General

Esker Foundation is the largest privately funded, non-commercial contemporary art gallery in Calgary. As a leader in the Calgary arts community, Esker Foundation connects the public to contemporary art through relevant, accessible, and educational exhibitions, programs, and publications. Esker Foundation reflects on current developments in local, regional, and international culture; creates opportunities for public dialogue; and supports the production of groundbreaking new work, ideas, and research. Founded in 2012 by Jim and Susan Hill, Esker Foundation is a new model for institutional relevance, curatorial focus, and audience engagement.

Esker Foundation programs three exhibition changes per year for the fall, winter, and spring/summer seasons.

In addition to the main exhibition space on the fourth floor of the Atlantic Avenue Arts Block, the Project Space is a vital alternative exhibition venue that aims to engage the community by increasing the presence and accessibility of contemporary art at street level. As a commissioning body, the Project Space invites emerging and established artists to develop new, responsive projects that directly address the neighborhood and explore important contemporary issues.

Exhibitions are visible to the public 24 hours a day and run for approximately three months, for a total of four exhibitions a year.

WHAT IS FESTIVAL HALL?

Festival Hall is an intimate performance and event space in historic Inglewood. The Hall is also the new home of the Calgary Folk Music Festival office.

PROGRAMMED BY THE CALGARY FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL

We are very excited to be able to present the diverse indie, roots, traditional, and world music the festival is known for, all year round. The Calgary Folk Music Festival curates arts and culture events throughout the year in the hall, including film, food, theatre, poetry and workshops and during the summer, our 1600+ volunteer army uses the Hall as a meeting space for preparation for our legendary annual festival, which, of course, remains on Prince’s Island Park.

HOW YOU CAN USE FESTIVAL HALL?

Festival Hall is available to be rented as an affordable space for Calgary’s artistic community, and is also available for corporate and private functions and events including weddings, meetings, parties, fundraisers, or whatever else you can think up.

WHAT’S INSIDE FESTIVAL HALL?

Patrons enter Festival Hall through the welcoming Gray’s Lobby and art greeting by an art installation of original woodcuts carved by Lisa Brawn and inspired by the nearby Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. Also gracing the lobby is our Drink Rail, elegantly inscribed with the names of our donors and supporters, and the Big Rock Emerson Bar. The main performance hall has been treated by professional acousticians, and it looks and sounds immaculate. Our theatre lighting beams down from French’s Catwalk, which includes adaptable light and multimedia fixtures that can accomodate a wide range of needs. The backstage area also leads downstairs into the Muruve Green Room, which can accomodate hair, makeup, and costume changes, as well as all manner of pre-show banter.

WHERE IS FESTIVAL HALL?

Festival Hall is located at 1215 10th Ave SE. We are happy to have made a permanent home in Inglewood, an area rich in culture and history, a growing musical destination for Calgarians, and the main stretch of the Music Mile.

HOW CAN I RENT THE HALL & HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

For a detailed breakdown of our ammenities and costs please check out Rental Information

When you have consulted our Availability and are ready to rent, please complete our Booking Form

The Collectors’ Gallery carries important original works of art including paintings, works on paper, and sculpture by Canadian masters from pre-Confederation to the present day. The Collectors’ Gallery also represents over 30 prominent contemporary Canadian artists.

We are a team of happy artists who love what we do and create good art! We believe whole, whole heartedly that art brings joy, a love of learning and makes the world a better place. ?

The really great thing about 4Cats is that we encourage a love of learning through creating, questioning and laughing.

We all feel sooooo lucky to be part of the Inglewood community! The community is so amazingly vibrant and creative. We are so happy and grateful you are part of the 4Cats family!

4Cats Inglewood offers art workshops, parties, classes and supplies for adults, families & kids. Explore our site to find out what’s new and amazing at 4Cats

Yvonne Jobin
Traditional Artist, Designer & Spiritualist

Yvonne Jobin is Cree First Nations originally from High Prairie, Alberta and now residing in Calgary, Alberta.

Yvonne’s considerable knowledge of traditional native culture and spirituality is reflected in her art work. Whether her work is for traditional use, collectors, museums or major motion pictures, all of her art reflects a respect for the gift of nature, the land and humankind’s need to live in balance with creation.

Yvonne is much in demand as a seminar leader and teacher by Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals alike. She is dedicated to preserving and teaching her culture through the arts and with the use of authentic materials of her ancestors.

Her work is in private and public collections in Canada, United States and Europe and will continue to develop a high profile within the artistic community

Yvonne is an appointed Marriage Commissioner by the Government of Alberta

 

Amy Willier

Artist, Designer, Co-Owner

Amy Willier is Cree First Nations from Sucker Creek Reserve, AB and now resides in Calgary, Alberta.
Amy has spent her life under the tutelage of her mother, Yvonne Jobin.  She has learned how to tan hides, do beadwork and many other ancient artforms. Amy has taken the traditional arts and brought them into the future with her artistic creativity.  She specializes in beadwork, leather work, painting and fish scale art.
Amy is the sales manager at Moonstone Creation, and loves to teach others about her culture when they come into the gallery.