Meeting the Needs of our Growing Community

Meeting the Needs of our Growing Community

Meeting the Needs of our Growing Community

Since opening our doors in 2015, artsPlace now welcomes more than 28,000 visits each year. That kind of participation is exactly what we dreamed of, but it also means we’ve reached our capacity.

During high programming times, every available space is in use.

Many of our classes and workshops have waitlists.

Our theatre is booked nearly year-round.

At the same time, people across the Bow Valley have told us they want more: more programs, more performances, more opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to connect through arts and culture, no matter their means or living experience.

Without intentional investment in shared cultural infrastructure, the gap between what our community needs and what artsPlace is uniquely positioned to offer will continue to grow.

Over the past decade, artsPlace has become an indispensable cultural and economic asset for the Bow Valley by listening closely, responding to changing needs, and turning community ideas into meaningful experiences. Exploring the future of arts and culture in downtown Canmore is part of our commitment to serving this community.

We have the resources, relationships, and expertise ready.

"What artsPlace has built over this past decade isn't just programming; it's created those rare, shimmering moments where art reminds us that we're not alone. That's pure magic, and it's become the soul of what makes the Bow Valley's arts scene so extraordinary.” — Jennifer d'Entremont, artist and community member

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In 2045, Canmore is home to a larger community arts and culture facility that serves as the anchor of a vibrant downtown core and the bedrock of our creative community.

Thoughtfully designed to inspire creativity and connection, it is a shared cultural hub where all people, regardless of age, background, ability, or financial means, can gather, create, learn, perform, celebrate, and connect with each other, their community, and this place.

Welcoming and inclusive, it offers flexible and dynamic spaces with the right facilities to meet the community’s diverse needs now and in the future, ensuring a prosperous and resilient Bow Valley for generations to come.

Deeply committed to reconciliation and environmental stewardship, the facility invites residents and visitors alike to experience the stories, creativity, and character of our unique mountain town—where inspiration flows as freely as the mountain air.

“It was the mountains that first brought me here. But it’s the arts community that made me want to stay. I’ve found a real sense of belonging through events at artsPlace. I've met amazing people who have found their voice, their confidence, and their community through the arts.” — Jerome Laycock, artsPlace Board Director and community member

We’ve done a significant amount of work over the past three years to understand our capacity, learn from comparable projects, and develop the resources and relationships needed to keep the project moving forward.

This includes:

  • Listening and learning: We met with arts organizations, community organizations, cultural groups, business leaders, Indigenous leaders, municipal agencies, and Town Council and administration about what they want and need in a community arts and culture facility. And there’s more to come!
  • Internal Needs Assessment: We analyzed service levels, participation, predicted growth, and use to identify where demand is highest and where we’re at our limit. This helped us develop high-level projections and a vision for the future.
  • Alternative Site Analysis: We reviewed 24 potential sites in Canmore and determined our current location is the most suitable and sustainable option (click here to request a copy of the Alternative Site Analysis).
  • Comparative Site Analysis: We reviewed comparable arts centres in Canada and the U.S. and found there’s no one-size-fits-all solution; the operating model for a larger arts and culture facility has to reflect our own community (click here to request a copy of the Comparative Site Analysis).
  • Bringing in expert support: We hired J5 Design, DIALOG, and Nordicity to help us develop a relationship-centred codesign process and provide expertise in concept design, costing, operational feasibility, and business-model development.
  1. Community engagement: we'll be inviting people across the Bow Valley to participate in conversations about the future of arts and culture in downtown Canmore starting in Fall 2026.
  2. Concept design, operating feasibility, and costing: we'll develop concept designs, cost estimates, and business models based on what we hear, and report back on the financial and operational feasibility of each.

“To me, a vibrant downtown is about more than infrastructure. It’s about the feeling of belonging. When downtown is alive with music, stories, and creative energy, it feels like a place people want to connect with—and come back to.” — Sandy McCaig, former artsPlace Board Director and community member

Questions & Answers

A larger community arts and culture facility in downtown Canmore is an exciting idea, and it also raises important questions about cost, land, access, design, decision-making, and what this could mean for the future of our community. This FAQ shares what we know so far, what still needs to be explored, and how we’ll continue working with the community to clarify priorities, identify concerns, and inform decisions.

Why do we need a larger community arts and culture facility?

