Review CONT’D
Future Focus Community Engagement Project: Through a generous future focus grant, this initiative provided a platform to examine organizational relevance and sustainability, including a review of organizational processes, governance documents, as well as collecting valuable community feedback through surveys, workshops, and stakeholder interviews. The project offered key insights into the evolving needs of 2SLGBTQIA+ artists and audiences, shaping future programming and strategic planning. High-level successes included strengthened community engagement, the identification of new program opportunities, and the development of measurement tools.
New organizational partnership with Black Pride YYC: Black Pride YYC began as a fledgling organization in 2022 based on identified gaps in programming for Black Queer community members, and led by Daphne DikeHart. Black Pride YYC programming includes some arts-based programming, employment and skill building, mental health and wellness supports. Given their values and mandate alignment with Calgary Queer Arts and through a robust conversation and legal guidance, Calgary Queer Arts and Black Pride YYC now have a formal partnership that allows BPYYC to build their nonprofit capacity and programming through new funding avenues. We’re excited to see their work grow and support Calgary Black and Queer community to thrive. For more information on their programming, please visit: www.blackprideyyc.org
New Mission & Vision: As part of our Future Focus community engagement work, Calgary Queer Arts crafted a new vision and mission statement. We envision a world where Queer art is celebrated as part of our shared humanity. We aim to achieve this by supporting and amplifying Queer artists, makers, and storytellers, as well as fostering opportunities for community connections through arts and culture.
Calgary Queer Arts board, staff and volunteers also created a measurable commitment to culture, including time and resource allocation for staff and board to continue along anti-racism, Truth and Reconciliation journeys. This work also laid the groundwork for a new Anti-Racism Statement, Intergenerational Solidarity and Accountability Statement, Land Acknowledgement, and Truth & Reconciliation Commitment. Our website needs an overhaul, and once complete these documents will be linked and readily available.
Venue changes for 2025: The 27th annual Fairy Tales Queer Art & Film Festival and the 13th Annual Coming Out Monologues and Market will both take place at Contemporary Calgary, reflecting an expanded vision for crossdisciplinary arts engagement.
Consideration of Social Enterprise: Calgary Queer Arts is exploring pathways to support queer artists beyond traditional parameters, including the development of a teaching artist registry, as well as education and support for artists looking to build their teaching practice. This work is contingent on successful funding.
Creative Communities Program Lead: Thanks to a generous grant from the Calgary Foundation, we successfully secured funding for the Creative Communities Program Lead. This role will support program design, coordination and evaluation, with a specific focus on reducing social isolation through arts-based activations; and includes a focus on intergenerational and intersectional engagement.
Through strategic planning, adaptability, and community collaboration, CQAS continues to evolve to meet critical needs for Calgary’s 2SLGBTQIA+ artists and audiences, ensuring the arts remain a vehicle for connection, resilience, and advocacy. But we couldn’t do any of it without you, our community - Thank you!
Artwork by: Blake McLeod
Photography credit: Shannon Johnston
Photography credit: Shannon Johnston
Photography credit: Shannon Johnston
Photography credit: Shannon Johnston
Telling Stories That Matter Telling Stories That Matter
Blake MacLead, Founder and Creative Director, CINIC Studio. Self portrait.
Telling
For their residency, Blake is digging into that history, looking through archival photos, creating visuals that weave past and present together.
“It’s
about seeing queer people of all ages, about remembering that we’ve always been here,
even when the world tried to erase us.”
Blake’s designs for The Coming Out Monologues pulled from archival inspiration, layering print textures with bold colour and movement. A reflection on past and present, of tangible and digital, of survival and celebration. “For so long, I felt like I was a vampire looking in the mirror, unable to see myself. Now, I get to build something that reminds us we’re real. We’ve always been real.”
Blake is also aware of what it means to be our first artist-in-residence. “It’s interesting to be the first of something,” they mused. “I’ve been the first in a lot of ways - first in my family to graduate high school and go to college. I didn’t thinkI would live past 18.” They see this residency not just as a chance to create, but as an opportunity to shape what’s to come.
“I want to help build this program for future artists while also being the person making things now. I don’t want this to just be about checking a box.”
The passion with which Blake speaks about their work and the community around them is undeniable. They are an artist who asks questions of themselves, of their work, of the world.
“People hate it when you ask ‘why,’” Blake laughed. “But I keep asking. Because when we stop questioning, we stop growing.”
For those looking to follow a similar path, Blake has simple but essential advice: trust your gut. “If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Listen to the vibe you get from people. Ask questions. Get contracts. And don’t do work for free unless it’s something you really care about.”
Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming studio visits, and creative meet-ups with Blake as your guide! Seeing, Creating, and Telling the Stories That Matter: cont’d
As their residency unfolds, one thing is certain, Blake isn’t just here to create art. They’re here to make sure the stories that matter get told, that the past is honored, and the future is built with care, honesty, and a relentless refusal to be anything but themselves.
To learn more about and from Blake: Follow their socials @BlakeMcleodd and @CINICStudio Visit www.CINICStudio.com
Black Pride YYC & Daphne Dike-Hart
Black Pride YYC & Daphne Dike-Hart
When Daphne Dike-Hart moved to Calgary in 2021, she didn’t find many people who looked like her in established Queer communities - so she decided to create spaces that were safer and more resonant for Black Calgarians.
“I wanted a space where Black 2SLGBTQIA+ new immigrants could connect with Black CalgariansCanadians and learn from each other, socialise with each other and share common goals.”
Black Pride YYC is one of those ‘if you build it, they will come’ stories. Based on community interest, and an often full apartment over the weekends, Daphne went on to establish Black Pride YYC in 2023.
