Bird Creatives 2023 | Year In Review
January 11, 2024 | Calgary, Edmonton, ALberta2023 marked another incredible year of growth, connections, and community building! We could not have accomplished another successful year without our amazing clients and partners.
Here is a look at our project highlights:
We were proud to once again produce Chinook Blast, Calgary's signature winter festival, celebrating its third year, marking a return to vibrancy in the downtown area. Aligned with Calgary's Downtown Strategy, Chinook Blast aims to position the city center as a thrilling winter tourism destination. Over three weeks, collaborations with familiar partners like High Performance Rodeo, Calgary Folk Festival, BIG Winter Classic, and Ethnik Festivals, and new additions such as Snow Rodeo and Nitro Rallycross showcased the festival's diversity. Noteworthy partnerships with the Four Winds Indigenous Showcase, Market, and 10 at 10 highlighted Chinook Blast 2023 as a year of inclusive collaborations.
We’re thrilled to be producing Chinook Blast in 2024!
The City of Calgary, Downtown Strategy Open House
Bird Creatives proudly organized two of the City of Calgary's Downtown Strategy Open Houses, once in April, and another in November. The events showcased ongoing efforts to revitalize Calgary's downtown, emphasizing the commitment of multiple partners dedicated to fostering a vibrant center for living, working, and leisure. Attendees enjoyed presentations from downtown partners, performances by the local arts and culture community, and updates on the Downtown Calgary Development Incentive Program. The open houses facilitated community engagement, providing a platform for Calgarians to pose questions and share their perspectives on the future of downtown. Throughout both open houses, insightful talks from policymakers, professors, and arts leaders addressed key challenges and opportunities facing downtown Calgary.
Hydrogen Convention Street Party
The team organized the Hydrogen Convention Street Party on April 25 in collaboration with Explore Edmonton, Edmonton Global, and DMG Events. The event, held in downtown Edmonton, successfully showcased the local creative economy to over 1500 convention delegates from around the world. Closing Rice Howard Way for the celebration, the team curated an immersive experience with live music, street performers, food trucks, a night market, and art installations. This event not only celebrated the emerging hydrogen industry but also highlighted the potential for cross-industry collaboration, demonstrating the positive impact on Alberta's creative economy.
The 27th Esquao Awards unfolded at the Grey Eagle Resort and Casino, offering a vibrant celebration of Indigenous women's achievements and contributions. This remarkable ceremony honoured outstanding individuals in arts, culture, activism, education, leadership, and entrepreneurship. The event, attended by distinguished guests and supporters, showcased the remarkable talent and unwavering dedication of the awardees, who have made significant positive impacts on their communities. With captivating performances, heartfelt speeches, and an atmosphere filled with pride, the ceremony served as a powerful platform to amplify the voices of Indigenous women and inspire future generations.
The Calgary Downtown Association revealed a vibrant new fibre-art installation, "Novus Textura," created by local artists Gordon Skilling and Jolie Bird. This artwork seamlessly integrates with the established Galleria Trees installation, symbolizing Calgary's rich legacy of innovation and perseverance through collaborative efforts. Described by the artists as a playful representation of new directions in Calgary's development, Novus Textura reflects the city's history of resilience and innovation. The installation serves as a testament to the power of collaboration, uniting artists, designers, engineers, and fabricators to express a collective artistic vision for the city's ongoing evolution. Our team was thrilled to organize a colourful launch for this event.
Bird Creatives has worked with West Anthem to update existing findings on Alberta’s music city strategies in partnership with the Government of Alberta, Alberta Music, and the National Music Centre. Here, we conducted additional secondary research into existing strategies (17 to be exact), and began engagement work with music industry members —all of it will culminate in two strategies and a handy dandy toolkit for those of us outside the major cities. This project is coming together in four phases: two phases of research, one phase of engagement and a final phase for writing the strategies and developing the toolkit.
Bird Creatives worked to deliver the RISE UP Downtown Vibrancy Program, an initiative that aimed to invigorate Calgary's downtown area by supporting creative projects, events, and programs that transform existing venues and spaces. Targeting local artists, performers, presenters, venues, and community groups, we were able to forge partnerships to produce live arts entertainment and experiences in approved downtown locations. The selected partners received up to $5,000 to present shows or arts events between October 23 and December 31, 2023. The program emphasized the importance of the arts in building a sense of place and attracting new business, ultimately making downtown Calgary an attractive place to live, work, and play.
Bird Creatives was thrilled to be a part of the 2023 Celebration for the Arts hosted by Mayor Gondek. It was a night filled with incredible performances, cultural diversity, and recognition of local artistic excellence! On October 18, 2023, the Jack Singer Concert Hall was alive with energy as over 200 Calgary-based artists showcased their dazzling talents. From Reuben & the Dark to Madhuban Performing Arts and many more, the stage was ablaze with creativity and community.
It was a pleasure for us to work as both an accessibility sponsor and producer for this incredible annual event.
Three Remarkable Events by Authentically Indigenous
In September, Bird Creatives was thrilled to support three remarkable Indigenous events created by Authentically Indigenous, produced to highlight some of Calgary’s diverse talent during the 2023 World Petroleum Congress. These events showcased the talent, heritage, and innovation of Indigenous artists and makers from Treaty 7 and beyond. These events not only celebrated culture but also empowered artisans within local Indigenous communities.
Bird Creatives was, once again, thrilled to be producing The Winter Whyte Light Up festival alongside the Old Strathcona Business Association in Edmonton! McIntyre Park and 83rd Avenue turned into a winter wonderland full of beautiful lighting installations, roving performers, live music and performances, and holiday cheer.
Award Nominations
Calgary Chamber of Commerce Awards
In 2023, Bird Creatives was incredibly honoured to be nominated once again for the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Award Presented by Pride in Business as well as the Air Canada Resilient Business Award!
Alberta Chamber of Commerce Awards
As a further testament to our commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, we had the privilege of being nominated for the Alberta Chamber of Commerce Awards for their Equity Diversity and Inclusion category. We were represented by our Edmonton team for this ceremony!
CanadianSME Business Awards
To cap off a very eventful 2023, our very own Founder and Principal Consultant, Kaley Beisigel, received a nomination for Business Woman of the Year!
2024 is already shaping up to be our biggest year yet and we cannot wait for what new partnerships, collaborations, and adventures await us! Be sure to stay tuned to our social media and our blog to keep up to date with us!