Arts opportunity

Theatre Calgary is seeking 1 to 2 part-time FOH Leads to join our team.

Reporting to the Front of House Manager, the Front of House Lead’s key responsibilities are to supervise our volunteer usher team and attend to patron needs as they are visiting our theatre, while providing the highest level of customer service that Theatre Calgary patrons have come to expect.

Anticipated Start Date: Thursday, November 20, 2025

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Act as a point of contact for patron needs or concerns, resolving where possible and escalating to the Front of House Manager where appropriate in a manner that is not only respectful, but which reflects the highest customer service standards.
• Oversee, direct, and support a team of 3-6 volunteer ushers during each shift.
• Facilitate the safe and efficient flow of traffic in and out of the theatre, including during emergency evacuation scenarios.
• Prepare and maintain Front of House areas for public use each day: replenishing supplies and materials, setting up lines, unlocking exit doors, preparing for events or receptions, and any other preparation needs which may arise.
• Provide exemplary customer service to patrons with seating or arrival issues, resolving conflicts arising from incorrect ticket dates, late arrivals, lost or unreadable tickets, unanticipated accessibility needs, or other similar complications which may arise.
• Hold a high level of familiarity and fluency with all aspects of Theatre Calgary to provide patrons and potential customers with accurate information regarding the company, our productions, the theatre, policies, and procedures. These communications must be made with the primary goal of ensuring the utmost customer experience.
• Assist with additional events throughout the year such as private event rentals of the theatre, donor receptions or events, or any other event where Front of House assistance is required.
• Effectively notice and communicate facility upkeep needs to the Front of House Manager.
• Document and secure any Lost and Found items, communicating discoveries to the Front of House Manager and rest of team.
• Other duties to assist the Front of House Manager (as required)
  
  EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS
• A minimum of two (2) years’ customer service/hospitality experience is required, preferably in a performing arts or other entertainment venue.
• Prior supervisory experience is preferred
• Experience working with a team of volunteers is an asset
• Knowledgeable and passionate about the work of Theatre Calgary
• Enthusiastic team player with excellent interpersonal skills
• Must possess the ability to lead others, solve patron concerns as they arise, and communicate well with a wide range of patrons and volunteers.
• Must be comfortable and productive in a fast-paced and dynamic workplace
• Must be flexible and work well under stress
• Must be well organized, decisive and have good follow-through skills
• Excellent verbal communication skills (both one-on-one and public speaking)
• A professional demeanor and experience/ability in dealing with discerning patrons
• An appreciation for the arts and for theatre

The successful candidate must be available for a minimum of 2-3 shifts per week during each production throughout the season (Sept 2024-June 2025) and be available for evening and weekend shift work.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
These positions are part-time, shift-based, and require weekend and evening work during the run of a production. As this position deals directly with Theatre Calgary patrons and corporate event clients it may on occasion require professional interaction to foster ongoing positive relationships.

Due to the nature of the Max Bell Theatre, prolonged periods of standing and the repetitive navigation of stairs will be required.

REMUNERATION
$16.00 per hour plus 4% vacation pay (less statutory deductions).

ABOUT THEATRE CALGARY
Theatre Calgary’s vision is to stand amongst the best theatres globally as a leader in innovative, impactful and diverse programming. Our mission is to stimulate, provoke and delight through ambitious programming created to ignite local, national and international engagement in a sustainable manner.

Theatre Calgary reflects the communities, the country, and the world we live in with ambitious programming, passionate community engagement and extraordinary productions. For more than 50 years, we have focused our energy on providing our community with the highest level of classic and contemporary plays, featuring the best artists from Calgary and across the country.

Theatre Calgary encourages applications from our diverse community. Theatre Calgary is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We recognize that increasing the diversity of our staff, on all levels, is integral to accomplishing this objective. We are creating policies, practices, and programs that work toward the goal of dismantling systemic racism. We welcome all applications from women and gender nonconforming people, people of color, indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, and people of all sexual orientations, and all others who may contribute to the further diversification of Theatre Calgary.

In the spirit of reconciliation, Theatre Calgary acknowledges that we live, work and create on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, Métis Nation of Alberta, districts 5 & 6, and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta. They were the original occupants of this land and continue to be here to this day. Theatre Calgary is grateful to have the opportunity to present in this territory.

HOW TO APPLY 
Please submit applications to: careers@theatrecalgary.com with the subject line FOH Lead

We thank all those expressing interest in the role but only those selected for interview will be contacted.

Closing Date for Applications: Sunday, November 9, 2025

Please visit theatrecalgary.com/careers for more information.

Strathcona County invites individual artists and artist teams to participate in a live mural jam coinciding with the 2026 Alberta Summer Games. Over four days (Thursday–Sunday), five selected artists/teams will create medium-scale indoor murals around the circumference of an elevated running track overlooking an indoor soccer field. The public will be able to safely observe progress from the track, creating a dynamic exchange between artists and audience.

This call seeks artists whose work celebrates movement, care, collaboration, and the spirit of youth. We welcome proposals across styles, from bold graphic abstraction to figurative storytelling, so long as the final artworks are family friendly, inclusive and responsive to the site.

Eligibility

• Open to professional artists and artist teams residing in Alberta.
• Artists 18+ are eligible; emerging artists are encouraged to apply.
• Priority may be given to artists with a demonstrated commitment to youth engagement, inclusive storytelling, ecological awareness, or live-paint settings.
• Strathcona County encourages applications from Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, disabled artists, and artists from rural and suburban communities.