“Black Pride YYC’s mission is to empower, uplift and advocate for the holistic wellbeing of Black 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, families
and communities.” Daphne and her team
envision “a world where
Black 2SLGBTQ+ individuals are celebrated
and embraced for their unique identities and contributions; a future where every Black 2SLGBTQ+ person can live with pride, knowing that they are supported and affirmed in all aspects of their lives.”
Since launching, Black Pride YYC has been busy creating space for the communities they serve; drawing attention to friends and worthwhile causes in their wheelhouse; and most recently, organizing sold-out events that place Queer Black voices at the centre, highlighting their uniquely rich perspectives. This included a special screening of Queer Nollywood phenomenon 14 YEARS AND A DAY, in celebration and observation of Juneteenth this year (in partnership with CQAS), plus a wildly successful crossover of the Black and South Asian Queer scenes in their 2024 Pride event Melanin and Masala party!
Dike-Hart describes the partnership with CQAS as a natural fit, noting the foundation of the relationship as supportive first and foremost.
“Our earliest conversations were about getting to know each other, both as individuals and as community organizers. Black Pride YYC and Calgary Queer Arts navigate similar and sometimes overlapping dance floors. Our moves may sometimes differ, but we’re highly complimentary,” says Shone Thistle.
Daphne Dike-Hart, Founder and Executive Director Black Pride YYC and Black Pride Canada.
Photo credit Shannon Johnston
PARTNER FEATURE CONT’D: Black Pride YYC & Daphne Dike-Hart
PARTNER FEATURE CONT’D: Black Pride YYC & Daphne Dike-Hart
“Art is also a medium we as Black people use to express ourselves
in
different
ways,” says Daphne. “As a non-profit, the ability to apply to certain grants to help our community was hindered; working with CQAS helped expand our access and our reach while celebrating our culture as an art form.”
During our conversation, Daphne went on to share that “a good partnership is based on mutual respect, shared goals, and a commitment to advancing the Black 2SLGBTQ+ community. This partnership feels great because there is open communication, resource-sharing, mutual growth and a focus on sustainable impact for both organizations. It also prioritizes cultural competence, which is extremely important to us at Black Pride YYC.”
What advice does Daphne have for other organizations looking to make an impact and form real relationships? “Find a charity partner with similar values, and organizations that understand what mutual respect means; people that will guide you through the process but not micromanage you through the execution, understanding that yours is also an individual organization.”
“Cheerleading for - and being a supportive partner to Black Pride YYC is a privilege for us at CQAS.” says Shone Thistle. “There are so many amazing organizations in this city doing great work to ensure that we can all thrive. And if Calgary Queer Arts can play any role in strengthening Calgary’s arts and culture scene while advancing equity and our collective well being, then we know we’re on the right path. Partnering with Daphne and the team at Black Pride YYC is a powerful example of that!”
To explore, support and engage with programs and events by Black Pride YYC:
Follow their socials @BlackPrideYYC
Visit www.BlackPrideYYC.org
Volunteer by filling out the volunteer sign up found in their Instagram bio.
Daphne Dike-Hart & Shone Thistle
Photo credit: Foreignerz - Jevan Bailey & Eman Safadi
LOOKING AHEAD: LOOKING AHEAD:
A Future-Focused Calgary Queer Arts A Future-Focused Calgary Queer Arts 9 9
For more than 25 years, Calgary Queer Arts Society (CQAS) has been creating space for queer artists, filmmakers, and storytellers to share their work and connect with community. But like so many arts organizations, we’ve had to ask ourselves some big questions: How do we stay relevant? How do we keep supporting artists in meaningful ways? And, most importantly, how do we make sure CQAS is sustainable for the long haul? Thanks to a Future Focus grant, made possible by a partnership between The Calgary Foundation, Calgary Arts Development and The Rozsa Foundation, and the incredible guidance of Heidi Miller Zerr of Impact8, we spent value time in 2024, dug deep, listened to community, and began mapping a plan for the future.
What We Heard:
After asking the hardest question - are we still needed? Community answered with a resounding yes. Through interviews, surveys, and workshops, we heard loud and clear that you value what we represent and what we do, and we also heard loud and clear that we need to evolve. People want to see:
A clearer mission and vision, so you know exactly what Calgary Queer Arts stands for.
Stronger governance and operations, to build a solid foundation for the future.
Sustainable programming, including more opportunities for queer artists beyond film and storytelling.
More engagement from a diversity of lived experience, particularly youth and elders.
Why It Matters:
The Future Focus grant gave us the time and resources to step back and take stock. With Heidi’s support, we tackled some tough but necessary conversations about governance, financial planning, and programming. We identified gaps, explored new possibilities, and came away with a roadmap that balances big dreams with real sustainability.
We can’t thank Heidi Miller Zerr, Impact8, and our funders enough for their support. This project has been game-changing for Calgary Queer Arts, and we’re planning and hopeful for what comes next.
What’s Next for CQAS?
Now that we have a clear direction, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and put our plan into action. Here’s what we’re focusing on over the next 18 months:
Strengthening our operational and financial foundation
Expanding programming to support a wider range of queer artists and community members
Deepening partnerships and community connections
Keeping the conversation going, so we stay responsive to community needs
To everyone who participated in this journey - thank you! Your voices are shaping our collective future and we’re excited to keep growing with you. The work isn’t done, and thanks to you, we’re ready to build, strengthen and sustain a vibrant Queer arts and culture scene for future generations.
To our funders, sponsors, event and media partners: To our funders, sponsors, event and media partners:
