1975: The In-Definite Arts Society (IDAS) is founded with a mandate to support individuals with physical disabilities. It serves as a community hub for people to come together and create arts and crafts.

1980: Gene Neel (1932-2025) is appointed the first Executive Director of IDAS; acclaimed fibre artist Jane Cameron attends IDAS, inspiring the organization to welcome artists with developmental disabilities.

1985: Previous funded by the City of Calgary’s Parks and Recreation department, IDAS instructors are brought in-house as employees thanks to the generosity of funders.

1997: A new organization – Artistic Expressions – is formed with changes to the disability funding framework of the Government of Alberta.

1998: The Jane Cameron Archives are created to share, celebrate and study the works of IDAS artist Jane Cameron, who would later pass away in 2000.

2003: Darlene Murphy (1955-2017) becomes Executive Director of IDAS; an exhibition of Jane Cameron’s works, titled A Remembrance of a Life in Art, is installed at Calgary’s Devonian Gardens.

2008: IDAS moves to its current location at 8038 Fairmount Drive SE, a former community association facility that was revitalized and made accessible thanks to the generosity of funders and donors that raised $1.7M.

2009: Artistic Expressions begins its programming at In-Definite Arts Centre.

2013: Led by former instructor later turned renowned artist Jeff de Boer, 24 artists with developmental disabilities embark on a large-scale public art project called A Meaningful Life, installed at the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.

2017
Executive Director Darlene Murphy passes away.
Jung-Suk (JS) Ryu appointed IDAS’s first CEO.

IDAS becomes Indefinite Arts Centre (IAC), launching a new visual identity, vision, mission, and strategic plan.

IDAS has a feature exhibition in Art from the Unknown, hosted by then Premier Rachel Notley, at the Government of Alberta’s McDougall Centre.

IAC partners with the Glenbow Museum and curator Mary-Beth Laviolette to present an exhibition of Jane Cameron’s works.

2018
Following the collapse of the adjoining Fairview Arena, the IAC moves to a temporary home at the Shane Homes YMCA.

IAC receives a supplemental grant from the Government of Alberta to launch programs on Fridays – the centre is now open five days a week, supporting more than 260 artists.

IAC engages in its first, independent large-scale public art project in partnership with the City of Calgary. Artists paint over a dozen utility boxes in several communities in southeast Calgary under the mentorship of local artist Andrew Tarrant.

More than 30 artists participate in IAC’s first artist residency initiative in partnership with the Leighton Art Centre thanks to support from the Rozsa Foundation. An exhibition of the works developed, called Pushing Boundaries, welcomes close to 100 guests on opening day.

IAC becomes the first Canadian disability arts organization to tour internationally with Albertan Perspectives. The tour opens in Hong Kong at the Alberta Hong Kong Office, and then travels to Seoul, South Korea to be opened at the National Disability Art and Culture Centre.

2019
IAC launches its second residency initiative in partnership with the National Music Centre, thanks to support from the NMC and Scotiabank. The residency focuses on visualizing music and leads to several groundbreaking visual works.

IAC selected as the first Canadian arts organization to be installed at the Dubai International Airport. 14 artists showcase their work alongside those of sister organization Mawaheb to more than 6.8 million viewers.

IAC represents Canada at Trazando Posibilidades, a global disability arts symposium hosted by the British Council. Artists Andrew Harding, Susie Meredith, and Brad McCaull speak and have their works featured at exhibition installed at Centro Cultural Constitucion, the largest cultural centre in Jalisco.

Thanks to support from the Canada Council for the Arts, IAC welcomes its first international artist for a cross-country tour — Pixel Kim from South Korea.

2020
The IAC becomes the National accessArts Centre, following the merger of IAC, Artistic Expressions, and Momo Movement. The merger creates Canada’s first multidisciplinary disability arts organization.

The Government of Canada acquires 13 works by NaAC artists to be displayed in Canada’s embassies and official residences – the first such partnership between the federal government and a disability arts organization.

The NaAC launches its third major artist residency initiative in partnership with Contemporary Calgary. Titled Collider, more than 80 artists occupy the newly renovated Contemporary Calgary venue, exploring the idea of place within an artist context, leading conversations about belonging, community, legacy, and residual energy.

2021
The NaAC launches its Curatorial Mentorship program. Its inaugural participant is NaAC artist Michelle Bennie who curates Midnight in Space featuring the works of 17 artists.

The NaAC launches its Professional Track program, connecting a cohort of participating artists to professional training and engagement opportunities across its program disciplines.

The NaAC’s new interdisciplinary work – Conference of the Birds – is featured as part of the Canadian Pavilion at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP26.

A new cultural exchange initiative is launched with ActiveArt, a sister disability arts organization based in Seoul, South Korea.

Thanks to support from ATB Financial and Calgary Arts Development, the NaAC launches The WINDOW Project, showcasing NaAC artists across large-scale window spaces in more than a dozen ATB Financial locations across Calgary and surrounding areas.

With support from ATB Financial, the NaAC launches its Indigenous Programs with its first major long-term project, Ways of Knowing.

2022
As part of its Professional Track programs, the NaAC launches its Artist Practicum Program, providing nine months of advanced training for four selected NaAC artists.

The NaAC reaches a new milestone – connecting its artist community to more than $193,000 in artist fees and commissioning opportunities.

