The arts have been a part of Canmore’s daily life since its inception. In 1890, the H.W. MacNeill Co. (the contractor operating the coal mines) established a brass band to entertain residents. In 1898, its members built a practise hall on the Bow River. This rough hall became known as the Canmore Opera House, and is believed to be the only log opera house in the world.

With so many worthwhile causes seeking support, it can be challenging to decide where your support will have the most impact. Why choose the arts?

Research, including a McKinsey & Company report commissioned by Business for the Arts in Canada, continues to uphold the social importance and the economic impact of the arts. Some of the key findings included suggest the arts:

• builds stronger communities, with a heart and vibrant soul

• contributes to an improved quality of life

• brings people together, and promotes community engagement and interaction

• grows a shared identity and pride

• stimulates and sustains local economic growth

• contributes to increased tourism

• helps to engage new members of the community

• helps realize the potential of children: arts education helps children develop higher level skills such as critical thinking and problem solving, a stronger overall academic performance, and increased self-confidence - with the decline of arts education in schools, there is a greater demand for cultural activities in the community

• Art and creativity help us feel and process our emotions. By submerging ourselves in art, we are taken away from stress and worry and create important moments of happiness and fulfillment.

• Having healthy ways to deal with our emotions make us more able to face challenges and change, and feel hope.

• Art helps children face changes such as lack of school and other routines by giving them a sense of identity. The arts give children the tools they need to be emotionally resilient, to understand who they are and how they feel, and to be creative change-markers in the new future.

• Art helps people find meaning and feel less isolated by giving them opportunities to connect and collaborate even in these disrupted times.

• It is our responsibility to support artists through this time so they can tell their stories, inspire others to explore their creativity, provide outlets for our community to express their fear and anxiety, instill hope, and bring joy.

At artsPlace we are committed to bringing the arts to our community in any way we can. Currently we are:

• A community art and creativity activator.

• A source and hub for artistic resources, inspirations and experiences.

• Actively supporting artists by hiring them to perform online concerts and teach art online.

• Allowing our community members to connect with local artists they know and care about, see familiar faces, and work together as a community through our creativity.

• Supporting the most vulnerable such as seniors, children and the very isolated.

• All charitable gifts of $100 and more will be recognized at the appropriate level on our donor and sponsor pages of the Annual Report, Program Guides and our website. In-Kind gifts will be recognized separately.

• For gifts of $5000 and more, donors will have the option to sign a mutually agreed-upon Gift Agreement. The purpose of the Gift Agreement is to establish a mutual understanding of the purpose of the gift, the management of the gift, the terms of the pledge, and the organization’s responsibility in reporting the results of the gift.

• Donors requesting anonymity will be omitted from the donor lists in all public recognition media