

ARTS ELEVATED:
CONFERENCE 2026

Nina Meehan is a Brilliant Communication™ specialist, speaker, and coach who helps leaders, teams, and organizations communicate with clarity, confidence, and impact. As the founder and CEO of an award-winning, multi-million-dollar entertainment company, she honed her expertise in breakthrough thinking, innovation, and audience engagement—creating immersive experiences for over a million people worldwide. A recognized director, playwright, and producer, Nina has brought stories to life on some of the most respected stages, including a trailblazing musical based on a book by Chelsea Clinton, adaptations of multiple New Yorks Times Bestsellers. She has worked with Tony-Award Winning companies and artists and collaborated with EGOT winners. Beyond the stage, she empowers CEOs, venture capitalists, tech innovators, and educators to refine their communication, elevate their leadership, and move beyond any limit. Whether she’s coaching a founder to secure millions in funding, leading a startup through strategic storytelling, or guiding an organization to build a culture of collaboration, her approach is dynamic, creative, and results-driven. A two-time TEDx speaker, Nina has spoken at Chicago Women in Tech, Wonder Women in Tech, Conscious Leadership Group, EO, the University of Utah, Northwestern University, the National Endowment for the Arts. She has worked internationally in Australia, Italy, Canada, China and Korea. Her insights have been featured in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, ABC, NBC, and CBS News. She holds a B.S. in Theatre from Northwestern University, a Master’s in Nonprofit Administration from the University of San Francisco, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Creativity, Innovation, and Leadership. She is also a certified yoga instructor. When she’s not consulting, speaking, or training, Nina can be found hiking in the mountains, doing stand-up paddleboard yoga, or cross-country skiing with her three kids.
Nina Meehan
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Workshops and Sessions
Arts Elevated 2026 Workshop Lineup:
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The Art of Containment - Art Therapy Techniques for Teachers with Katie McBeath
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A Contemporary Movement Lab with Meghann Michalsky
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Directing with Intention: Fast, Flexible, Student-Centered Staging for Musicals with Nina Meehan
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Drum Circles for Youth with Lucas Coffey
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Finding Organic Movement and Ensemble building through Viewpoints with Jack Grinhaus from Vertigo Theatre
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From Idea to Public Art: A Collaborative Design Thinking Mural Workshop with Tamera Olsen
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From Omission to Inclusion: Embedding Marginalized Histories in Arts Education with Kelsey Mc Mahon Stoker & Kelly Brownlee from East Side Dance Festival Society
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Inclusive Choreography for Mixed Levels with Theatre Calgary
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Inspiring Practice for Secondary Visual Arts
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Métis Jigging Workshop
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The Scavenger Music Teacher: Supporting Elementary Music Educators Through the Collective Community with Kim Friesen
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Secondary Band Workshop Session with Chris Herard
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Secondary Choral Workshop Session
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and more being added regularly!
Workshop lineup subject to change.
Friday Elevated Add-On Sessions
All add‑on sessions take place Friday, October 16, 2026 at 1:00pm.
Studio Bell: National Music Centre (NMC) - Educator Guided Tour
Add-On Price: $25
Where: Studio Bell, Home of the National Music Centre, 850 4 St SE, Calgary, AB T2G 1R1
Deepen your connection to Canada’s musical story with an exclusive guided tour of the National Music Centre at Studio Bell. Join fellow arts educators for a 60‑minute exploration across all five floors of cutting‑edge music technology, innovation, and history. Led by NMC’s skilled tour educators, this experience includes special demonstrations of select instruments and behind‑the‑scenes insights into the centre’s remarkable collections, exhibitions, and studios. This Elevated Add‑On includes both your guided tour and general admission, allowing you to continue exploring the museum at your own pace after the tour concludes.
Jazz Education Class at Decidedly Jazz Danceworks (DJD)
Add-On Price: $25
Where: Decidedly Jazz, Danceworks, 111 12 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2G 1A1
Experience the energy, history, and creative spirit of jazz in a 90‑minute education session at Decidedly Jazz Danceworks. Join fellow arts educators for an immersive class that blends movement, musicality, and cultural understanding inside DJD’s vibrant studio space. Led by DJD’s experienced teaching artists, this session explores the foundations of jazz through a warm‑up, across‑the‑floor, and guided choreography creation. Participants will also engage in swing dance fundamentals, examine the historical importance of jazz, and build a deeper appreciation for understanding jazz music as both an art form and a cultural legacy. Some foundational background with movement and dance is suggested to support your experience.
Contemporary Calgary, Educator Guided Tour
Add-On Price: $25
Where: Contemporary Calgary, 701 11 St SW, Calgary, AB T2P 2C4
Step into the world of contemporary art with a guided tour at Contemporary Calgary, one of the city’s most dynamic cultural spaces. Join fellow arts educators for a tour and exploration of current exhibitions, artistic practices, and the ideas shaping today’s creative landscape. Led by Contemporary Calgary’s knowledgeable gallery educators, this tour offers insight into featured artists, curatorial themes, and the role of contemporary art in fostering dialogue and reflection. Participants will engage in discussion, examine artworks up close, and consider how contemporary practices can inspire and inform arts education. This Elevated Add‑On includes both your guided tour and general admission, allowing you to continue exploring the museum at your own pace after the tour concludes.
Kinkonauts On-Site Improv Long-Form Workshop
Add-On Price: $25
Where: The Kinkonauts (BLOX Arts Centre)
Step into the world of unscripted storytelling with a two‑hour long‑form improv workshop led by the Kinkonauts, one of Calgary’s most dynamic improvisational ensembles. Join fellow theatre educators to explore the foundations of long‑form improv creation, including character development, ensemble collaboration, and the narrative structures that allow improvised stories to unfold with depth and momentum. Guided by an experienced Kinkonaut’s performer, this workshop offers insight into formats such as montages, thematic explorations, and extended narrative arcs. Participants will engage hands‑on, build scenes together, and consider the many ways long‑form improv can be used in the classroom, from skill‑building exercises to performance opportunities like lunchtime improv clubs and student‑led showcases.
Have questions about any of the promos or the conference?
📧 Reach out to victoria.reid@fineartsata.ca