Demand for arts and culture programming has more than doubled in the past decade, and our current facility can no longer keep up. As our community grows, so does the need for shared spaces that bring people together through arts and culture. Without intentional investment in shared cultural infrastructure now, the gap between what the community needs and what artsPlace is uniquely positioned to offer will continue to widen.

Where will the building be?

Nothing is confirmed. We are exploring the feasibility of a larger community arts and culture facility on the block that includes our current site (950 8 Avenue). The facility would include spaces to meet the community’s arts and culture needs, and address the Town of Canmore’s needs for the site such as but not limited to a transit hub, public washrooms, and office space. We'll also be taking a close look at things like parking, accessibility, and the ability to include below-market housing, either through shared or dedicated spaces.

Will the building be bigger or take over public space?

We envision a space that makes more efficient use of our footprint, meets the needs of our community, prioritizes accessibility and environmental sustainability, and enhances the civic corridor around artsPlace. We want to continue contributing to a downtown that feels welcoming, vibrant, and filled with possibility. The size, design, and relationship to surrounding public space will be studied in the feasibility phase.

Will this project impact parking downtown?

Parking is an important part of a vibrant, resilient, and accessible downtown core, and it’s something we’re considering carefully. It’s early in the feasibility phase, and there’s still much to figure out, including parking. artsPlace will work with expert consultants, Town administration, and partners to explore solutions that support the needs of downtown businesses, residents, and visitors.

Why is artsPlace leading this project?

Because responding to community needs is at the heart of what artsPlace does. For the past decade, artsPlace has listened closely, responded to changing needs, and turned community ideas into meaningful experiences. Exploring the future of arts and culture in downtown Canmore is part of our commitment to serving this community. We have the resources, relationships, and expertise ready.

What is the Town of Canmore’s role in this project?

artsPlace and the Town of Canmore are working on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that sets out how the two organizations will work together during the feasibility phase of this project. The MOU will be presented to Council on September 1, 2026.

Who is paying for the work that’s happening now?

The current feasibility work is being supported through grants and private donations, including funding from Calgary Foundation. These funds support planning, community engagement, feasibility analysis, concept design, and preliminary costing. They are separate from any future funding that could be required to build a facility. See the full list of supporters below.

How will other community needs be considered?

Canmore has limited land and many community needs. The feasibility phase is an opportunity to look at those needs together. Through a community codesign process, people across the Bow Valley will be invited to help identify priorities and explore what should be considered in a new community facility alongside arts and culture. The process will start in Fall 2026.

How much would a new facility cost?

We don’t know yet. One of the main purposes of the codesign process is to develop a clearer understanding of what the community needs and wants in a new facility. From there, architects and feasibility consultants can explore how those needs could translate into spaces, uses, and an operating model—and what it would cost to build and sustain them. That work will give us a much clearer picture of the project’s potential capital and operating costs, funding opportunities, and long-term financial responsibilities.

What happens after the feasibility phase?

At the end of this phase, we’ll share a What We Heard report, project feasibility report, concept design, and preliminary Class D budget. Together, these will provide a clearer picture of what the community needs, what may be possible on the site, what it could cost, how it could operate, and what questions still need to be answered before we can make any decisions.

When would a new facility be built?

There is no construction timeline at this stage. Any future timeline will depend on what we learn through the codesign process, operational and financial feasibility, available funding, partnerships, municipal approvals, and future decisions by artsPlace and the Town of Canmore.

Where can I find out more?

Subscribe to our newsletter for updates, milestones, and opportunities to get involved. Or reach out to engage@artsplacecanmore.com to share your thoughts.

Background image for: Tell us what you think!

Tell us what you think!

artsPlace exists because of the vision, creativity, and generosity of this community. Together, we’ve built something extraordinary and together, we’ll decide what comes next. Have thoughts or questions? Email us anytime at engage@artsplacecanmore.com

Learn About Community Codesign
Background image for: Tell us what you think!

Tell us what you think!

artsPlace exists because of the vision, creativity, and generosity of this community. Together, we’ve built something extraordinary and together, we’ll decide what comes next. Have thoughts or questions? Email us anytime at engage@artsplacecanmore.com

Learn About Community Codesign
Background image for: Tell us what you think!

Tell us what you think!

artsPlace exists because of the vision, creativity, and generosity of this community. Together, we’ve built something extraordinary and together, we’ll decide what comes next. Have thoughts or questions? Email us anytime at engage@artsplacecanmore.com

Learn About Community Codesign

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