About the Plan

Introduction

The Chinatown Public Art Plan is a project led by Calgary Arts Development (CADA) to support Chinatown’s cultural vitality and to provide insights into how public art can strengthen identity, sense of belonging and community life. This is the first neighbourhood specific public art plan for Chinatown and was developed alongside key interested parties that include: community members, cultural leaders, artists, business and property owners, visitors and residents.

This document summarizes what we heard from the community, outlines the values and themes guiding public art in Chinatown, and provides tools and resources for future public art projects.

Goals for this plan

Our goal was to create a plan that reflects what matters to the community of Chinatown. We aimed for an engagement process that was transparent, accessible and rooted in listening. The plan is designed to support community-led ideas, strengthen collaboration and provide clarity for anyone interested in initiating, commissioning or supporting public art in the neighbourhood.

Our gratitude

This plan would not exist without the time, stories and generosity of the Chinatown community. Over a year and a half, hundreds of people participated through surveys, interviews, conversations and focus sessions. Elders shared memories and cultural teachings; youth described their hopes for a more visible Chinatown; artists contributed creative perspectives; and business owners and community organizations offered insights drawn from decades of stewardship. We deeply appreciate every contribution.

How we engaged

Community engagement took place over an 18-month period, guided by a commitment to listening, accessibility and representation. The process was designed to reach both longtime members of the Chinatown community and those newer to the neighbourhood, creating multiple entry points for participation. An estimated 1,365 people were engaged throughout this process.

Engagement methods were intentionally layered, moving from broad feedback to deeper conversation and collective reflection. This approach allowed early ideas and priorities to be tested, expanded and refined over time, ensuring the plan reflects lived experience, cultural knowledge and diverse perspectives.

Across all engagement activities, efforts were made to remove barriers to participation, provide multilingual access and create welcoming spaces for elders, youth, artists, business owners, residents and community organizations. What we heard through this process shaped the values, themes and frameworks that guide this plan.

How this document was prepared

This plan was facilitated by Calgary Arts Development, supported by Next Strategy Consulting, with contributions from community translators, City of Calgary partners and numerous Chinatown organizations. Notes, transcripts, survey findings and community feedback were systematically reviewed, synthesized and translated into the values, themes and frameworks you see in this document.

Goals & objectives

The purpose, scope and approach of the Chinatown Public Art Plan. This section recognizes the contributors and explains how to use this document as a practical roadmap for implementation.

Project Goals, Objectives & Plan Development

In response to the steady volume of public art requests from Chinatown community members and organizations, Calgary Arts Development (CADA) initiated the creation of the Chinatown Public Art Plan. With more than 30 existing artworks, most of them community initiated and community funded, the neighbourhood has a long tradition of local leadership in cultural expression, beautification and placemaking.

This project was launched to better understand community priorities and to support a co-ordinated, Chinatown-specific approach to future public art activity. The intent is to engage with the community and gather information and insights that will help inform the future of public art in Chinatown.

The project is guided by CADA’s public art team, supported by Next Strategy Consulting and translators, and informed by key documents such as The City of Calgary’s Chinatown Cultural Plan and Area Redevelopment Plan and Chinatown’s Next Steps Plan.

Beginning in 2024, extensive engagement with a broad spectrum of community members, cultural leaders, artists, business and property owners, visitors and residents, hereafter referred to as interested parties, shaped the foundation of this plan, reflecting Chinatown’s long-standing commitment to stewarding the cultural life of the neighbourhood.

Project goals

Engage and collaborate with a broad range of community members invested in Chinatown to create a public art plan that aims to:
Identify themes the community is interested in exploring through public art.
Identify potential sites that could accommodate public art activation.
Provide recommended pathways to project funding and implementation.
Develop robust relationships and continue to build trust and goodwill within the community.
Support a sustainable public art ecosystem in the community, through building capacity of artists and community members.
Provide guidelines for the effective stewardship of public art projects and processes.
Continue CADA’s vision of a thriving, connected Calgary where everyone is empowered to live a creative life through the arts.

Project objectives

Create a public art plan that can be a guiding document or roadmap for future implementation of public art projects in the community.
Create engagement opportunities with community members via conversations, events, meetings, gatherings, surveys, focus groups, interviews and other activations.
Ensure community feedback is integrated into and guides the final plan.
Ensure the plan describes actionable steps for access to funding for different types/tiers of public art projects.
Ensure the Chinatown Public Art Plan aligns with existing guiding documents such as the Chinatown Cultural Plan, Chinatown Area Redevelopment Plan and Chinatown Next Steps Plan.

