Rise Up Calgary
Kickstarting the Arts industry’s Recovery
Project Background
RISE UP is an open-source platform created during the COVID-19 pandemic to kickstart the arts industry’s recovery with the aim of connecting Calgarians to live experiences and events and supporting local artists and businesses.
This collaboration launched on August 13, 2020, with the support of our founding partners: Calgary Arts Development, Tourism Calgary, Calgary Hotel Association, Calgary Economic Development, National Music Centre, The King Eddy, and Theatre Calgary.
The Challenge
Although vaccine uptake rekindled some public interest in live events in spring 2021, many venues were still reeling from the impacts of COVID-19. They had seen events cancelled on short notice, dealt with short staffing owing to illness, and struggled to allay patron concerns while adjusting to rapidly shifting COVID-19 health restrictions.
Similarly, artists and performers were nervous about investing their time and resources on events that could be cancelled or tickets that would not sell, for an industry disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, the risks of reopening needed to be shared.
Our Work
Building off the success of the inaugural RISE UP Weekend in fall 2020 at the BIG Art Drive-In, our summer 2021 initiatives saw incredible success.
With funding from the City of Calgary and Calgary Arts Development, we supported partners to host 31 RISE UP Weekend events over 17 weekends. By establishing clear safety requirements up front, we were able to respond to changing health restrictions, so that safe shows went on. A second call was then put out for partners, and we planned an additional 20 events that enlivened Calgary’s arts scene through fall and winter 2021.
In partnership with Calgary Arts Development and the Friends of the Federation of Calgary Communities, and with the generous support of the Calgary Foundation, RISE UP hosted 20 pop-up performances, providing over 45 hours of free, family-friendly entertainment to crowds of 15-150. Community Associations used the performances to reach new members in settings that felt safe and comfortable.
RISE UP also developed the COVID Protocols Guidebook for the Arts Sector and Live Events. These documents were shared as key resources with venues and organizers across the province. The City referenced this guidebook in their approval process for safe site applicants.
Testimonial
“It was our first in-person show in over 2 years. I wasn’t sure what to expect with putting on a hip-hop show in-front of a playground but as the field began to populate with friends, fans and curious passerby’s I could feel the crowd’s excitement to experience live music again. As the beats pumped through the mini PA system I saw toddlers jumping and elderly women playing “air-piano” while clapping along with the tunes. [...] The whole experience was so welcoming and filled me with a strong sense of community.” - DAN BENNETT AKA TRANSIT22
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