A film club for animation lovers turned into the Quickdraw Animation Society in 1984, and Calgary has had an independent animation home ever since. The society’s reunion page says the early crowd included research scientists who gathered at the Foothills Hospital, which has to be one of the more surprising origin stories in Alberta film.
Quickdraw was incorporated that year and describes itself as Calgary’s home for independent animation. It is a member-driven, not-for-profit artist-run centre at 2011 10th Avenue SW, and it offers courses, workshops, screenings and production resources.
Gear you can borrow
Quickdraw bills its rental library as the largest animation library in Western Canada. Members can rent digital and analog equipment for short or long projects, and a membership opens up the studios outside public hours. Courses run in person and online for all ages and skill levels, and the offerings change regularly.
The society also produces the GIRAF Festival of Independent Animation. Artistic director Ryan Von Hagen has programmed it since 2016 and teaches animation at the Alberta University of the Arts.
Forty years in one long weekend
In 2024 Quickdraw marked its 40th year with a reunion running June 28 to July 1. A gallery show of historic posters and member artwork sat beside retrospective screenings, panels with founding and current members, and the 17th annual Animation Lockdown screening. Admission was by donation, except for the workshop.
10th Avenue is a handy street for film people. CSIF Calgary has lent gear to filmmakers since 1978 at 1725 10 Avenue SW, which puts two artist-run film centres on one avenue. If animation sounds like a career, SAIT and UCalgary film programs are the formal route, and the CUFF and CIFF festival lineup is where finished shorts can find a big screen. CUFF lists animation among its categories.
Start with the course list on the Quickdraw site, and read its FAQ if you have never animated before. It answers where beginners should begin.
Quick answers
The Quickdraw Animation Society was incorporated in 1984 in Calgary. According to its reunion page, it grew from a film club for animation screenings, and it marked 40 years with a reunion weekend from June 28 to July 1, 2024.
Quickdraw is at 2011 10th Avenue SW in Calgary, Alberta. The member-driven, not-for-profit artist-run centre offers courses, workshops, screenings, equipment rentals and production resources for independent animators of all skill levels.
Quickdraw offers animation courses and workshops, equipment rentals, memberships for after-hours studio access, screenings and a rental library it calls the largest animation library in Western Canada. It also produces the GIRAF Festival of Independent Animation.
Sources: About Quickdraw and QAS 40th Anniversary Reunion, Quickdraw Animation Society. Photo courtesy of Quickdraw Animation Society.
