Emmedia

What Emmedia does

EMMEDIA Gallery & Production Society (operating as Emmedia) is a Calgary-based non-profit artist-run organization founded in 1979 and incorporated in 1983 under Alberta law. Its mandate is two-part: supporting both the production and the presentation of media arts. Operationally, EMMEDIA provides affordable access to professional media production infrastructure — including two editing suites with 5.1 master and 4K video capabilities, a screening room, a media arts gallery, and rental equipment (Sony PXW-Z150 and Blackmagic URSA Mini cameras) — to its Artist Affiliate members. It runs a continuous calendar of educational workshops (covering Blender, TouchDesigner, DaVinci Resolve, sound design, camera operation, color grading, and grant writing), curated exhibitions and artist talks, and the annual PARTICLE + WAVE festival (entering its 11th edition in 2026), which it describes as Alberta's only dedicated media arts festival focused on interactive art, projection mapping, AR/VR, and audiovisual installations.

EMMEDIA's commercial offering is a hybrid of membership-gated services, free public programming, and targeted residency/mentorship programs (Open Access grants, BLACK2THEFUTURE residency, The Breakdown with Vogue YYC). Revenue is generated from government arts grants (Canada Council for the Arts, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Calgary Arts Development, Alberta Lottery Fund), equipment and space rentals to Artist Affiliates, workshop fees (free to ~$35), publication sales ($5–$75 CAD), donations via CanadaHelps, and select casino fundraising events. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors, led operationally by Artistic Director Sharon Kahanoff (appointed June 2024), with a lean staff of 1–10.

The current strategic posture is defined by an upcoming facility transition: the Sunalta lease concludes in early 2027, prompting the Future Space Direction & Roadmap initiative (announced April 2026), which pairs community consultation by Parsons Dialogue and architectural scenario planning by Bespoke Collective (supported by the Rozsa Foundation) with the search for a permanent accessible space. EMMEDIA maintains a multi-channel community presence (website, Discord, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Showpass, Eventbrite, newsletter) and a deep partner network across Calgary's arts ecosystem, including TELUS Spark Science Centre, National accessArts Centre, Vogue YYC, Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth, Quickdraw Animation Society, and others.

Name

Emmedia

Legal name

EMMEDIA Gallery & Production Society

Website

https://emmedia.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

EMMEDIA Gallery & Production Society is a Calgary-based non-profit artist-run organization founded in 1979 that supports media arts production and presentation through equipment and space rentals, workshops, exhibitions, and the annual PARTICLE + WAVE festival.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Media Arts Production Services

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (7115)

SIC

Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Media Arts & Film/Photography Nonprofits (BPAGAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Media Arts & Performance (Film, Stagecraft, Lighting, Sound) (EDAMAAAJ), Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

Keywords

• Media arts production
• Artist-run center
• Equipment rental
• Media arts festival
• Arts education

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding & Grants: Primary funding from government sources including Canada Council for the Arts, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Calgary Arts Development, and Alberta Lottery Fund. These grants support organizational operations, programming, and special initiatives.
2. Equipment & Space Rentals: Revenue from renting production equipment and facility spaces (screening room, gallery, editing suites) to artists. Requires Artist Affiliate membership.
3. Workshop Fees: Fees charged for educational workshops ranging from free to $20-$35 per session. Covers topics like Blender, sound design, camera operation, editing, color grading, and grant writing.
4. Donations: Charitable donations from supporters, facilitated through CanadaHelps platform. Organization is a registered non-profit society.
5. Publication Sales: Sale of publications including Rita McKeough: Works ($40 CAD publication only, $75 CAD with vinyl boxset) and Expanded Standard Time ($5 CAD).
6. Membership Program: Artist Affiliate membership providing access to equipment rentals, production facilities, scholarships, workshops, and member events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

EMMEDIA Gallery & Production Society is a non-profit artist-run organization that supports both the production and presentation of media arts. It provides affordable access to media art production equipment (cameras, audio gear, lighting), production facilities (Editing Suites with 5.1 and 4K capabilities, Screening Room, Media Arts Gallery), educational workshops, the annual PARTICLE + WAVE media arts festival, the Artist Affiliate membership program, and grant programs including Open Access and Finishing Funds for independent media artists in Calgary and beyond.

Product overview

EMMEDIA Gallery & Production Society is a non-profit artist-run organization founded in 1979 that supports media arts production and presentation. The organization operates as a platform offering interconnected services: equipment and space rentals (Screening Room, Gallery, Editing Suites) for Artist Affiliates, an annual PARTICLE + WAVE media arts festival, educational workshops, artist support programs including the Open Access grant program, and membership through the Artist Affiliate Program. The organization also runs special initiatives like the BLACK2THEFUTURE residency and The Breakdown arts training program in partnership with Vogue YYC.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PARTICLE + WAVE: Annual media arts festival featuring exhibitions, screenings, audiovisual performances, and interactive art by local, national, and international media artists. Now in its 11th edition (2026), it is the only media arts festival in Alberta focusing on interactive art, projection mapping, AR and VR, and audio-visual installations and performances.

