Five Artists Who Chose Calgary as Their Creative Home
As Calgary edges closer to a population of two million people, a notable shift is occurring in the artistic landscape. Artists from other cities and provinces are increasingly taking notice of the city's burgeoning cultural opportunities, choosing to relocate and establish their careers here. This marks a departure from past trends, where local talents often felt compelled to leave Calgary to pursue artistic development elsewhere.
A Changing Artistic Landscape
Historically, many Calgary-born artists and performers sought opportunities beyond the city limits to advance their careers. Notable examples include musicians Tegan and Sara, Tate McRae, Lindsey Ell, and actress Melissa O’Neill, who all built their careers after departing. However, as the local cultural scene expands in tandem with the city's growth, a reverse migration is now underway. Artists from various disciplines are arriving from cultural hubs across Canada and internationally, opting to make Calgary their new home and immerse themselves in its vibrant arts community.
This influx includes professionals from Edmonton, Toronto, Montreal, and even as far as Glasgow, Scotland. They are drawn by the city's evolving artistic infrastructure, supportive networks, and the unique creative energy that is flourishing as Calgary matures. The following profiles highlight five such artists who have recently chosen Calgary as their base for work, life, and creation.
Matthew Mooney: From Scotland to Calgary's Theatre Scene
The journey to Calgary's theatre community was anything but direct for Scottish actor Matthew Mooney. His path began unexpectedly with a documentary film titled Home by Squamish, created by British Columbia-based filmmaker Jen Randall. While sharing a flat in Edinburgh, a friend introduced Mooney to the film, which chronicles adventurer Sarah Outen's 4.5-year global expedition by bike, kayak, and rowboat. Captivated by the story, Mooney researched the film further and discovered it had won the Best Exploration and Adventure Film award at the Banff Mountain Film Festival in 2019.
This discovery led him to explore the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, located in the Canadian Rockies. "I was in awe of it: An arts facility of that capacity," Mooney recalled. "What was in the Rockies was unbelievable. I had never seen anything like it in the world. The location of it and what it provides was incredible." Inspired, he formulated a plan to travel to Canada with the ambition of eventually performing at the centre as an actor.
In 2023, Mooney left Scotland for a hotel job in Canmore, Alberta. However, the position fell through after just four days, prompting him to hitchhike to the "nearest big city"—Calgary. There, he secured a role with Trickster Theatre, working with children across 17 schools in the province. That same year, his career gained momentum when he was accepted into Theatre Calgary's emerging artist program, landing the role of Bottom in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. While still in rehearsals, Theatre Calgary offered him a part in The Mousetrap.
By 2025, Mooney's dedication paid off when Alberta Theatre Projects cast him as Ichabod Crane in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, a production that later toured to the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, fulfilling his original aspiration. His story exemplifies how Calgary's growing arts ecosystem is attracting and nurturing talent from around the globe, transforming the city into a dynamic hub for creative professionals.
