Culture in Chinatown
Culture in Chinatown
Calgary’s Chinatown is a unique neighbourhood with a meaningful culture for its residents and all Calgarians. Shaped by a long and difficult history, Chinatown reflects the Chinese people’s history, struggles, achievements, and values.
The Chinatown community has been the leading voice in its desire to see new initiatives in the neighbourhood anchored in its culture, with development approached respectfully and through a cultural lens.
Read the in-depth history of Chinese settlement in Calgary.
Planning a visit to Chinatown? Start by visiting this page.
Chinatown Cultural Plan
Created as part of The City’s Tomorrow’s Chinatown program, the Chinatown Cultural Plan identifies ways to recognize Chinatown’s history, honour its people and culture, and welcome visitors and newcomers. It is the first neighbourhood-specific cultural plan in Calgary and builds on the Cultural Plan for Calgary.
Funding for Chinatown cultural initiatives
The City supports cultural activations in Chinatown with funding, how-to resources and information on planning events, arts and culture programming, and other initiatives to enhance Chinatown’s cultural vibrancy.
Public art in Chinatown
The Chinatown Public Art Plan is a project led by Calgary Arts Development (CADA) to support Chinatown’s cultural vitality and to provide insights into how public art can strengthen identity, sense of belonging and community life.
This is the first neighbourhood specific public art plan for Chinatown and was developed alongside key interested parties that include: community members, cultural leaders, artists, business and property owners, visitors and residents. It summarizes what CADA heard from the community, outlines the values and themes guiding public art in Chinatown, and provides tools and resources for future public art projects.
Check out the Calgary Public Art Guide to discover more public art in Chinatown.
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We’re here to support the Chinatown community’s leading role in advancing the Cultural Plan’s strategies and actions. If you have an idea that fits within the plan, we can answer questions you have about bringing your idea to life.