The NaAC launches artjourney, a new online platform for artists to share their practice and works – made possible by a significant investment by Canada Council for the Arts and its Digital Strategy Fund.

The NaAC convenes BEGINNING, the country’s first national conference focusing on the aspirations and practices of artists with neurodevelopmental disabilities. The conference brings together more than 150 participants in Banff and Vancouver – and features keynote speakers Betty Siegel from the Kennedy Center, and Daniel Vais from Drag Syndrome.

The NaAC becomes the first disability arts organization to be an official delegate of the Canadian Arts Summit.

With the generous support of the family of the late Won Lee, the NaAC announces that its largest donation received in its history – the former gallery and studio space of the late Canadian artist Won Lee, located in Toronto.

In partnership with Xenia Concerts, the NaAC premieres Seven Miniatures for the Rolston String Quartet, a groundbreaking classical composition developed by seven neurodiverse artists from across Canada.

The NaAC reaches revenues of $2.1 million, almost tripling in size in less than five years.

2023
In May 2023, the NaAC became the first multidisciplinary disability arts organization to receive support through the highly competitive and prestigious Canada Arts Training Fund, becoming the fifth Alberta-based arts organization to receive CATF support, and positioning the work of the NaAC in professional arts training alongside other recipients including the Banff Centre, the National Ballet School, and the National Theatre School.

The NaAC disburses more than $160,000 in artist fees and commissions to its artist community.

In partnership with the Embassy of Canada to Korea and the Korea Foundation, the NaAC opens Intense Difference Of Its Own, the largest international exhibition to be curated by the organization, at the Korea Foundation Gallery in Seoul. More than 100 individuals attend the opening reception, including Canadian Ambassador Tamara Mawhinney alongside NaAC artists Brian Ehnis and Carol Harris, and featured a performance of Seven Miniatures by the Rolston String Quartet. The show then travels to Jeju Island and Ottawa as part of celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations between Canada and the Republic of Korea.

At the invitation of Global Affairs Canada, the NaAC premieres Disability + Creativity: At the Intersection of Climate Change at the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai. Artist David Oppong joins President and CEO JS Ryu as part of a panel discussion addressing the compounding impacts of climate change on the disability community.

In September 2023, the NaAC led a delegation of artists – along with representatives from Calgary Arts Development – to speak to the vibrancy of Calgary’s arts ecosystem with decision-makers in Canada’s national capital, Ottawa.

In October 2023, the NaAC launches the Won Lee Prize, Canada’s largest cash prize dedicated to artists living with disabilities. The inaugural winner of the Won Lee Prize is Calgary-based artist Athena Cooper.

2024
Raewyn Reid becomes Interim President and CEO of the NaAC.

The newly named Won Lee Community Arts Hub in Toronto convenes its first major event, gathering thought leaders from across Canada to discuss the intersections of space and accessibility when it comes to cultural infrastructure.

NaAC convenes BEGINNING 2.0 in Canmore, Alberta, convening more than 60 delegates from across Canada to discuss the future of the arts and neurodivergent artists.

NaAC artist Meg Ohsada performs at the opening ceremonies of the 2024 Special Olympics National Winter Games held in Calgary.

At its 49th Annual General Meeting, membership of the NaAC elect a new board of directors – with four members representing the disability community. The board subsequently appoints JS Ryu who returns as President and CEO.

The NaAC jointly produces Camera Lucida with partners Connected A and Project YYIN from South Korea. This disablity-centred dance work premieres at the 2024 Seoul Performing Arts Festival.

The NaAC becomes the National accessArts Centre presented by TD Ready Commitment, reflecting the significant investment made in NaAC’s programs by the TD Bank Group.

The 2024 Won Lee Prize is awarded to Ottawa-based Ashley Hiscott.

The NaAC announces a groundbreaking sponsorship from Trico Communities. The planned Visual Arts Centre – a $6 million revitalization of the old Scouts Hall off Memorial Drive in Calgary – will be renamed the Trico Communities Accessible Arts Centre.

In March 2025, the Government of Canada announces an historic $8.2 million investment towards the development of the world’s first accessible arts learning campus. This is in addition to the $4.5 million the City of Calgary commits towards the development of the Visual Arts Centre, and the $1 million committed by the Government Alberta towards the new multidisciplinary arts learning complex.

The NaAC celebrates 50 years since its founding as the In-Definite Arts Society in 1975, and hosts its largest fundraising gala event in its history, with more than 200 guests filling the ENMAX Conservatory at the Calgary Zoo. By March 31, 2025, the NaAC raises $700,000 in private and corporate gifts – the largest recorded in the organization’s history. In 2024-25, the NaAC’s revenues hit $2.3 million, another historic milestone.

In alignment with the NaAC’s organizational philosophy, the organization formally trademarks the phrase Artists First™.

In June 2025, the NaAC welcomes Her Excellency Kim Hea-kyung, the First Lady of the Republic of Korea, during the G7 Summit. It is the only Calgary-based arts organization to welcome a high-level delegation during the Summit.

The Government of Canada announces a $1.35M investment towards the National accessArts Centre, with $750,000 dedicated towards the Trico Communities Accessible Arts Centre project through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, and $600,000 in support towards the NaAC’s Professional Track programs through the Canada Arts Training Fund. Parliamentary Secretary David Myles visits the NaAC to make the announcement in July 2025.