From institutional relevance and public trust to city-building and organizational transformation, my work often sits at the intersection of leadership and community impact. The media coverage below reflects my ongoing interest in these topics and the conversations surrounding the work, ideas, and projects that continue to inform my perspective.
For media requests, please contact media@alexsarian.com
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Calgary Herald (April 7, 2025) - 'Look to the future': Transformed Olympic Plaza will include skating rink in winter.
CBC (April 7, 2025) - Olympic Plaza redesign includes skating rink and 12-metre-tall gold fountain. Vision for remake was inspired by the 1988 Winter Games iconography
Calgary Herald (March 20, 2025) - ‘Clearly a movement': how major spending on arts infrastructure, institutions is creating is creating a very different Calgary
The Scene (March 3, 2025) - Arts Accessibility in Calgary
CTV News (Feb 21, 2025) - Arts Commons transforms construction site into art installation
Livewire (Feb 21, 2025) - Olympic Plaza construction beautified with new public art
Forbes (Feb 20, 2025) - 6 Things That Arts Leaders Should Do Right Now
Livewire (Jan 23, 2025) - Increased funding for the arts increases max eligible grant amount for artists
The Gauntlet (Jan 19, 2025) - The Arts Commons Transformation will reimagine art and culture in downtown Calgary
The Globe And Mail (Dec 20, 2024) - Mustafa, Cindy Lee and more: The Canadians who made their mark in the arts world in 2024
Canadian Architect (Dec 18, 2024) - Arts Commons Transformation expansion breaks ground
Livewire (Dec 11, 2024) - Ground broken on new Arts Commons theatre complex
Calgary Herald (Dec 11, 2024) - Community leaders, government officials come together at ceremonial groundbreaking on Arts Commons Transformation expansion
Calgary Herald (Nov 29, 2024) - Q&A: Head of Arts Commons explores how cultural institutions can stay relevant in changing times
Avenue Magazine (Nov 19, 2024) - 5 New Books by Calgary Authors
Forbes (Nov 5, 2024) - The Audacity of Relevance On The Future Of Arts And Culture
The Globe And Mail (Oct 17, 2024) - Two new Canadian books find optimism in artistic life, against the odds
Calgary Herald (Sep 11, 2024) - Calgarians invited to take steps towards reconciliation at Elders Story Project event
The Globe And Mail (June 28, 2024) - Calgary’s Arts Commons advances its revitalization into downtown hub with $75-million donation
The Globe And Mail (June 28, 2024) - Alberta Insider: Calgary Arts Commons revamp gets $75-million donation
Calgary Herald (June 26, 2024) - Arts Commons receives historic gift of $75 million from Werklund Family
The Globe And Mail (June 26, 2024) - Calgary’s Arts Commons to receive historic $75-million donation
CTV News (June 26, 2024) - Arts Commons to mark major philanthropic gift
Livewire (June 26, 2024) - Arts Commons renamed after $75 million donation from the Werklund Family
CTV News (June 26, 2024) - Calgary family donates $75 million philanthropic gift to help transform Arts Commons into the Werklund Centre
Radio Canada (June 26, 2024) - L’Arts Commons va changer de nom après avoir reçu un don philanthropique de 75 M$
AGBU Insider (June, 2024) - The culture connector: arts visionary Alex Sarian sees art and community as one
Calgary Economic Development (April 17, 2024) - Community partners share Calgary’s new brand
The Architect’s Newspaper (April 9, 2024) - In Calgary, KPMB, Hindle, and Tawaw Architecture Collective unveil a new theatre complex for Arts Commons
CBC (April 4, 2024) - Here’s what the $270-million expansion of Calgary’s Arts Commons will look like
Livewire (April 4, 2024) - Design revealed on transformational new theatre complex at Arts Commons
Curiocity (April 4, 2024) - Calgary is getting two brand new theatres and here’s what they’ll look like
Calgary Herald (March 22, 2024) - Arts Commons, Olympic Plaza transformation to receive $103 million from province
Global News (March 22, 2024) - Calgary’s Arts Commons gets $103M commitment from province for transformation work
Livewire (March 22, 2024) - Province gives $103 million boost to Arts Commons and Olympic Plaza redevelopment
CityNews (March 22, 2024) - Calgary to get $103M boost from province for Arts Commons, Olympic Plaza projects
Calgary Herald (Feb 7, 2024) - Post-pandemic blues: How arts groups are faring after emergency COVID funding ended
The YYScene (Feb 6, 2024) - Arts Uncommon
Calgary Herald (Nov 23, 2023) - Cultural institutions play big role in downtown revitalization, Calgary arts leader says
Livewire (Nov 10, 2023) - All Canadian design team announced for new Olympic Plaza
CBC (Aug 27, 2023) - Has theater in Calgary really recovered from the pandemic?
