2024 Downtown Vibrancy Fund

2024 Downtown Vibrancy Fund

We're happy to announce the nine projects that have received funding. These projects will make public spaces lively and vibrant. They will also help achieve the Greater Downtown Plan's goal of a thriving and inclusive downtown.

Photo credit: ROAM Creative

See the 2024 winners

About the fund

The 2024 Downtown Vibrancy Fund helped people, groups, and organizations improve Calgary's Greater Downtown. They could ask for funding between $20,000 and $250,000 for projects to make downtown more lively and engaging.

Funded initiatives included:

  • New amenities
  • Programming
  • Place-based activations
  • Capacity-building initiatives

  • 9 projects selected

    Each project will make downtown more vibrant, inclusive, and engaging in 2025. These efforts will bring public spaces to life, support cultural experiences, and create chances for community connection.

  • Over 70 applications

    The Downtown Vibrancy Fund was very popular. People asked for more than $9 million in funding, which was much more than what was available.

After looking at feedback and community needs, The City decided not to offer the program in 2025. While the program is being reviewed, The City will continue to support downtown revitalization through its other programs and grants.

  • Downtown in Motion Grant

    Grants of up to $50,000 are available to support initiatives that make a lasting difference in the greater downtown area.

  • Culture Days Microgrant

    The Culture Days Microgrant offers up to $5,000 per initiative to support new small-scale initiatives or improve existing ones.

2024 winners

  • Volly

    Volly is relaunching their popular Good Neighbour pay-what-you-can store in a new Chinatown location. They're expanding their all-ages programming to include classes, workshops, movie nights and more.

  • Contemporary Calgary

    Contemporary Calgary is making its Free First Thursday events even bigger. They'll feature fun activities and entertainment, with free admission for all.

  • Inside Out Theatre

    Inside Out Theatre is Calgary’s Deaf, Disability, and Mad theatre company. They're launching the new location of the Erratics Indie Arts Club. It is a gathering place with programming and performances for the community.

  • Queer Calgary

    Working with the Rainbow Garden Society, Queer Calgary is offering a series of free cooking classes. They'll help participants prepare healthy meals on small budgets with downtown resources. They are also offering community gardening workshops and a Spring Social.

  • Alcove Centre for the Arts

    The Alcove is a vibrant community space, located right on the downtown C-train line. They are a gathering place, hosting weekly coffee socials. They attract people from across the city with their participatory arts events.

  • Starlings Community

    Youth can participate in storytelling workshops with Starlings. They can create digital shorts expressing their experiences with the stigma of family drug use. The shorts will be screened for the public at a mini-film festival at the Downtown Public Library.

  • The Confluence Historic Site and Parkland

    The Confluence is bringing winter fun for everyone with their family-friendly outdoor skating rink. They will also offer programming and special outdoor events.

  • cSpace Projects

    cSpace and Article 11, an Indigenous arts company, are working together on an amazing video installation at Historic Fire Hall No. 1. This exterior piece will light up the corner of First Street and Sixth Avenue S.E.

  • Youth Central

    Youth Central will activate sites throughout downtown in a series of fun events that will make you smile. Look for their youth volunteers offering a random act of kindness, a compliment, or some inspiration for your day.

Frequently asked questions

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This information has no legal status and cannot be used as an official interpretation of the various bylaws, codes and regulations currently in effect. The City of Calgary accepts no responsibility to persons relying solely on this information. Web pages are updated periodically. ​

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