Purpose Funded by the City of Calgary to invest $3.75
million each year, the four-year-old authority increases the profile of arts in the community through strategic initiatives, projects, research and programs.
Size 11 full-time employees.
Calgary Arts Development Authority president Terry Rock isn’t much into hierarchy. He prefers to get out of the way of the creative people he hired so they can do their job facilitating other creative people.
“We’re a results-based organization. I don’t care when or how you do it, I just care that what you promise is delivered,” says Rock, who encourages weekday movie matinees as a method of clearing one’s head. None of his staff has taken him up on that offer; they’re too busy checking out the work of the more than 160 artists and groups CADA assists.
“There are so many events to go to, sometimes there isn’t enough time left over to do things like laundry,” says granting coordinator Lauren Simms. “That’s an amazing problem to have.”
Fridays off in the summer could be used to catch up on those chores, but its more likely you’d see Simms taking in festival.
The line between work and fun tends to get fuzzy at CADA.
Most staff members are also practising artists in mediums ranging from textiles and photography to music and multimedia. You get the feeling they can’t believe they’ve landed a job at the very organization that supports their creative pursuits. Flexible hours and telecommuting mean staff can continue those same pursuits.
CADA’s home base is adjacent to the third floor of the Epcor Centre for the Performing Arts, with views of Olympic Plaza and access to outdoor concerts in the summer and lunchtime ice-skating in the winter. CADA staffers also have a fondness for their Macintosh computers, Ikea furniture and blasts of yellow paint on the otherwise-beige walls.
They also swear by Yammer — it’s like Twitter, but for internal use — to keep the highly mobile group connected with jokes, questions and the occasional cat video. The “Boat Fund,” a $50 monthly bonus for each employee to spend on whatever floats their boat, also makes a big splash. At CADA that includes yoga, personal trainers and fountain pens.
Sometimes it’s the little things that count.
calgaryartsdevelopment.com
Key Employee Benefits Annual professional development funding; access to arts events; open-source technology for telecommuting.
Why it’s the Best Place to Work No-guilt policy on taking time off or adjusting work hours.New ideas and learning opportunities are encouraged.Access to hundreds of arts events year-round.
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