CONTEMPORARY CALGARY’S LOOK GALA RAISES NEARLY $1 MILLION

On Saturday June 11, 2022 the Contemporary Calgary LOOK2022 gala raised nearly $1 million. This record amount will support the significant visual arts destination dedicated to modern and contemporary art and being the place of connection for Calgary’s art community. This celebration of the arts was presented by National Bank Private Banking 1859 and inspired by Studio 54 and the art of Andy Warhol. The auction was sponsored by Heather Bala Edwards & kd lang, and supported by Deborah Herringer Kiss as auction chair. All proceeds from the LOOK art auction directly support the annual public programming and exhibitions at Contemporary Calgary.

Guests had exclusive access to a one-night-only Andy Warhol exhibit as well as other engaging art activations, amazing music and entertainment. The Factory Dinner, sponsored by Holt Renfrew, and Studio 54 Reception, sponsored by Mawer, were curated by the talented chefs from Concorde Entertainment Group’s portfolio of award-winning restaurants like Major Tom, Model Milk, Bridgette bar, among others. As Contemporary Calgary’s major fundraiser of the year, LOOK supports the expansive programs and exhibitions that provide opportunities for the community to engage with the art of our time.

Planning for LOOK 2022 was led by Kelly Streit, Founder & CEO of Mode Models International, as the gala Chair. He was joined by Honorary Chairs, Douglas Coupland, M. Ann McCaig, Kelly Oxford and Adrian A. Stimson.

“LOOK presents an opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate the fact that we have this amazing Contemporary art gallery right here in our backyard,” says Kelly Streit, LOOK Chair and member of Contemporary Calgary’s Board of Directors. “We had a fabulous event, and the support of the sponsors and attendees contributes to the inspiring programming we present to the community here at the gallery."

David Leinster, CEO of Contemporary Calgary worked closely with the committee to help curate a successful event.

“I am so proud of the whole event, but in particular, the amazing art auction, with thanks to the artists, galleries and collectors who contributed work, and to Christie's who achieved a white-glove sale. Over 60% of the items in the live auction were sold above appraised values. That is a great achievement for the artists and it’s also supporting what we do at Contemporary Calgary. As a non-profit, charitable organization we rely on support from the community, and galas like LOOK are a strong indication of the support for the visual arts in our city,” says Leinster. “The LOOK Gala in 2020 was our last major gala before the world closed down for a few years. This year we are confident that LOOK 2022 has set the tone for a bright and prosperous future, signaling that there are big things to come for the City and Contemporary Calgary in the coming year.”

The National Bank is committed to supporting arts and culture across Canada and has partnered with some of this country’s leading institutions.

“Contemporary art is very important to us at National Bank,” says Jeff Young, Regional Vice President, Prairies, National Bank Private Banking 1859. “With an art collection of over 7,000 works, we have one of the largest corporate collections of contemporary art in Canada and it continues to grow with new acquisitions each year.” Jeff adds, “we are absolutely thrilled to be the presenting sponsor of LOOK for a fourth consecutive year. Having cultural institutions in our community, like Contemporary Calgary, is incredibly important as they help contribute to the quality of life we all enjoy.”

Creating new opportunities for Calgary and its citizens, we are thrilled to announce Peoplefirst Developments as our Community Sponsor. Prioritizing people over profits, Peoplefirst is a development company whose focus is to improve lives through socially responsible development. Their current, flagship project, aims to return people and vitality to Calgary's Downtown Core by transforming empty office towers into vibrant, modern, and attainable residential spaces, returning people and vitality to Calgary’s city centre.

We are excited to have the support of Chirp Foods as our Entertainment Sponsor for LOOK2022. Their philanthropic work is far-reaching, focusing primarily on removing barriers for non-profits, charities, organizations, and people across Canada. Their mission is to invest where others will not invest and to support causes that they believe will create a profound and lasting impact, moving towards their goal of building stronger communities. Working to create deeper connections, they consistently work with and support a range of causes and non-profit organizations through methods including volunteer hours, and in-kind donations from their McDonald’s franchises.