Fonds glen-3918 - Calgary Allied Arts Foundation

The Calgary Allied Arts Council was formed in 1946 to administer the Calgary Allied Arts Centre at the Coste House and to function as steward to an art collection that originated in 1911 as donations to the City of Calgary’s Museum and Art Gallery (later, the Calgary Public Museum) from the Devonian Foundation and others. In 1960, the Calgary Allied Arts Council moved to larger quarters at 830-9 Avenue SW and the Calgary Allied Arts Foundation was established as a registered society to hold the title to the property and act as trustee for the art collection. In 1969, due to financial difficulties, the Calgary Allied Arts Council closed the Calgary Allied Arts Centre and dissolved itself. The Calgary Allied Arts Foundation (CAAF) remained in existence, however, its primary focus becoming the art collection. Using funds from a number of bequests, it superintended the growth and development of the collection through purchases, donations and commissions. In 1982, CAAF entered a legal agreement with the City of Calgary whereby the City assumed the custodial role for the newly named Civic Art Collection, while CAAF became an advisory and consulting committee to City Council, assisting in the acquisition, housing, exhibition and maintenance of the collection. In 1992, the Calgary Visual Arts Board and the Sculpture Advisory Committee amalgamated with CAAF for more effective communication with City Council. With a change to the Articles of Association in 1993, CAAF ceased to be a committee appointed by City Council and began electing a Board of Directors from amongst its own general membership. In 1994, a new operating agreement with the City expanded its role to overseeing the management of all public art and acting as advisor to City Council on all issues pertaining to the Civic Art Collection, visual art issues and policies, and management of the public art fund and the B12 Bonus Strategy. In 2004, City Council approved the Public Art Policy and appointed a Public Art Board to provide expert community input and advice to the public art processes of the City of Calgary Public Art Program. The Public Art Board and CAAF work together to help guide and inform the direction of the Public Art Program, especially as it pertains to the Civic Art Collection. For further information see a brief history on the CAAF website: http://www.calgaryalliedartsfoundation.ca/about/brief-history/