RISE UP is an open-source platform in Calgary’s creative community, connecting you to live experiences and events, while supporting and advocating for local artists and businesses.

Our Focus

Arts-Centred Cross-Sector Support

All RISE UP Calgary community collaborations are centred around the Arts. These collaborations not only benefit the artists and arts workers who are involved but have positive impacts across the Creative Economy and Live Experience Sectors.

Community Collaboration

Albertans rarely participate in only one sector of the economy, proving further the power of collaboration. It is essential that we continue to come up with creative ways to attract and share audiences for the benefit of all.

Citizen Safety, Engagement and Belonging

As we build our future together, it is imperative we create a community of belonging for all Calgarians.

How it Started

2020 is a year we will not forget. Alberta experienced a triple wallop of impact – COVID-19, the global recession, and the downward spiral of oil and gas. Thousands of Albertans lost their jobs, and those who didn’t were left grappling with social distancing, working from home, and self-isolation. Daily activities were confined to home for months, and as we began to very slowly resurface and try to determine what the new normal would be. As re-launch plans surfaced and implementation began, and as we welcomed Calgarians back from the digital to the analog world, more questions than answers arose.

A group of arts champions led by Annerin Productions (producer of the Flood Aid Benefit for Calgary and the Fire Aid Benefit for Fort McMurray), Calgary Arts Development, the Calgary Hotel Association, Jeff Parry Promotions, the National Music Centre, the King Eddy, Theatre Calgary, and Tourism Calgary came together to initiate the RISE UP campaign to kickstart the economic recovery for Calgary’s arts sector. RISE UP Calgary is an open source campaign that unites arts, hospitality and tourism partners to develop a comprehensive array of initiatives and plans to continue to build the best possible conditions for success for both audiences and artists. Together, we will RISE UP and move forward.