Reflecting on 2024: Community Impact and Highlights
Wednesday December 18, 2024
As we wrap up an incredible year, we’re thrilled to reflect on the meaningful strides we’ve made in 2024. This year was electric and intentional—a year where we celebrated the transformative power of public art with wonder, curiosity, and ambition. From bold murals to dynamic programming, we created spaces for critical conversations, knowledge sharing, and electrifying experiences that pushed the boundaries of creativity in Calgary.
In compiling our 2024 Community Impact report we really had a chance to dive into the stories, numbers, and impact that shaped this incredible year of merging art, music, and community. It’s more clear than ever that all of us together are building a vibrant city fueled by creativity and innovation.
We wanted to tell you some of our 2024 Highlights! In 2024 we:
- Commissioned 83 new public artworks across 6 different neighbourhoods, celebrating a diversity of 39 local, national and international artists
- Showcased underrepresented and diverse voices, with 41% of participating mural artists identifying as BIPOC, 35% identifying as LGBTQIAS+ and 64% identifying as women/non-binary.
- Championed 27 local visual artists to paint public art installations across the city.
- Launched a free and accessible Urban Arts Conference attended by over 400 artists, community builders and public arts professionals.
- Partnered with the City of Calgary, Calgary Queer Arts Society, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, Establishment Brewing, Brookfield Residential, Calgary Arts Development, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Sustainable Calgary and Loop Canada to program vibrant new public art.
- Collaborated with Establishment Brewing Company for our third annual BUMP Festival beer sold in stores across Calgary.
- Honoured and supported the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in Calgary with the creation of our first official Pride Mural by Kat Simmers.
- Expanded our international collaborations by engaging renowned artists from around the globe in various disciplines.
- Shared powerful insights from 22 diverse conference speakers
- Strengthened public engagement between citizens and the urban art landscape by launching the year-round BUMP Mural Tours Program. Since March, BUMP has hosted over 60 mural tours in the Beltline and Downtown.
- Worked with the City of Calgary to transform the main streets across 5 neighbourhoods with 61 new Road Works barriers to protect pedestrian spaces and on-street patios.
- Joined the global movement towards creating a less car-dependent society through our first asphalt art initiative ground mural by Ben Johnston.
- Engaged over 10,000 visitors in 30 free, all-ages public events over the month of August.
- Supported 21 artists’ professional development and artistic practice through paid mentorship.
- Worked with 97 passionate community volunteers to bolster our festival for 247 volunteer hours.
- Reached a massive milestone of 360+ public artworks across the city since we began in
This year’s achievements reflect our commitment to fostering accessible and inclusive spaces where art thrives, and communities connect. We’re excited to share more insights and stories in our 2024 Community Impact Report, now available to the public.
Click here to read our full 2024 Community Impact Report
As we look forward to 2025, we remain dedicated to amplifying diverse voices and redefining Calgary’s artistic landscape. Thank you for being part of this journey. Here’s to more transformative moments ahead!