Message from the President & CEO

There’s a saying that time flies when you’re having fun, and as I reflect on the year past at cSPACE, I feel the truth of that deeply. For me, cSPACE has always been more than a collection of buildings or projects. It is a community, a mission, and a living example of what becomes possible when creativity is given room to grow, in collaboration with others.

In 2025, our spaces were once again filled with joy, beauty, imagination, and connection. At cSPACE MARDA LOOP, our creative hub remained fully leased and thriving, home to more than 30 artists, nonprofits, and creative entrepreneurs across many disciplines. Every day, the building reminds me why this work matters: because affordable, accessible creative space can nurture ideas, support livelihoods, and bring people together in ways that strengthen the cultural fabric of our city.

Across our event, exhibition, and performance spaces, the energy was extraordinary. With hundreds of events taking place throughout the year, cSPACE continued to be a hothouse of culture, a creative ecosystem — supporting everything from concerts, films, theatre, dance, exhibitions, markets, meetings, weddings, and community gatherings. These moments may look different from one another, but they share something essential: they create opportunities for people of all ages and interests, to imagine, express, gather, and belong.

Our meanwhile lease SPACEPILOT initiative also continued to grow, transforming vacant commercial spaces into affordable places for artists and cultural organizations. Since its launch, SPACEPILOT has helped activate tens of thousands of square feet, supporting rehearsals, performances, creative workspaces, all-ages programming, and new opportunities for organizations across Calgary. Seeing formerly empty spaces come alive with music, art, and engaged audiences is a powerful reminder of cSPACE’s community-building mission in action.

Our mission was developed in response to a very real and persistent challenge: artists, creative entrepreneurs, and cultural organizations need affordable places to create, produce, gather, rehearse, present, and incubate their ideas. Without access to this kind of hub centred on collocation and shared space, creative talent can be forced to scale back, work in isolation, or seek opportunities elsewhere in cities where the conditions to thrive are more accessible. 

Over the years, it has become clear that cSPACE resonates because it responds to this need in a practical and hopeful way. By transforming underutilized spaces into affordable, accessible, and vibrant creative hubs, we are helping to build the conditions that allow artists and cultural organizations to stay, grow, collaborate, and contribute to the life of our city. And with demand for creative space continuing to increase, not decrease, the need to develop and manage more affordable and accessible spaces is more critical than ever.

One of the most memorable moments this year was fireWORKS, presented in partnership with ARTICLE 11 and the City of Calgary. For a few magical months, Historic Fire Hall No. 1 and the North West Travellers Building were transformed into glowing canvases of light and story. It was beautiful, moving, and deeply symbolic of the future we are working toward: a new arts and culture campus that honours heritage while opening doors for future generations of creativity.

As we look ahead, 2026 brings an exciting milestone: 15 years since cSPACE was incorporated and began the journey of transforming the long-vacant King Edward School into a thriving creative hub. So much has happened since then, and yet it still feels like we are just getting started.

While I am deeply fortunate to have been involved with cSPACE since its inception, I am filled with gratitude and humbled that this work has never been ours alone. It belongs to a groundswell of collaborators from artists, tenants, partners, donors, civic leaders, community members, and champions who believe that creativity is essential to a vibrant city. As we move into the year ahead, I feel inspired, energized, and more committed than ever to creating spaces where creativity, collaboration, and community can flourish.

Thanks to everyone for joining us on this journey over the past 15 years. We are at a wonderful moment to appreciate the events that have occurred over this time, to reminisce and reflect, but also imagine what’s possible in the years to come, creatively together.  

– Deeter Schurig, President & CEO of cSPACE PROEJCTS

About cSPACE Projects

Our purpose is to provide vibrant and accessible spaces for artists and arts organizations so that creative enterprise thrives in community. Our mission is to develop creative places that activate people and ideas to ignite collaboration and community-led change. Our vision is one where artists and creative enterprises flourish in a network of hubs and spaces across Calgary, connecting community to and through arts and culture.