January 28, 2026, Cochrane, Alberta — Route 22 Artist Collective is celebrating a major milestone in its rapid rise from humble beginnings as a grassroots, artist-led initiative to becoming an ambitious and inspiring arts organization serving Cochrane and rural regional communities across Alberta.
Route 22 is being recognized as a success story as it reaches the conclusion of a significant four-year federal funding agreement with Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) through its Community Economic Development and Diversification (CEDD) program. Through CEDD, PrairiesCan makes targeted investments to generate sustainable and inclusive economic growth for communities across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
Since 2022, PrairiesCan has invested more than $192,000 in Route 22 Artist Collective Ltd. to support the business success of artists. Funded project activities included website and database development; the creation and delivery of entrepreneurial capacity-building courses for artists; curation and production of specialized art exhibitions; engagement initiatives with Indigenous artists; and participation in events that promote artists and their work.
PrairiesCan’s investment was matched by support from local, municipal, and provincial funding partners.
The project set an ambitious target of more than $500,000 in revenue growth between late 2022 and March 2026, championing the professional development of artist entrepreneurs as drivers of economic growth within the organization. Specific goals included supporting 60 local artists through entrepreneurial training and mentorship, expanding physical and digital spaces for the sale of artwork, and promoting artists through specialized events.
As the project concludes in March 2026, Route 22 is proud to announce that it has met and exceeded every target and goal, including revenue growth. Today, the gallery is home to 90 artists, with 29 additional artists on a waitlist. The organization is over 80% women-run and operated and has supported 16 Indigenous artists through community exhibitions, events, and programs.
Route 22 has delivered multiple annual community-focused exhibitions, including Rocky View School student showcases; Mental Health Awareness Week programming in partnership with FCSS; and Indigenous solo and group exhibitions in partnership with Cochrane’s Wazin Ichinabi Ti Indigenous Centre. The organization has also led collaborative community events for the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation and hosts ongoing rotating solo and juried exhibitions throughout the year.
In addition, Route 22 leads the collaborative and rapidly growing Come Paint Alberta festival series alongside nine regional arts organizations and Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, strengthening regional connections within the arts community while building tourism attractions across Southern Alberta.
Since entering into the funding agreement with PrairiesCan, the Route 22 team has worked tirelessly to build organizational capacity and leverage funding to deliver maximum community benefit. The investment has helped elevate the arts and artists as cornerstones of Cochrane’s cultural identity and local economy.
“Route 22 Artist Collective demonstrates how strategic investments can translate into real and direct economic impact for communities,” said the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada. “Our government is proud to support artists not only as creators, but as entrepreneurs with the ambition to build sustainable businesses, access new markets, and contribute to an inclusive, thriving economy in Alberta and across Canada.”
“Route 22 is opening doors for artists to learn, innovate, and turn their creativity into businesses,” said Corey Hogan, Member of Parliament for Calgary Confederation and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. “By strengthening the economic capacity of local artists and equipping them with practical tools and resources, this initiative is helping to build a more resilient arts sector in Alberta.”
The Route 22 team is proud to be both a cultural hub for the region and a growing tourism destination for the Town of Cochrane.
Jo-Anne Oucharek, former Executive Director of Cochrane Tourism and current President of the Route 22 Board of Directors, shared:
“Watching Route 22 grow from a small grassroots idea into a thriving cultural and economic force for our region has been incredibly rewarding. This project proves that when you invest in artists, you invest in community, reconciliation, tourism, and long-term economic vitality. I am immensely proud of what this organization, our artists, and our partners have achieved together. This success belongs to every artist, volunteer, partner, and supporter who has believed in what we are building.”
Established in 2020 as a non-profit, volunteer-based organization, Route 22’s mission is to empower creativity, collaboration, community, and lifelong learning through the arts. Its vision is to build a connected cultural community and a strong creative economy. Route 22 Gallery was launched five years ago and includes dedicated arts programming and education space. The organization recently relocated to a prime location in the heart of historic downtown Cochrane.
In 2025, Route 22 announced the creation of two charitable funds in partnership with the Cochrane Foundation: a permanent Route 22 Endowment Fund to support long-term sustainability, and a Route 22 Capital Fund to advance the goal of purchasing its leased property and establishing a permanent home for the arts in Cochrane.
Route 22 extends sincere gratitude to PrairiesCan and all funding partners that matched federal contributions, including:
-
Town of Cochrane
-
Totem Foundation
-
Cochrane Foundation
-
Rocky View County
-
Two Pharmacy
-
Bow River’s Edge Campground Society
-
Alberta Foundation for the Arts
For more information about Route 22 Artist Collective and to support its initiatives, visit www.route22gallery.com.