This summer, The Nickle Arts Museum of the University of Calgary will present The Art of the Calgary Stampede  – an exceptional exhibition that celebrates the rich visual legacy of the Calgary Stampede, from the historic works of art that were part of the earliest Stampede events to the artists of today who depict and sustain our understanding of western heritage. An opening celebration will be held on Thursday 3 June from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.

The exhibition and display of artwork related to the West has been a feature of the Calgary Stampede since the first Stampede in 1912. In the early days, artists such as Edward Borein and C.M. Russell presented works evocative of the west, works that were also used in the promotion and visual presentation of the Calgary Stampede itself. From the 1930s to the early 1960s, the growth in local arts institutions such as the Alberta Society of Artists and the Glenbow Museum was reflected in the works exhibited at the Calgary Stampede and around the city. By the 1970s, the Stampede’s own Western Art Show had become a sought-after venue for western artists and artisans to display their works. 

The Calgary Stampede is the community's cradle of western heritage and traditions, and its support of the visual arts is tangible evidence of its core values of pride of place and commitment to community. Whether displays of trophy bronzes on the site, distinctive murals, or public sculptures, the “permanent collection” of works held and sponsored by the Calgary Stampede is significant. The Art of the Calgary Stampede draws from this collection, as well as from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, the Collection of the Government of Alberta, Government House Foundation, Glenbow Musuem, the Galt Museum & Archives in Lethbridge, The Nickle Arts Museum and private collections to bring together works of art that illustrate the history of visual art at the Calgary Stampede.

The Art of the Calgary Stampede is an exciting partnership between two significant Alberta institutions – the Calgary Stampede and the University of Calgary – that enables them to share in their commitment to education, culture and heritage. Their history of collaboration has brought forth the Alberta Heritage Digitization Project, as well as the Canadian Studies course on the Calgary Stampede taught by the University of Calgary. The Art of the Calgary Stampede showcases, through more than 100 sculptures, paintings, drawings and ephemera, the history of the Calgary Stampede's relationship with visual art in Alberta.