Opinion: Alberta's arts sector needs to reflect on separation. While the arts sector cannot solve every political challenge facing the province, we also cannot exempt ourselves from reflecting on the current moment.
By Jung-Suk Ryu, Calgary Herald Published Jun 19, 2026. 3 minute read.
As conversations about Alberta separation gain traction, many in the arts and culture sector have been quick to dismiss the movement as fringe. That may be comforting. It may even be partly true.
For decades, arts leaders have spoken about the transformative power of culture. We celebrate the arts as a force for social change and inclusion. We tell governments, donors and taxpayers that arts and culture help define who we are.
Well, if that is true, then the growing sense of alienation felt by many Albertans should concern us. And it begs me to ask: where were we?
Too often, the response within our sector has been to simply shrug. To dismiss those expressing frustration as uninformed, angry or politically motivated. Yet, while we have been patting ourselves on the back for our progressive values, a growing number of Albertans have come to view the arts sector as elitist and increasingly out of touch.
That perception matters.
If we are willing to ask why that perception exists, we may also have to confront a deeper question about cultural confidence. For all our talk about inclusion, belonging and identity, have we spent enough time cultivating a distinctly Albertan cultural vision and sense of purpose? And are we expecting the same from the leadership of some of our city's and province's largest arts institutions?
Consider this: the last four presidents of the Banff Centre have come from outside Alberta. The first three returned to Toronto following their tenure. The current and former CEOs of Arts Commons were recruited from the United States. The recently departed CEO of Glenbow Museum was also recruited from the U.S. and now leads the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto.
Let's be clear — the issue is not where these leaders came from. It's whether Alberta's cultural institutions have become confident enough to cultivate and project a distinctly Albertan vision of cultural success.
Indeed, if we are serious about building a cultural ecosystem that reflects Alberta's aspirations, values and identity, we should also ask whether our institutions have invested enough in cultivating leadership from within our own communities.
And, most importantly, have we done enough to celebrate Alberta within the context of a united Canada?
Too often, our ambitions have focused on replicating models from elsewhere. Bigger galleries. Newer performing arts centres. More polished versions of institutions that already exist in Toronto or Montreal.
What if our goal was not simply to build Alberta's version of someone else's success story, but to create something uniquely Albertan that the rest of Canada looked toward?
There are reasons for optimism.
Calgary is home to two national arts organizations: the National Music Centre and the National accessArts Centre (NaAC). Both organizations have dared to suggest that national leadership does not have to originate in central Canada.
