TD announces $1.5M commitment to National accessArts Centre to fund programs and artists

For nearly 50 years, the National accessArts Centre has helped disabled artists bring their visions to life. Now, it’s on the receiving end of much-needed aid.

TD Bank has made its largest community investment in Western Canada to support artists with disabilities, announcing a $1.5-million commitment to the National accessArts Centre that will help fund its programs over the next three years.

The donation, announced on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, will support multidisciplinary arts programming for more than 400 artists in Calgary and Toronto.

It also comes as the organization continues to navigate construction challenges at its future home at the old Scouts Hall along Memorial Drive, where costs have risen beyond original estimates.

“We are deeply grateful to TD for this extraordinary $1.5-million commitment,” said Jung-Suk Ryu, president and CEO of the National accessArts Centre.

“This transformative gift will continue to bolster our efforts in delivering world-class programs that change the trajectory of what it means to be an artist with a disability today.”

Long-standing relationship

TD says the renewed and expanded funding builds on a four-year relationship with the organization.

“We’ve actually had a long-standing relationship with the NaAC,” said Robert Ghazal, senior vice-president and Alberta region head at TD.

“Anybody who walked through this place, within five minutes, you realize why we’re doing this.

“This is an incredibly powerful, impactful and important initiative.”

He said the new commitment is directed entirely toward operating and programming, not capital construction, but will help the organization continue to offer visual arts, dance, creative arts and film programs that have reached national and international stages.

“They are great artists, quite frankly,” said Ghazal.

“This is the single largest corporate donation in terms of the disability art space ever.”

For artists, the impact is deeply personal.

“I felt very welcome on my first day here,” said artist Rachel Harding.

“There’s this beautiful, creative magic here that you can’t find anywhere else, really.”

Harding, whose work blends fantasy and reality across mediums from painting to sewing, said the TD funding makes her and other artists feel “honoured, quite honoured,” and says it will “open the doors for new opportunities” and help the NaAC grow.

New space

The NaAC has been working for years to build permanent, accessible studio space after the collapse of the Fairview Arena set off a long and complicated search for a new home.

Renovations at the old Scouts Hall along Memorial Drive N.W. have been affected by inflation, delays between multiple civic partners and unexpected structural issues.

On Wednesday, Calgary city council voted unanimously to cover roughly $300,000 in project overruns, allowing the build to move forward.

“When you look at the story of this, going back to the Fairview Arena collapse all the way to today, this has been in the works for many, many years,” said Ward 11 Coun. Rob Ward.

“The goalposts just kept moving, and they just needed that commitment from city council and city admin that we’re here for you.

“We want to get this done.”

Ward said council supported the request without debate because of the organization’s track record and its importance to the community.

“It’s a good cause that does good work in the community and does good work for people that are perhaps underserved in our society,” he said.

On track

Ryu said the new facility remains on track for completion in the spring or early summer of 2027.

The organization expects to break ground on an additional building at the site next year.

Together, they are part of a $25-million capital plan.

The NaAC has raised $18 million so far and hopes to reach 90 per cent of its goal by March, with full fundraising expected early next year.

“We have an ongoing wait list of more than 100 people waiting anywhere between two to three years to get into our programs,” Ryu said.

“The TD funding will allow the organization to hire more staff, connect artists to more opportunities and reduce pressure on day-to-day fundraising so more resources can be directed toward the capital campaign.”

He said the new facilities and expanded programming will help address long-standing inequities faced by artists with disabilities.

“We still have inequities, ableism, discrimination. That still happens, especially in our arts and culture sector,” he said.

“We’re hoping that with this funding, certainly with the buildings coming online, that we’ll be able to demonstrate as a leader here in Calgary more than anywhere else in the country, that we’re able to change that.”