Overview
This year’s Lit Gala: Once highlighted and celebrated the life-changing magic of the Calgary Public Library. We transformed the Central Library once again for a fairytale evening to raise funds for the incredible services Calgary Public Library provides our city.
Our design leaned into rich, moody, whimsical colours, vintage furniture accents, and vignettes pulled from beloved classic tales to tell a transportive story that would spark the inner child of each attendee.
Guests entered through a dark tangle of willow and manzanita branches into a fully shapeshifted library as if dropped into a fairytale. As they moved through the evening, guests would be transported into an Enchanted Forest and Grand Ball straight out of a storybook.
Orange Frog Productions illuminated and transformed the space with spotlights, multicoloured lanterns and textured lighting to create unique moods in each space. Lush greens brought the magical forest indoors, while cloches, roses, and spinning wheels completed the fairytale feeling.
With a vision so multi-faceted, we turned to Gloria Essex, Creative Director, Calgary Public Library Foundation, to harness AI to create whimsical and gothic visual accents. Gloria recounts, “The creative vision was always moody, edgy, and sophisticated—mastering the right prompts was key. AI image creation gave us a bespoke foundation instantly, that was further refined in Photoshop to enhance the atmosphere and fine-tune details. The result? A glossy red apple in a dark forest inviting guests to have a bite, a sparkly glass slipper or hint of an iconic yellow ballgown setting the tone, and a gold-framed mirror teasing, ‘Who is the luckiest of them all?’ for the evening auction and 50/50 raffle.” Her incredible creations helped transform the library alongside gigantic flowers that accentuated the whimsy of the larger-than-life design.
Hotel Arts served up a playful and thematic culinary experience. Empanadas and squid ink pasta were on the menu, and guests could nibble on Grand Ball-worthy delicacies like bao buns and lobster rolls. Vine Arts and Proof Cocktail Bar crafted cocktails and mocktails like Witch’s Elixir and The Hearthstone to round out the fantastical spread.
We brought back the hit Blind Date with a Book fundraiser, adding to the funds raised and pairing guests with new literary adventures. Plus, hundreds of bids were placed during the silent auction, marking another successful year of raising vital funds for the library.
ProShow AV deftly handled the audiovisual production throughout the night as guests took in transportive performances curated by Fuze Entertainment. Alberta Ballet showed off an ethereal piece from their recent production of GRIMM, followed by a breathtaking duet by Calgary Opera.
To cap off the evening, an oversized walk-in photo op invited guests to step into a massive display of roses and stained glass and snap a memory to last long after midnight strikes.
Impact
With the power of imagination, expertly harnessed AI, and talented partners, we brought a fairytale dream to life. Lit Gala: Once raised over $600,000 for the Calgary Public Library, ensuring Calgarians continue to have access to the incredible programs, services, and spaces used by people in our city every day.
Guests went home with the renewed feeling that a library is a magical place offering wisdom, adventure, and imagination to all who enter.
Photo Credit
Jill Thompson Photography
