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ARTS ELEVATED:
CONFERENCE 2026

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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:  â€‹â€‹

  • Directing with Intention: Fast, Flexible, Student-Centered Staging for Musicals (with Nina Meehan)

  • Drama Session - presented by One Yellow Rabbit 

  • From Omission to Inclusion: Embedding Marginalized Histories in Arts Education 

  • Drum Circles for Youth 

  • Finding Organic Movement and Ensemble building through Viewpoints 

  • Contemporary Dance Session  

  • Indigenous Jigging and Fiddle Session  

  • Sharing Music and Culture: A Workshop on Community Engagement 

  • Mural Work  

  • Art of Containment  

 

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.​  â€‹

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.​  â€‹  â€‹

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) 

More details coming soon.   

Have questions about any of the promos or the conference?

📧 Reach out to victoria.reid@fineartsata.ca

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ATA Fine Arts Council

c/o Alberta Teachers' Association

11010 142 St NW Edmonton AB T5N 2R1

780-447-9400 / 1-800-232-7208

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© 2025 Alberta Teachers' Association

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