K O Arts Centre Society of Calgary

The KOAC Contemporary Arts Centre is the vision of Harry Kiyooka and Katie Ohe and the Board of KOAC. Located on a 20 acre parcel in Rocky View County, the site looks out to the inspiring landscape of the Canadian Rockies while being located virtually on the edge of Canada’s fifth largest city, Calgary Alberta.

KOAC is envisioned to be a centre of contemplation and learning focused on contemporary art and celebrating and presenting the work of Alberta’s and Canada’s contemporary artists and heritage. The centre will provide residencies and studio space for international artists. KOAC will also provide residencies for emerging artists to create new work. Also conducting outreach lectures, symposia and workshops to educate artists and the public in Rocky View County, Calgary, and surrounding area.

Harry Kiyooka and Katie Ohe, renowned Alberta contemporary artists, have made their home and their studios on 20 acres of parkland located in Springbank community, Rocky View County, since 1978.

The original 4,500 square foot home was designed with two studios and a library. A separate studio to house Katie’s sculpture work was constructed in 1988. A separate studio for Harry was constructed in 1998 when Harry embarked on a series of large scale paintings that were too large for his residence studio.

Harry and Katie both believe in giving back to the community that has enabled and supported their long careers as teachers and artists. To this end, they established Kiyooka Ohe Arts Centre Society (KOAC) and incorporated it as a CRA-approved charitable organization in 2007. They have donated their property, residence, studios, personal artwork, art collection and endowment funds to KOAC and have worked tirelessly to articulate and enable their vision for KOAC since that time. The KOAC Board of Directors oversees these assets and has moved the Vision for KOAC forward since 2007.

The KOAC vision is to preserve the site as a dedicated public park and to create an art-in-nature experience with contemporary art. It will include: an art pavilion, a sculpture / botanic garden, preserved wetlands and a wooded nature sanctuary, two artists’ studios, a library of art books and reference material, as well as offices and accommodation in the house.