Details

• Painting weekend: Thursday to Sunday, July 16 – 19, 2026
• Location: Indoor Soccer Field & Running Track Concourse, Millennium Place, Sherwood Park, Alberta
• Number of murals: 5
• Audience: All-ages public, athletes, coaches, families, and visitors during the 2026 Alberta Summer Games

Site and mural specifications

• Site: Interior perimeter walls adjacent to the running track that circles an indoor soccer field at Millennium Place. Spectators will view murals from the track and concourse.
• Bays: Five distinct paint areas (one per selected artist/team).
• Approx. dimensions: ~14 ft (h) × 25 ft (w) per bay (each wall varies slightly). Please be prepared to adapt the composition to minor size differences.
• Surface: Painted interior wall (existing coatings to be confirmed).
• Access: Step ladders and portable scaffolding permitted
• Environmental conditions: Climate controlled interior; steady public traffic on the track.
• Lighting: Overhead facility lighting.

Theme and community guidelines

• Themes: Inclusivity · Timeless design · Non‑representational form · Action · Movement · Youthful energy. Designs that explore rhythm, cadence, and flow.
• Content standards: All imagery must be appropriate for all ages.

Artist fee and supplies

• Artist Fee: $40 CAD / sq ft (+ GST if applicable) of completed mural area (inclusive of materials and travel).
• Wall 1: 13.33 ft (H) × 20.33 ft (W) = 271.00 sq ft ($10,840 fee)
• Wall 2: 13.50 ft (H) × 20.12 ft (W) = 271.62 sq ft ($10,865 fee)
• Wall 3: 14.20 ft (H) × 24.00 ft (W) = 340.80 sq ft ($13,632 fee)
• Wall 4: 13.50 ft (H) × 24.33 ft (W) = 328.46 sq ft ($13,138 fee)
• Wall 5: 13.50 ft (H) × 33.45 ft (W) = 451.58 sq ft ($18,063 fee)

Materials and equipment

• County provides wall prep (wash/prime), basic onsite tools (drop sheets, buckets, rollers, trays), step ladders, access to water, and facility coordination.
• Artist provides: all paint, brushes, specialty colours, detail tools, PPE, sealers/varnishes as preferred (costs covered within the per / sq ft fee).

Insurance

General liability coverage provided for public viewing areas. Artists who operate as a registered business (with GST#) must carry personal/professional liability insurance and WCB coverage where applicable (confirmed in artist agreements).

Schedule (subject to change)

• Call opens: October 27, 2025
• Deadline to apply: December 8, 2025
• Notifications: February 2026
• Site walkthrough: March 2026
• Designs for selected artists: April 2026
• Painting days: Thursday–Sunday, July 16–19, 2026 (games weekend)
• Clean up and documentation: Sunday evening, July 19, 2026

Selection criteria

Evaluated by internal selection committee

1. Artistic Quality (45%): strength of portfolio, originality, command of composition, colour, and scale.
2. Context (25%): alignment with themes (inclusivity, timeless design, action/movement, youthful energy).
3. Capacity & Feasibility (20%): demonstrated ability to complete work at the indicated scale and within a live-paint, four-day timeline.
4. Professionalism & Safety (10%): experience working in public venues; safe practices and collaboration with facility staff.

Shortlisted artists will receive a design brief and produce a concept for committee approval prior to painting.

For more information or to apply: Mural jam call for artists

Application Deadline: December 10, 2025
Program Dates: June 1 to June 19, 2026

This three-week residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity encourages the exploration of new ideas in literary journalism (creative non-fiction) and experimentation in writing. Designed to challenge and stimulate, the program aims to inspire creative pieces of non-fiction and to assist the writers in their completion. 

A preeminent space for long-form journalism, this residency emphasizes the strengths of thorough and articulate reporting, distinctive storytelling, and literary devices. 

Work created in this program has been published in many outlets including The Globe and Mail, The Walrus, and The Atlantic, and pieces have gone on to win National Magazine and National Newspaper Awards.

Writers will have time to:

• work on their manuscripts in their individual studios.
• consult with faculty members Manjula Martin, Dr. Cheryl Thompson, Shawn Micallef, and professional guest Dan Wells (Biblioasis).
• participate in group discussions. 

Faculty will provide mentorship and one-on-one workshops to discuss:

• story ideas.
• craft concepts such as voice and structure.
• challenges writers may be encountering with their literary journalism.

The faculty will offer mentorship for the first two weeks, with the last week for participants to focus on digging deep into their writing.

Literary Journalism is designed for writers seeking a professional development opportunity in a community of peers with the guidance of an experienced writer/editor, as each participant prepares a long form piece.

Applicants should be experienced professionals, active in the diversified fields of writing, including print or electronic media. This program is open to fiction and non-fiction writers, journalists, freelance critics or curators, artists, and academics, with an emphasis on those who can write for a lay audience with logic, vigour, and charm—and those who have a portfolio to prove it.

This program is run in English and only accepts projects that are being written in English. English is the language of Banff Centre correspondence.

Financial aid is available.

For more information and to apply.

As the Dance Individual Project Funding | Alberta Foundation for the Arts approaches on March 1, 2026 and Arts Development Consultant Jodie Vandekerkhove is providing two free webinars for those interested in applying.

AFA Individual Project grants can provide up to $18,000 to support the development of individual Alberta dance artists, students, instructors, choreographers, designers, arts administrators, or an ensemble of artists by providing funding:

• to pursue training,
• to develop a specific artistic work
• to pursue research, or
• to pursue marketing activities. 

Jodie will be providing tips and other useful information to apply for all project types, helping you develop your funding application and increase your chances of success.

Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 6 pm link below:

Webinar link

Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 6 pm link below:

Webinar link