Products and services

• PARTICLE + WAVE Festival Alberta's only media arts festival featuring interactive art, projection mapping, AR and VR, and audiovisual installations and performances. Held annually showcasing local, national, and international media artists.
• Equipment Rental Program Affordable rental access to media art production equipment for Artist Affiliates, including Sony PXW-Z150 and Blackmagic URSA Mini cameras and other production tools.
• Space Rental Rental of gallery and production facilities including a Screening Room (blacked-out space with track lighting and loading bay), Media Arts Gallery (white room for projections and installations), and two Editing Suites with 5.1 master capabilities and 4K video editing.
• Artist Affiliate Program Membership program providing artists access to equipment rentals, production facilities, workshops, scholarships, and technical support for media art creation.
• Workshops and Education Educational workshops covering tools and techniques including Blender, TouchDesigner, sound design, video editing (Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve), camera operation, color grading, and grant application basics. Available both free and at sliding scale pricing.
• Open Access Program Scholarship program providing Open Access and Finishing Funds to support media artists in completing their works.
• The Breakdown Arts training program in partnership with Vogue YYC that centers voices of queer and trans people of color (QTPOC), teaching media analysis, storytelling, and video production skills.
• BLACK2THEFUTURE Residency Residency and mentorship program merging art, technology, and Afrofuturism to empower Black media artists through personalized mentorship, workshops, and access to production space and equipment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Alberta's only dedicated media arts festival
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Vogue YYCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership for The Breakdown media arts training program created by and for Calgary's Ballroom scene. Program centers QTPOC voices and teaches media analysis, storytelling, and video production skills.
• National accessArts CentremajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership for Particle + Wave 2024 screening night featuring films by artists from Canada's largest disability arts organization.
• TELUS Spark Science CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Long-term partnership since 2012 for PARTICLE + WAVE media arts festival. TELUS Spark hosts performances and installations at their facility, providing larger venue and audience access. Festival is Alberta's only media arts festival focused on interactive art, projection mapping, AR/VR.
• Parsons DialoguesupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCommunity consultation firm engaged for Future Space Direction planning in early 2025 to identify gaps and needs for new facility.
• Bespoke CollectivesupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture/design firm engaged to examine viable space scenarios for EMMEDIA's permanent accessible space initiative.
• Urban Society for Aboriginal YouthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous youth organization partnered for Twilight Celebrations, a week-long intensive where youth created projection-mapped artworks mentored by EMMEDIA artists.
• Quickdraw Animation SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnimation organization collaborated on workshops and mentorship for Twilight Celebrations and other programming.
• SpanicArtssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural organization hosted screening events including Paris is Burning and KIKI double feature for The Breakdown program.
• West Village TheatresupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheatre venue hosted CHAMPIONESS performance by SaMel Tanz dance collective in collaboration with EMMEDIA.
• The Hibernation ProjectsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerExperimental art series collaborated on Sonic Splash sound swim pool party event.
• TRUCK Contemporary ArtsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGallery hosted Lisa Lipton's Chambers' Ring exhibition, supported by EMMEDIA alongside other partners.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Studio XX: Montreal-based feminist artist-run centre for media arts, supporting production, exhibition, and community programming for women, trans, and non-binary artists — comparable in its non-profit, artist-led operating model and media arts mission.
• Trinity Square Video: Toronto-based non-profit artist-run centre supporting video and new media production through equipment access, editing facilities, workshops, and residencies — a direct peer in the Canadian media arts centre network.
• Gallery TPW: Toronto-based non-profit artist-run centre focused on image-based practices, presenting exhibitions and public programming. Comparable as a contemporary arts exhibition venue with a similar artist-run operational model.
• VIVO Media Arts Centre: Vancouver-based non-profit artist-run media arts centre providing production facilities, equipment access, workshops, and exhibitions — the closest direct functional and operational analogue to EMMEDIA, just at a larger and longer-established scale.
• InterAccess: Toronto non-profit media arts centre focused on electronic and digital arts, providing gallery exhibitions, residencies, and education — directly comparable to EMMEDIA's focus on emerging media forms, AR/VR, and interactive work.
• SAW Video: Ottawa-based non-profit artist-run centre for video and media art production and presentation, offering memberships, equipment access, and artist fees — directly comparable in mandate, scale, and operating model to EMMEDIA.
• Cineworks: Vancouver non-profit artist-run film and video production facility offering equipment rental, workshops, and screening programs. Sharon Kahanoff (EMMEDIA's current Artistic Director) previously sat on Cineworks' board, signaling direct leadership overlap.

Regional players

• Stride Gallery: Calgary-based artist-run centre presenting contemporary art exhibitions and public programming. Comparable as a regional artist-run centre competing for the same municipal arts funding and local audience attention, though focused more on visual than time-based media.
• Quickdraw Animation Society: Calgary-based non-profit animation society that has partnered with EMMEDIA on the Twilight Celebrations program. Operates in the same local ecosystem with overlapping workshop and screening mandates but focused specifically on animation.

Broad incumbents

• The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity: A large-scale Canadian arts residency and education institution with substantial infrastructure, multiple programs in media arts, and a national funder base. Functions as a broad incumbent in the same funding and programming ecosystem that EMMEDIA operates within.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EMMEDIA
• Facebookfacebook.com/emmediasociety
• Instagraminstagram.com/emmediayyc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/emmedia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Emmedia