About
Calgary Arts Development and The Calgary Foundation
Responding to a call for proposals in 2010 to purchase the surplus King Edward School from the Calgary Board of Education, a unique partnership between The Calgary Foundation and Calgary Arts Development has been formed to advance a vision for the historic school as an innovative arts incubator.
Calgary Arts Development is the City of Calgary's designated authority for the development of the arts in Calgary and is the municipal granting agency for the not-for-profit arts sector. Formed in March 2005 through the auspices of the 2004 Civic Arts Policy, Calgary Arts Development continues to play a leadership role in realizing the potential of arts and culture in Calgary.
The Calgary Foundation, established in 1995, facilitates collaborative philanthropy by making powerful connections between donors and community organizations for the long term benefit of Calgary and surrounding area. Community foundations are charitable organizations dedicated to improving communities in specific geographical areas. Foundations do this by pooling the charitable gifts of donors to create endowment funds and using the investment income to make grants.
Vision for an Arts Incubator
The vision of the project partnership for the King Edward School is an integrated, mixed-use 'hub' that provides a dynamic and collaborative gathering place focused on the incubation and advancement of professional arts practice, social innovation and community development in South Calgary.
The facility will co-locate a range of affordable office, programming and collaboration spaces for non-profit arts and community organizations as well as dedicated studio space for individual artists and creative entrepreneurs working in and across multiple sectors. The incubator will connect the community of artists and cultural workers as tenants in the building to each other and to the broader community that the facility is embedded. Lastly, the facility will provide a layer of programming and mentorship focused on building the capacity of individuals and organizations in the arts and culture sector to advance their missions and become more successful entrepreneurs.
While the core operations of the multi-tenant arts incubator will be housed in the original 1912 sandstone school building and subsequent phased additions, it is envisioned that the remainder of the site be developed comprehensively in terms of mixed-income residential uses, amenities and public spaces that reinforce the purpose, and enhance the sustainability, of the anchor arts facility.
History of the King Edward School
The King Edward School was built in 1912 as an educational institution for a rapidly growing Calgary. With the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the school became a cadet training facility and community social centre. From 1918 to 1929, the building housed two separate educational institutions: the King Edward School and the South Calgary High School. During World War II, the Calgary Normal School was temporarily housed at the facility, providing an opportunity for children to be taught by new generations of teachers coming through their professional training.
Since the end of the war, the facility remained a school until 2001, when it closed. From 2001 to 2004, portions of the school were leased to a private, French-language institution and were occasionally rented as a film production location. Since 2005, the building has been vacant and unused.
Over the last five years, the CBE has attempted to sell the school and site twice to land developers, each with a focus on high-density residential and commercial uses that would have privatized the historic school building for condominiums. Both failed to complete the purchase due to financing challenges and lack of community support for their proposals.
Contact Us
email: info@transformkingedward.ca
phone: 403-264-5330
