Blog
February Newsletter
Hello everyone! February is coming to a close - the shortest month of the year! The weather here in Calgary has been…. Let’s just say, a BIT chilly - we are glad to be experiencing warmer temperatures and hoping that wherever you are in the world, you are staying warm...
Microfinance for the local music industry?
Amid the rising dominance of live concert giants like Live Nation and the struggle of small music venues, the importance of support for local culture is evident. While funding and support for small for-profit businesses is challenging, a case study illustrates the impact of microfinance for local artists and venues. Direct micro-grants to artists for performances at small venues rejuvenated the grassroots music scene, suggesting the need for more inclusive funding strategies, leveraging technological advancements for ease of administration and transparency.
Beyond bricks and mortar: Technology for good
CEO and Co-founder of Stagehand, Derek Manns argues that technology provides an opportunity to build a diverse arts and culture ecosystem. According to Manns, technology can facilitate communication, data collection, scalability, and inclusivity. It’s critical for stakeholders in arts and culture to integrate technology in their strategic planning to leverage its positive potential, mitigate its potential drawbacks, and accommodate the on-going digital revolution.
Beyond bricks & mortar: Technology as a catalyst for local arts & culture
Derek Manns, CEO of Stagehand, emphasizes the crucial role of technology in preserving local culture amidst its erosion. By being thoughtful in leveraging technology, local culture stewards can promote and enhance local arts and music scenes. Manns suggests that disruptive tech-driven models can offer new opportunities to innovate and optimize existing cultural resources.
2022 Calgary Artist Playlist
Stagehand was created based on the knowledge that every community has a large base of talented artists, eager to find opportunities to profile their art. We created this playlist as a sample of some of the musical acts we worked with in 2022. This playlist spotlights...
A Quick Look Back at 2022
2022 had an arts renaissance. Or at least it felt that way to us at Stagehand. It was a year of collaboration with arts champions. It was also a year where we won a national award for our work with Music Mile! We kicked it off working with Calgary Arts Development and...
Bringing culture and vitality to downtown Calgary
DowntownVibe, a joint project of Stagehand and the City of Calgary, is an ongoing lunch hour music fest featuring talented local musicians performing in unconventional downtown spaces. Pre-pandemic, Stagehand worked with the Calgary and Edmonton Airports to host over...
‘Tis the Season for Stagehand’s ‘Winter Holiday Playlist’
As holiday cheer begins to waver once more (thanks, Omicron), Stagehand has put together a playlist to bring some seasonal spirit to your winter, post-solstice. With contributions from Wyatt C Lewis, Amy Bishop and Matt Beatty, the playlist is jam-packed with seasonal...
Thankful for Alberta Music
Happy Thanksgiving to our Canadian friends! Today we are thankful for Alberta music and the musicians that create it. We have put together a playlist of songs created by Albertans that you can listen to while you carve the turkey and celebrate with family and...