400 Calgary students showcase arts projects at Werklund Centre
Grades 1-12 students present their changemaker projects after 7,500+ hours of creative learning.
The Werklund Centre hosted 400 Calgary students across Grades 1-12 Thursday for the Arts ReimaginED summit, where they presented their works and changemaker projects after more than 7,500 collective hours of hands-on creative exploration with teaching artists.
The day included balancing plates, juggling, and collaborative activities designed to help students discover talents they didn't know they had. Grade 5 student Liesl Ritz said her favourite part was learning to juggle alongside friends. "I didn't know that about them," she said, adding that arts help her stay calm and connect with others.
Karen Youngberg, associate director of education at the centre, said arts access shouldn't depend on location or age. "We truly believe in bringing students in, elevating their voices and their ideas to make a difference in our community," she said. Teachers must apply to bring their classes, and the centre prioritizes those who are "a little nervous, a little unsure about the arts" so it can help them build stronger pedagogy.
Holly Gray, a participating teacher who applied over a year ago, saw real transformation. "It's been really nice to see students collaborating and coming together. I've seen kids who didn't see themselves necessarily as artists coming into their own, discovering a new talent, or at least an appreciation of the beauty and the diverse things that art may be."
Centre President and CEO Alex Sarian said scaling the program is essential as Calgary grows. "The community is asking for it, our sponsors are asking for it, and we have the space to scale up." But reaching every child in Calgary will require systemic change — arts organizations, donors, city officials, and classroom teachers all need to understand that arts access is non-negotiable.