Inspire: Introducing Airdrie’s new arts and creative centre

Funding provided through the Community stream of the Build Communities Strong Fund

Airdrie is one of Canada’s fastest-growing cities, and as the community continues to evolve, the need for a vibrant cultural hub in the heart of downtown became increasingly important. That need is now being met through Inspire, a welcoming space where residents can learn, create, connect, and celebrate. By bringing people together through arts, culture, and community programming, this new 73,000-square-feet space strengthens community connections, fosters belonging, and enhances the social and cultural life of Airdrie.

To support Airdrie’s growing population, Inspire is designed to support arts and community connection – home to a public library, performance space, studio and multi-purpose meeting rooms, art exhibits, and more. This inclusive space will attract both residents and visitors, offering classes, events, and experiences.

The public library invites individuals of all ages to drop by and explore a full collection of books, videos, and magazines, with more to discover. In addition, the library maintains a lending collection of arts and crafting tools, such as knitting needles, wood burning kits, and many more. The library aims to foster literacy, knowledge, and cultural connections while inspiring learning, imagination, and creativity through its inclusive programs and collections.

Situated alongside the library are several studios, multi-purpose rooms, and meeting rooms. Distributed throughout the facility, these spaces of varying sizes are designed to provide individuals or organizations with the flexibility to hold a class, create social media content, produce a webinar, host a seminar, or even start a podcast. Inspire provides the community with tools and resources to help individuals reach their full potential.

To further strengthen community ties, artists can express their creativity in many different ways. Artists and artisans have the opportunity to showcase and sell their creations by booking an individual market pod or hosting a collective market in the atrium. To showcase creativity in music, poetry, or storytelling, Inspire offers a stage for community amateur and youth nights to share their performing arts talents. For visual arts, artists can contribute their work to be featured in rotating exhibitions. A dedicated space now empowers artists of all disciplines to showcase and sell their work, connecting their passion with the community.

This new vibrant space is providing community members with the space to share their creativity thanks to collaboration and funding partnerships, including investments from the Community stream of the Build Communities Strong Fund (formerly Canada Community-Building Fund) and the Local Government Fiscal Framework (formerly the Municipal Sustainability Initiative) to support the construction of this new recreational centre.

Located in the downtown core, Inspire brings residents together into a shared space to spark inspiration, connection, and creativity. By offering opportunities to meet, learn, and engage, this gathering place promotes a sense of belonging, helping to build a more inclusive and thriving community.

Quick facts

• The Build Communities Strong Fund will provide $51 billion over 10 years, starting in 2026-27, to support public infrastructure projects of local and regional significance.
• The Community stream (formerly the Canada Community-Building Fund) of the Build Communities Strong Fund will provide $27.8 billion over 10 years, starting in 2026-27, and $3 billion per year ongoing, as planned, to support local infrastructure priorities.
• Communities across the country can use the funding to make strategic investments across 19 project categories, including local roads, bridges, public transit, water systems, and community centres.

For more information

• Build Communities Strong Fund
• Community stream in Alberta
• Ribbon Cutting marks the soft opening of Inspire, the new hub for arts, culture and community connection in Airdrie