The 2nd Annual Calgary Cat Festival and Market - Sept 22 & 23

The Calgary Cat Festival and Market is a celebration of all things cats in support of animal rescues! WHERE: Calgary TELUS Convention Centre, 136 8 Ave SE WHEN: Friday and Saturday, Sept 22-23, 2023,

General Admission Hours of Operation: Friday 8:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. for the Aardman Presentations. Vendors Markets and Adoption Alley officially opens at 10 a.m.

Saturday 10 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

General Admission Ticket Price: $10 Children under 12 are free but must be accompanied by an adult. $1 of every ticket sale goes to help cats in need.

The General Admission Ticket includes access to vendors' markets, activity stations, panel presentations, the First Annual Cat Art Show, and general seating for an Information Session about Aardman Academy and Aardman Studio Model-Making Session.

General Seating for Information Session about Aardman Academy (virtual live presentation with Mark Simon Hewis, Head of Aardman Academy): Date: Friday, Sept 22nd Time: 9 am to 10 am

General Seating for Studio Feline-Themed Model-Making Session (virtual live presentation): Date: Friday, Sept 22nd Time: 10:30am to 11:30am

VIP ticket admission to Information Session about Aardman Academy (virtual live presentation with Mark Simon Hewis, Head of Aardman Academy): SOLD OUT Audience: Although based around a CAT festival, we’re expecting more professionals, educators, and business folks to this. Program Description: Welcome to the Cat Festival, where we'll be talking about everything from the Aardman Academy to Calgary's plans to launch an educational program here in collaboration with local film and animation industries, post-secondary institutions, and students. The multi-award-winning independent animation studio Aardman has launched a brand-new course at its training facility, the Aardman Academy, which gives course participants from across the globe the opportunity to train in-person and on-site at the renowned film studios in Bristol, UK. This is a great opportunity to learn more about what Aardman Academy does and chat with a creative team member virtually live at our presentation! $25 (price includes all ages). The ticket includes access to a VIP seating area, vendors' markets, activity stations, panel presentations, the First Annual Cat Art Show, and a swag gift bag. $1 of every ticket sale goes to help cats in need.

VIP ticket admission to Studio Feline-Themed Model-Making Session (virtual live presentation): SOLD OUT Audience: Anyone that’s interested in cats, model-making, and animation. Not necessarily an animator. So maybe thinking about feline silhouette and movement. The demands of the script/vox pops, thinking of Creature Comforts. Program Description: Our presentation features a live 60-minute talk with an Aardman model maker. During the talk, the model maker will share insights into the creative process of making models for stop-motion animation. They will discuss the techniques used to bring characters from concept to screen, as well as the challenges and rewards of this work. After the talk, there will be a Q&A session where attendees can ask questions and learn even more about the art of stop-motion animation. $25 (price includes all ages). The ticket includes access to a VIP seating area, vendors' markets, activity stations, panel presentations, the First Annual Cat Art Show, and a swag gift bag. $1 of every ticket sale goes to help cats in need.

PLEASE NOTE: You can register for both VIP sessions and have priority seating in the VIP area. Each session is $25 and you will receive gift bags for each session

About Aardman Studios: Aardman Animations Limited is a British animation studio based in Bristol, England. It is known for films made using stop-motion and clay animation techniques, particularly those featuring its plasticine characters from Chicken Run, Wallace and Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, and Morph.