Creative City Network of Canada

National Call #3 | Thursday, June 25, 10:00 AM (ET); 1:00 PM (PT) | Unlocking Culture Data: Insights from CCNC, Statistics Canada, and Canadian Heritage

At CCNC's next National Call get ready to dive into the data shaping our cultural landscape! Join the Municipal Culture Statistics Strategy Partnership Leadership Team for an interactive, deep-dive session.

📊 Future Outlook
Opening remarks and an exclusive preview of CCNC's upcoming data and research priorities.

📈 Inside the Data
A featured presentation from the Department of Canadian Heritage and Statistics Canada exploring the Culture Statistics Strategy, how cultural data is collected, and how datasets are developed. Panelists TBA.

👉 Register at the link in our bio.

✨ Access to our National Calls program is a member benefit. Not yet a member? Join today at creativecity.ca/membership ✨

🆕 New for 2026: Festivals & Events Process Award

Successful festivals and events rely on more than great programming. Behind the scenes are the municipal processes, partnerships, and systems that help make them possible.

The new Festivals & Events Process Award recognizes municipalities that have demonstrated leadership through the development or implementation of a municipal process, framework, program, or initiative that supports the planning and delivery of festivals and events.

Eligible submissions may include:
• Event permitting or licensing frameworks
• Event coordination models
• Grant or support programs
• Policies and strategies
• Other municipal systems that improve how festivals and events are planned, managed, or supported

This category celebrates the municipal work that strengthens relationships, improves coordination, reduces barriers, and supports vibrant community events.

📅 Submission deadline: June 26, 2026

🔗 Learn more and access nomination forms:
https://zurl.co/e6dzj

Meet the Opening Forum panel.

Following Alex Sarian's provocation, The Civic Case for Culture, three Calgary leaders will respond from the perspectives of municipal culture, downtown strategy, and cultural development:

• Franca Gualtieri, Manager of Arts and Culture , The City of Calgary
• Thom Mahler, Director, Downtown Strategy , The City of Calgary
• Patti Pon, President & CEO , Calgary Arts Development

Together, they will explore how culture can support community vitality, economic resilience, and broader municipal priorities.

October 6–8, 2026 | Calgary, AB
Early Bird rates available until June 13: https://zurl.co/uiCt2

🆕 New for 2026: Creative City Impact Awards: Public Art – Enduring Impact

Some public artworks continue to shape community life long after their unveiling.

The new Public Art: Enduring Impact category recognizes municipality-supported public artworks that have been installed for five or more years and continue to hold cultural value through ongoing relevance, interaction, and municipal stewardship.

We are looking for artworks that have grown in meaning over time through public use, community attachment, evolving interpretation, or continued integration into civic life.

Examples may include:
• Commemorative works
• Historical artworks
• Artworks that have become gathering places or community landmarks
• Works that have taken on new significance through changing community contexts

This category celebrates the lasting influence of public art and the municipal leadership that helps sustain it.

📅 Submission deadline: June 26, 2026

🔗 Nomination forms and award information:
https://zurl.co/v1yxU

If you are unsure about eligibility or fit, please reach out to [email protected]

If you experience any accessibility challenges or if the application process poses a barrier, please reach out to Tara-Lynn Kozma-Perrin by June 5, 2026



Image Credit: 2024 Creative City Impact Award Nominee - "World's Largest Coast Salish Welcome Figure", by Brandon Gabriel, City of New Westminster

2026 Call for Jurors
The 2026 Impact Awards program is opening for nominations soon, and CCNC is seeking experienced cultural professionals to serve as jurors.

As a juror, you will review nominations in the following categories:
• Cultural Leadership
• Cultural Planning
• Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility
• Public Art
• Cultural Festivals & Events

This volunteer role requires a commitment of approximately 6 hours in June/July.
If you have expertise in one or more of these areas, please consider joining our 2026 jury. If you plan to nominate your municipality’s work, kindly mention this in your inquiry.

Inquire by May 30, 2026:
Send your CV and an email outlining your expertise in any of these areas—or in Canada’s cultural sector generally—to [email protected]

Creative City Impact Awards: New categories for 2026
Now accepting applications for the Creative City Impact Awards in Public Art.

Public art is shaped not only by what is created, but how it is developed and how it lives in the community over time.

New Category: Public Art Process
These are projects and programs distinguished by the quality, integrity, and clarity of the process used to develop the work.
These projects stand out for:
• their engagement with communities,
• thoughtful collaboration, and commitment to dialogue,
• participation, and shared authorship.

This category honours teams who demonstrate exceptional care, transparency, and innovation in shaping public art through process-driven practice.

Key Information
• Eligibility period: Projects must take place between May 2024 – May 2026
• Submission deadline: June 26, 2026
Who can apply:
• Class A members

Questions? Reach out to [email protected].
Before your apply, please review these important resources to support your application😀

Visit our website to view past winners’ achievements and access your nomination forms here:
🔗 https://zurl.co/zjyit

New categories for 2026!
Now accepting applications for the Creative City Impact Awards in Public Art.

Public art is shaped not only by what is created, but how it is developed and how it lives in the community over time.

The Public Art Awards recognize municipal leadership across three areas:

Process:
Projects and programs distinguished by the quality, integrity, and clarity of the process used to develop the work

Project:
Completed artworks and programs recognized for artistic quality, vision, and contribution to public space and the cultural landscape

Enduring Impact:
Artworks installed five or more years ago that continue to hold cultural value through ongoing relevance, interaction, and municipal stewardship

From strong governance and collaboration, to artistic quality and long-term cultural value, these categories reflect the full lifecycle of public art practice.

Deadline: June 26, 2026
🔗 To learn more about eligibility and the new categories, visit: https://zurl.co/PI5fb