Plan development

Phase 1 – Public Engagement

Phase 2 – Plan Finalization

Phase 3 – Plan Activation (future)

Public engagement approach

The engagement approach for the Chinatown Public Art Plan was designed to gather diverse perspectives, ground the plan in lived experience and test ideas at multiple stages of development. Engagement activities were structured to move from broad listening to focused discussion, allowing early input to inform later questions, themes and priorities. Calgary Arts Development (CADA) conducted a mix of surveys, interviews and facilitated focus sessions to reach community members, artists, businesses, residents and interested parties — more than 1,365 individuals. Insights from each phase were synthesized and carried forward, ensuring that feedback informed not only what was heard, but how the framework, themes and location types were shaped and refined throughout the process.

STEP 1

Public survey: Broad discovery and initial priorities The engagement began with a widely accessible public survey, offered both online and in-person at community events. This phase cast the widest net, reaching as many interested parties as possible. The survey identified early priorities, themes and concerns while helping surface initial ideas about what public art should represent in Chinatown.

STEP 2

Interviews: Deeper stories through a public application process Following the survey, CADA launched a public call for interview participants. Community members were invited to apply and a selection process ensured representation across age, gender, cultural groups, business sectors and community associations. Through one-on-one conversations, interviewees shared personal experiences, lived realities, cultural memories and hopes for the future of public art in Chinatown. This phase allowed for nuance, complexity and the perspectives of people who are often underrepresented in planning processes.

STEP 3

Focus sessions: Collective reflection and interpretation The final step brought people together through small-sized group focus sessions. These sessions created space for dialogue, comparison of perspectives and collaborative identification of priorities. Participants explored early themes, validated emerging insights and helped refine the direction of the public art plan. Focus groups included representation from interested parties in addition to key community organizations.

How to use this plan

Purpose of this section

This plan is designed to guide interested parties in creating, supporting or commissioning public art in Chinatown. It provides shared direction, common language and practical tools to develop public art that reflects community values, cultural identity and long-term stewardship.

Whether you are an artist, business or property owner, this section explains how to use the plan to align new ideas with community priorities and pathways for implementation.

Who this plan is for

Artists

Artists exploring new ideas for artwork, or seeking to connect with community groups or collaborate on projects
Emerging creators and youth
Artists applying to calls, grants, microgrants or commissions

Community Members

Residents interested in participating in art selection or providing feedback
Youth and elders contributing stories, cultural knowledge or creative insight

Non-Profit and Community Organizations

Cultural groups, associations or community centres seeking to initiate art projects
Social service organizations working with youth, seniors or newcomers to create public art
Event organizers wishing to integrate public art into celebrations or festivals

Business and Property Owners

Storefront owners or landlords interested in murals or small installations
Businesses wanting to fund, host or sponsor public artworks
Property managers seeking to improve façades, laneways or commercial corridors through public art

Funders and Partners

Granting bodies (i.e. foundations)
Tourism and economic development partners
Private donors and sponsorship partners

City of Calgary Partners

The City of Calgary public art program
Planning and development services
Urban design, heritage, mobility and community safety teams
Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) and City of Calgary-supported advisory groups

Developers and Urban Planners

Development teams looking to integrate public art into new buildings or public realm improvements
Landscape architects and urban designers shaping plazas, streetscapes or façades

How this plan supports you

This plan is a practical reference for anyone involved in creating, supporting or commissioning public art in Chinatown. It outlines shared priorities, planning tools< and considerations to help guide projects from early ideas to implementation.

This plan provides:

Clear direction for culturally relevant and community aligned public art
Tools to move from ideas to proposal to implementation
A shared framework so projects are supported, culturally sensitive, feasible and impactful
A common reference point for decision-makers and collaborators

1. Start with the values and themes

Use the five strategic themes outlined in Section 3 as the foundation for any project idea. They outline what the community wants public art to express and guide the creative intention behind new artworks.

2. Identify the theme(s) your idea aligns with

Choose the theme that best fits your concept and ensure your idea supports its direction, pathways and intended outcomes.

3. Consult the location framework

Use the location types, map references and prioritization criteria to understand how different sites function within Chinatown and identify suitable areas for artwork placement.

4. Apply best practices

Review the expectations for artist selection, fair compensation, accessibility, community engagement and long-term stewardship to ensure your project follows responsible public art standards.

5. Explore funding opportunities

Identify available grants, microgrants, sponsorship options and partnership models that can help fund your project, whether it’s artist-led or community-led.

6. Understand processes and policies

Learn the approval steps, property considerations, permitting requirements and City of Calgary co-ordination needed to move a project forward.

7. Document and reflect on project considerations

Assess your project idea’s cultural alignment, feasibility, community benefit, accessibility and long-term stewardship before moving into planning or implementation.

8. Connect with partners early

Reach out to community groups, business owners, CADA, City staff and potential collaborators from the start to build support, ensure cultural alignment and strengthen your project.