Calgary Herald (Aug 2, 2023) - Arts Commons names new VP with extensive arts experience
CityNews (June 7, 2023) - Calgary’s Olympic Plaza set for full makeover as part of downtown revitalization
Livewire (June 6, 2023) - ‘Crumbling’ Olympic Plaza to get major redevelopment starting in 2024
Livewire (June 1, 2023) - Committee approves blend of Arts Commons, Olympic Plaza and Stephen Avenue projects
Calgary Herald (May 18, 2023) - Arts Commons extends contract of president and CEO Alex Sarian
Avenue Magazine (April 6, 2023) - How Indigenous architecture is shaping the future of Arts Commons
Avenue Magazine (Oct 26, 2022) - Alex Sarian, Top 40 Under 40 2022
The Dance Current (Aug 29, 2022) - How will Calgary’s Arts Commons expansion effect dance in the city?
The Logic (May 5, 2022) - In an effort to attract tech talent, Calgary leans into building its arts and culture scene
Livewire (Feb 9, 2022) - Design team announced for Calgary’s re-imagined Arts Commons
Calgary Chamber of Commerce (Sept 17, 2021) - The art of surviving a pandemic: an interview with Arts Commons’ Alex Sarian
Avenue Magazine (Sept 16, 2021) - Racial equity in the arts in Calgary
CBC (Aug 11, 2021) - Restarting Calgary’s performing arts scene a careful balancing act
The Globe And Mail (April 30, 2021) - Armed with a new $80-million grant, Calgary’s Arts Commons aims to revitalize the city centre
The Globe And Mail (March 11, 2021) - These arts leaders took over their organizations just as the pandemic hit. Here are their lessons in navigating through crisis
Canon (Feb 23, 2021) - Calgary’s Arts Commons announces collaboration with Canon to explore the intersection of arts and technology post COVID-19
CBC (Feb 15, 2021) - OPINION: Transformation of Glenbow and Arts Commons a rare opportunity
CTV News (Feb 4, 2021) - Arts Commons project another renovation plan for Calgary’s east end
Calgary Herald (Oct 9, 2020) - Arts Commons transformation project begins design process
CBC (Oct 9, 2020) - Arts Commons expansion project moves ahead to design process
Calgary Herald (May 28, 2020) - The long and winding road during pandemic brings new CEO to Arts Commons
CBC (Jan 20, 2020) - Arts Commons announces Alex Sarian, of New York’s Lincoln Center, as new president and CEO
Calgary Herald (Jan 20, 2020) - Arts Commons names former Lincoln Center executive Alex Sarian as president and CEO
CTV News (Jan 20, 2020) - Arts Commons new president and CEO has lengthy track record in New York arts scene
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The Scene Room (March 13, 2025) - Relevance and Leadership in the Arts
CBC Radio One (Oct 18, 2024)
Here and Now Toronto with Ramraajh SharvendiranAt The Mic (Sept 9, 2024) - Alex Sarian on the Audacity of Relevance
The Three Bells (Feb 17, 2024) - From Calgary with Love… Alex Sarian & Nicholas Bell in conversation with Criena Gehrke
And I Wonder (Feb 16, 2024) - Calgary CEOs: Alex Sarian & Femi Bode-George
It’s a Theory (Sept 19, 2023) - Diversifying arts and culture with Alex Sarian
The Big Intermission (May 12, 2023) - Alex Sarian: President & CEO of Arts Commons
The Breakfast Dish (May 30, 2020) - Alex Sarian
CollisionsYYC (April 1, 2022) - Why civic pride, downtown revitalization and inclusion are driving our new identity
Capacity Interactive’s CI to Eye (Feb 2022) - What the pandemic changed
Calgary Arts Development (June 7, 2021) - The Storytelling Project: Alex Sarian
The Creative Block (June 2021) - Alex Sarian