September 28, 2006

PRESS RELEASE

At its AGM of September 26, 2006 the Calgary Region Arts Foundation (CRAF) unanimously passed a motion to dissolve the legal entity of CRAF in favour of a new, merged organization with the Calgary Arts Development Authority (CADA). The effective date of dissolution is to be October 31, 2006.

The Calgary Region Arts Foundation has been an arms length funding agency for the City of Calgary for 37 years, providing support to the city’s arts community.

In 2004 City Council approved a new Civic Arts Policy designed to strengthen and unify the relationship between the City and the arts. Out of this new arts policy the Calgary Arts Development Authority was born. Over the past two years CADA and CRAF have been working together toward a smooth transition to a unified body for the support and encouragement of the arts.

In the new, merged organization all current CRAF volunteers become members of the new Grant Allocations Committee under CADA. Granting processes will remain the same. Applications for the CADA Annual Operating Grants will be available in December and the deadline for applications will be January 31, 2007.

We are all looking forward to a dynamic future with a strong, unified voice for the arts and greater support from the City for the vision of Calgary as a creative and culturally rich city.

Terry Rock, President and CEO of Calgary Arts Development and Kathryn Hartley, Executive Director of the Calgary Region Arts Foundation are available for interviews upon request.

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For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Erica Mattson
Marketing & Communications Manager
Calgary Arts Development
[p] 403.264.5330
[m] 403.519.2598
[e] erica.mattson@calgaryartsdevelopment.com
[w] www.calgaryartsdevelopment.com