Alberta University of the Arts

🏆 Congratulations to Jillian Cote (BFA '24, Sculpture), recipient of a White Hat Award in the Exceptional Server: Banquets | Events category!

At Heritage Park Historical Village, Jillian is known for going above and beyond — whether it's delivering water to volunteers, giving up her spot in the cold so someone else can warm up, or helping a family from Ukraine connect with a piece of home through the park's Ukrainian heritage experiences.

https://www.avenuecalgary.com/sponsored/the-63rd-annual-calgary-white-hat-award-winners/ -cote

We’re sharing highlights from our 100-year journey — explore the full timeline at auarts100.ca.

1960/61 — A new name, a distinct identity 🎓

On December 24, 1960, the Provincial Institute of Technology and Art became the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), following the establishment of the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton.

Within this shift, the Art Department — still part of SAIT — took on a new identity: the Alberta College of Art (ACA). It marked a defining step in recognizing art education as its own evolving discipline. A new ACA logo was created during this period, credited to Ken Sturdy and Keith Thomson.

Discover more stories from our first century at auarts100.ca.

Photo: Alberta College of Art logo, designed by Ken Sturdy and Keith Thomson.

🎉 Congratulations to AUArts Vice-President Academic, Dr. Dawn Johnston, and her team from UCalgary on receiving the 2026 D2L Innovation Award from the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE)!

This national recognition celebrates their outstanding contributions to teaching and learning innovation in higher education. We are proud to have Dr. Johnston's expertise helping shape transformative learning experiences for our students and supporting excellence in teaching across our faculty community.

https://stlhe.ca/award_winners/2026-d2l-innovation-award-recipients/

AUArts Abstract | June 2026
https://mailchi.mp/auarts.ca/auarts-abstract-june2026

Celebrate the Class of 2026, explore the new Alumni Profile Directory and discover how AUArts students and alumni are shaping Calgary.

Sign up for the AUArts Abstract:
https://auarts.ca/abstract-newsletter

Meet the artists, designers, craftspeople, entrepreneurs and innovators who are part of the AUArts alumni community.

Our new searchable Alumni Profile Directory showcases alumni at every stage of their creative careers — making it easier to discover and connect with our growing creative network around the world.

Are you an alum? Submit your profile and:
• Be part of the AUArts alumni network
• Share your creative practice
• Connect with industry and community audiences
• Stay connected to the evolving AUArts community

https://www.auarts.ca/news/auarts-launches-alumni-profile-directory-to-showcase-creative-talent

Supporting Ground

📅 June 12 – July 6
🕔 Opening reception: June 12, 5:30–8 p.m.
📍 Harm’s Reach, 4910 21a Street SW, Calgary
🎟️ Public opening by appointment

Supporting Ground is the inaugural exhibition at Harm’s Reach, a new community-focused space founded by AUArts alum Aron Hill (BFA ’00, Interdisciplinary Studies).

Exploring themes of care, support and community through sculpture, ceramics, drawing and installation, the exhibition features the work of alumni Natalie Ge**er (BFA ’03, Fibre; MFA ’25, Craft Media) and Shelby Charlesworth (BFA ’17, Painting).

​​https://www.auarts.ca/exhibition/supporting-ground

This, That and What Remains Panel Discussion

A panel discussion exploring artistic practice, lived experience and the quiet forms of resistance that help people continue, create and imagine solidarity in fragmented times.

📅 June 10, from 12–1:30 p.m.
📍 Stanford Perrott Lecture Theatre, AUArts

Featuring moderator Wang Zi and guest speakers Anran Guo, Dr. Yoke-Sum Wong (Professor, Liberal Studies) and Tak Pham (IKG Curator). The event will also include a screening of No One is Coming.

https://www.auarts.ca/event/this-that-and-what-remains-panel-discussion

Public art is rolling through Calgary 🚍🎨

The 2026 Art Bus program is back with 14 buses transformed into moving canvases by local artists — including AUArts alumni making their mark across the city.
Featured artists include:
✨ Jillian Fleck (BFA ’12, Painting)
✨ Kara Mains (BDes ’22, VCD)
✨ Phoenix Kefei Ning (BDes ’26, VCD)
✨ Sikapinakii Low Horn (BFA ’19, Drawing)

These artists are helping bring creativity, culture and community to Calgary Transit routes across the city through November.

https://calgaryartsdevelopment.com/public-art/projects/art-bus/

Art Bus | Public Art | Calgary Arts Development The Art Bus program helps bring public art into a variety of areas and communities throughout the city by inviting artists to use a public transit bus as their canvas. This temporary public art project provides opportunities for artists, offers an engaging visual art experience for citizens, and cel...

Join AUArts alum Toni Cormier (BFA ’19, Drawing) for an artist talk at Kiyooka Ohe Art Centre.
Working through painting, drawing and field studies, Cormier explores relationships between light, water, landscape and social power systems through dream-like visual narratives shaped by close observation of the natural world.

📍 Kiyooka Ohe Art Centre
📅 June 14, 2026
⏰ 2–4 p.m.

https://www.auarts.ca/event/artist-talk-with-toni-cormier

Some of the best AUArts memories happen outside the classroom. 🎨

“I remember the art supply store lineups from my first year. The excitement of waiting in line to get what you needed for class. It was a great way to meet other people that weren’t in the same discipline as you. Printmakers, painter, sculptors and designer alike all had to get their supplies. It made the nervous first few weeks so much fun because you left with new connections and learnt about some weird supplies you never heard before (and probably wouldn’t have discovered otherwise).”
— Sarah Johnston, BDes ’08, VCD

What’s a small AUArts moment you still remember?

✨ Share your story: https://form.typeform.com/to/gehOh1Sr