A GRAND Story

How The GRAND Reimagined Itself and Withstood the Test of Time

When The GRAND first opened its doors in 1912, Calgary was turning from settlement to city on the rise; growing fast, dreaming big, and ready to take its place on the national stage. Founded by Senator James Lougheed, The GRAND stood as a beacon of modernity and ambition in a city of just 50,000.

Praised as “Canada’s Finest Theatre” by The Morning Albertan, and applauded by those that graced The GRAND’s stage, the space  brought something bold and new to Calgary. Crowds came from as far as Airdrie and Okotoks to attend opening night, and its gilded balconies and private boxes spoke to the grandeur and aspiration of early 20th-century Calgary.

A Theatre That Changes with the City

As Calgary grew, so did The GRAND. Ownership and artistic direction shifted over the decades, each era leaving its mark. The ornate balconies eventually came down, not as a loss, but as a necessary evolution. updating the space for safety and accessibility. By the 1940s, the theatre had transitioned into a movie house, a change that brought mixed reactions. While some mourned the shift from live performance to film, others saw opportunity: cinema opened the theatre’s doors to a broader audience, at a time when art was becoming more feasible.

A Home for the Bold and the Curious

Since its revitalization in 2006, The GRAND has become a home for contemporary performance. In 2025, as the city continues to grow and welcome new communities, we are proud to say we continue being a beacon of innovation in Calgary’s downtown.

To both respect the history written on these walls, and to ensure our next chapters are vibrant, fearless and inclusive, we continue to put in the effort to reflect the full spectrum of Calgary’s creative community, making The GRAND a place where new stories, perspectives, and communities converge.

Our goal is to solidify our presence as an essential Calgary arts centre that supports the production of performances and where artists can make a home to create and present their ideas. Currently, we do that through welcoming Artists in Residence like Salingpusa, who are an organization showcasing the Filipino artist community in Calgary. They found a base in The Vintage Room, and The GRAND’s central location makes it a perfect space for community convergence and artist-driven placemaking, two of Salingpusa’s core mandates. 

We also continue the tradition of screening films, with our Friday movie nights where we partner with local businesses to provide a welcoming and comfortable place to gather in the downtown core. We are also a venue which welcomes musicians, dance performers, and conferences.

The many artistic communities of Calgary, and throughout Canada, continue to gather here and The GRAND remains a place where people come to experience something meaningful together.

We are proud to be part of Calgary’s creative heartbeat, a place that honours the city’s past, present, always evolving.

Artists in Residence

Salingpusa Creatives is the new kid in Calgary’s arts-culture scene. Founded in March 2024 with a mission to support and showcase artists from the Filipino community, Salingpusa has been busy organizing arts events this past year. Salingpusa has published an online magazine, co-organized the Likhaan Artists Festival, staged two art exhibits in collaboration with the Philippine Consulate General-Calgary, conducted an artist roundtable, a grant-writing workshop and a BIPOC Writers literary reading. The rest of 2025 will not be any less busy as Salingpusa is currently in the throes of organizing at least two more arts events.

For an organization with a dizzying calendar and a burgeoning role in the Filipino arts community, it is fitting to have found a base at The GRAND. The building’s central location makes it the perfect space for community convergence and artist-driven placemaking, two of Salingpusa’s core mandates. An added thrill for the Salingpusa team is being installed in The Vintage Room which, in the early 1900’s, served as a dressing room for visiting Hollywood actors and other performing artists. Cecilia Alcaraz, Salingpusa’s executive director, shares “At the Vintage Room, and indeed, the entire Grand building, we feel we're in the presence of so much history, performance, art making, community building, and resilience of spirit. Being in this space inspires us to work harder for the artists and the communities we aim to serve.” To learn more about Salingpusa Creatives, please visit salingpusa.com

Header Image: Tinikling & B-Boy mural (c) FilipinX Kasaganaan
Below Image: R. Melvin Alcaraz

Artist Feature: Raha Jazayeri

The GRAND’s June 2025 Featured Artist is Raha Jazayeri. Raha was born and raised in Tehran, Iran, and discovered her love of painting at the age of five. Her parents nurtured her passion by hiring a tutor to teach her the fundamentals of art.

She works primarily with oil paints, pastels, and coloured pencils to create captivating, realistic artworks. Her favourite subjects include landscapes, still lifes, portraits, and figurative pieces.

Although Raha showed artistic talent from a young age, it wasn’t until her late twenties that she decided to pursue art professionally. She began exhibiting her work in Iran and later showcased her pieces across Europe and the United States. She also opened her own studio and began teaching art classes.

Since moving to Calgary 17 months ago, Raha has hosted a gallery exhibition and participated in artist residencies at @cspace, @thegrandyyc, and @carya. She currently works out of her studio at @artpointgalleryyyc, teaches painting at Carya Village Commons, and is preparing for her upcoming solo exhibition, Calgary in Bloom, which explores the beauty of the city during springtime.

Raha draws deep inspiration from her surroundings and uses her art to tell stories. Through her work, she often sheds light on important issues such as women’s rights in Iran, aiming to spark dialogue and inspire change.

“Art is also a form of stress release for me,” she says. “Today, we are all so busy. Modern life and technology push us to move fast. Art helps us slow down, take a moment, and feel at peace.”

One of the most meaningful moments in Raha’s career was studying portraiture at the Angel Academy of Art in Florence, Italy. She is proud to have been a finalist in the Art Renewal Centre Salon - one of the most prestigious competitions for realist artists - and to have received the Andrew and Marbo Barnard Award in the Pastel Society of the West Coast's 33rd Annual Exhibition. Most recently, she earned an Honourable Mention in the 2025 Society of Canadian Artists International Online Juried Exhibition.

To aspiring artists, Raha advises: “Take the time to learn and master the basics. Embrace mistakes - they’re essential to growth and to discovering your unique style.”

Outside of art, Raha is passionate about science and previously worked as a pharmacist. She enjoys yoga, swimming, walking, connecting with friends, and volunteering at @contemporarycalgary. One creative goal she hopes to achieve is learning sculpture. You can find her work and learn more via https://rahajazayeri.com/