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2026 Canadian Arts Summit

Arts Together:
Charting a National Vision for Engagement and Action

April 9-11, 2026 – Banff, AB

DAY 1 – April 9
DAY 2 – April 10
DAY 3 – April 11

Find your peer groups
and workshop locations here

DAY 1 – Thursday, April 9, 2026

2:00pm
Registration Opens
@Kinnear Centre for Creativity and Innovation
3:00pm
Early Conversations and Peer Exchange
@Kinnear Centre: 301, 305, 306, 308
4:00pm

Welcome and Opening Remarks
@Kinnear Centre: Cenovus Great Hall

4:30pm

Keynote Address: In Conversation with Margaret Atwood
@Kinnear Centre: Cenovus Great Hall

5:45pm

Panel Discussion – The Status of the Artist: AI and Artistic Agency
@Kinnear Centre: Cenovus Great Hall

Speakers:

Etienne Grenier,
Artist-researcher working at the intersection of digital cultures, critical AI studies, and cultural sociology
Katrina Ingram,
Founder & CEO, Ethically Aligned AI
Jutta Treviranus,
Director of the Inclusive Design Research Centre (IDRC), OCAD University

Moderator – Philippe Pasquier,
Director of the Metacreation Lab for Creative AI, Simon Fraser University

7:20pm
Opening Reception
@Kinnear Centre: 201 203
8:00pm – 9:30pm
Optional Artistic Programming: Walter Phillips Gallery
@Glyde Hall Studios: Walter Phillips Gallery

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DAY 2 – Friday, April 10, 2026

7:00am
Breakfast
@Sally Borden Building:
Vistas Dining Room
8:30am
Coffee and Day 2 Welcome
@Kinnear Centre: Cenovus Great Hall
9:00am

Panel Discussion – Resourcing for Creativity, Part 1: Building the Future
@Kinnear Centre: Cenovus Great Hall

Speakers:

David Leinster,
Chief Executive Officer, Contemporary Calgary
Brian McBay,
Executive Director, 221A
Melanie Kjorlien,
COO and VP, Engagement, Glenbow
Jennifer Cecconi,
Vice President of Advancement, Werklund Centre

Moderator – Al Chapman,
Executive Director, Arts Habitat Edmonton (AHE)

10:45am

Presentation from TRG Arts
@Kinnear Centre: Cenovus Great Hall

Jill Robinson,
CEO, TRG Arts

Andrew Cotlar,
Client Development Executive, TRG Arts

11:00am

Workshops

Workshop 1 – TRG Arts
@Kinnear Centre: 301

Workshop 2 – Paul Brain
and Sachi Morishita
Presented in partnership with
National accessArts Centre
@Kinnear Centre: 306

Workshop 3 – Carla Salter
Presented in partnership with
National accessArts Centre
@Kinnear Centre: 308

Executive Leadership Workshop
Presented in partnership with
Metcalf Foundation
@Kinnear Centre: 310

12:30pm
Lunch
@Sally Borden Building:
Vistas Dining Room
1:30pm
Virtual Tour – The Cardiff
Miller Art Warehouse
@Kinnear Centre: Cenovus Great Hall
2:15pm

Presentation from
PAA Advisory | Conseils
@Kinnear Centre: Cenovus Great Hall

Sean Casey,
Partner,
PAA Advisory | Conseils

2:30pm

Panel Discussion – Resourcing for Creativity, Part 2: Funding the Future
@Kinnear Centre: Cenovus Great Hall

Speakers:

Mark Harrison,
Chief Executive Officer,
Contemporary Calgary
Brian McBay,
Founder, MH3 Collective
Aengus Finnan,
Cultural Attaché, Embassy of Ireland, Ottawa
Juniper Locilento,
CEO, National Arts Centre Foundation

Moderator – Al Chapman,
Executive Director, Arts Habitat Edmonton (AHE)

3:45pm
Break
@Kinnear Centre: Galleria South
4:00pm
Peer-to-Peer Session: Arts, Civic Growth & Funding Futures
@Kinnear Centre: 301, 305, 306, 308
6:00pm
Delegates Dinner
@Sally Borden Building:
Vistas Dining Room
7:30pm
Optional Artistic Programming:
Barbara Kaneratonni Diabo
@Jenny Belzberg Theatre

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DAY 3 – Saturday, April 11, 2026

7:00am
Breakfast
@Sally Borden Building:
Vistas Dining Room
8:45am
Talkback Session with the
Canada Council for the Arts
@Kinnear Centre: Cenovus Great Hall
10:00am

Buffalo Boy’s Moonshot
Adrian Stimson
@Kinnear Centre: Cenovus Great Hall

10:45am

Panel Discussion – Future Horizons: A National Vision for the Arts
@Kinnear Centre: Cenovus Great Hall

Speakers:

Bruce Kuwabara,
Founding Partner, KPMB Architects
Jesse Wente,
Storyteller
Kitty Scott,
Strategic Director, Shorefast and Fogo Island Arts
Kimberley Rampersad,
Associate Artistic Director, Shaw Festival

Moderator – Annabelle Cloutier,
President and CEO, National Arts Centre

12:00pm
Lunch
@Sally Borden Building:
Vistas Dining Room
1:00pm
Peer-to-Peer Session: A National Vision for the Arts
@Kinnear Centre: 301, 305, 306, 308
2:45pm

Sharebacks and Closing Remarks
@Kinnear Centre: Cenovus Great Hall

4:00pm

Optional Artistic Programming:
Explore Listening Devices
@Glyde Hall Studios: Outside Walter Phillips Gallery

6:30pm
President’s Dinner
@Kinnear Centre

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Organized by

In Partnership with

Executive Leadership Partner
and Supporting Partner

Keynote Speaker Partner

Exclusive Networking Partner

Panel Discussion Partners

Executive Leadership Supporting Partner

 

Supporting Partners