Mayor Jeromy Farkas engaged in spirited Hungarian dancing, dressed as a Jedi and waving a lightsaber to the Star Wars theme music on Monday night at the Jack Singer Concert Hall during the 2026 Celebration for the Arts. The event, attended by over 900 people, loosely adopted a Star Wars theme to recognize May 4 as Star Wars Day.
Mayor's Call for Unity Through the Arts
Farkas, who launched his 2025 mayoral campaign with a policy to promote arts and culture, acknowledged he was preaching to the choir when addressing artists and supporters. He urged attendees to become advocates for the arts, emphasizing that artists can foster unity in divided times. 'There is no person in the city who is untouched by art for economic reasons, but also for where we came from,' Farkas said. He criticized politicians who scapegoat others based on identity, stating that arts and storytelling help people see each other as neighbors and equals.
Diverse Performances Highlight the Evening
The evening featured performances from a variety of cultural acts, including Cree/Stoney Nakoda drummer Cedric Lightning, musician Kris Demeanor, opera performers Jonathan Love, Oliver Munar, Stephanie Romaniuk, and Selina Wong, and an excerpt from the theatre production A World Without Them performed by deaf artist Landon Krentz. Queer, non-binary country singer-songwriter Robert Adam also performed, along with outgoing Calgary poet laureate Shone Thistle and new poet laureate Clara A.B. Joseph.
Cultural Leaders Legacy Arts Awards Presented
The event recognized recipients of the Cultural Leaders Legacy Arts Awards, each funded by a local philanthropist or organization and including $5,000 cash prizes, with two Youth Artist Awards of $2,500 each. The ATB Powering Possibility Through the Arts Award, supporting small to mid-sized organizations, was awarded to The Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth (USAY). This supported Ozzy Eagle Jr., Courtney Gouchey, Chassidy Daniels, and Tamia Spotted Bull in creating Twilight Celebrations, an Indigenous youth digital arts initiative in collaboration with EMMEDIA and Quickdraw Animation Society. Yilu Xing, education program manager at Contemporary Calgary, was also honored for creating engaging contemporary art learning experiences for children, youth, and adults.
