What happens when a strong, talented arts community, a healthy economy and a supportive government converge?
Those were the exact conditions that occurred in Alberta in the 1970/80s. We saw the emergence of organizations like Alberta Theatre, The Fringe, Banff Film Festival, Latitude 53, Rosebud School for the Arts, Stony Plain Records, the Heritage Fund (to name few) and something unique to Canada, “The first cultural development act in Canada was passed in Alberta.” Les Graff, Former Deputy Minister of Alberta Culture and Multiculturalism.
While Jasper was remote, it was not immune to the politics of the day. With the change of government from 36 years of Social Credit leadership to the Conservative government of Lougheed, we saw what historians like Dr. David Leighton OC, call “Canada’s most extraordinary explosion in the arts.” Alberta’s first Minister of Culture Horst Schmid stepped into the job of creating an arts strategy that spurred the creation of theatre and dance companies, festival, concert halls, art galleries, filmmaking and publishing houses. This new government treated culture like it really mattered.
And in Jasper we saw the Arts Jasper Society formed to bring live entertainment to Jasper as well as supporting the high school’s music program. From 1974-2024 Arts Jasper presented the Edmonton Symphony, Alberta Ballet, Japanese drummers, a mini Bolshoi Theatre, Barney Bentall, Matt Anderson and much more to the community. The productions took place in the high school gymnasium until the arena was inaugurated and frequently encompassed various venues ranging from local restaurants to bars to the museum and currently the acoustically perfect Anglican Church.
Today, you can find quality entertainment at many locations and several times throughout the week in Jasper. Jasper has become home to a thriving community of resident artists, musicians and event producers. Their collective efforts now shine through the numerous festivals and seasonal programs that have developed over the years, showcasing remarkable talent. Frequently, evenings in Jasper present a delightful dilemma: deciding which event to attend often comes down to a coin toss. In light of this, we present these musings as the arts scene in Jasper continues to grow and develop.
Obviously, we can all see the value of art and artists and how they enrich everything from school programs to festivals. We are all championing and investing in creativity to enrich community, and visitor programming. As we all invest time, energies and monies to “champion” the arts for our programs, there is overlap, calendar conflicts and ultimately missed opportunities to maximize the valuable investments of volunteers, time and money. We should enhance each other’s efforts and amplify the arts as we see the demand for the performing arts, music, dance, theatre and other forms of artistic expression continue to grow.
As an artist, a patron of the arts, a business owner or community leader, a member of an arts related organization or a producer of festivals, a new graduate from our high school or senior art lover, we should consider the pros of a collective voice for the future of arts in Jasper. A “Jasper Arts Council” could combine the unique perspective and expertise of all who work in the arts and could play a vital role in ensuring that the arts are recognized for their undeniable contributions to economic growth and overall well-being of our community. The conditions are right, and maybe, just maybe, Jasper’s future might contain a performing art space where all the tools needed for cultural animation exist in one place.
Interested in continuing this conversation? Contact [email protected].
