Who We Are
Angela O’Donoghue
Owner - Operator
Mary Armstrong
Owner - Artistic Director
Our Story…
“We believe Calgary is ready for a space that doesn’t just house the arts, but holds them—with care, curiosity, and community. The Archive Collective was created to nurture bold voices, foster connection, and offer a home for artists to create, train, and grow—together. It’s a space where movement, sound, and image are given room to unfold, and where the creative process is honoured at every stage. Whether you’re a dancer refining your craft, a filmmaker capturing stories, a photographer chasing light, or a visionary building something new, The Archive Collective exists to support your work and celebrate your presence. We built this space out of love for the arts, and a belief that collaboration, expression, and expansion are what Calgary needs most.”
Angela O’Donoghue
Angela is a passionate advocate for the arts and a fearless entrepreneur with a deep love for building meaningful community. A lifelong supporter of dance and creativity, Angela’s journey has always centered around connection—between artists, between generations, and between heart and craft.
With a fierce spirit and a generous heart, Angela has become a leading female voice in Calgary’s creative scene. Through her work across multiple businesses, she’s touched the lives of countless families, artists, and young people—offering spaces not only to gather, but to grow.
As a proud wife and mother, Angela has also nurtured her daughters through their own creative journeys in dance and acting—supporting their voices, talents, and confidence every step of the way.
Her roots in the arts run deep, and her belief in the power of collaboration and expression led her to co-create The Archive Collective. This space is more than a studio—it’s an extension of Angela’s unwavering belief in people and the creative spark we each carry. Whether she's managing an event, organizing the details, or cheering on someone’s next big step, Angela brings clarity, care, and bold vision to everything she does.
Mary Armstrong
Mary is a visionary choreographer, artistic director, and devoted mentor whose work embodies both depth and daring. With a unique voice rooted in contemporary movement, improvisational exploration, and bold compositional craft, her artistry bridges precision and poetry.
Her choreography has been recognized across North America, garnering awards and accolades from The Dance Awards, New York City Dance Alliance, Radix Nationals, and Youth America Grand Prix. Professionally, Mary has created and premiered original works with The Alberta Ballet Company, including The Shape of Water and Glance Through My Eyes, which were featured in both their choreographic presentations and summer series performances.
Beyond the stage, Mary has dedicated herself to mentorship and artistic development. Through her customized programs and film collaborations, she cultivates a space where dancers are encouraged to listen deeply, take risks, and uncover their own artistic identities. Many of the dancers she has mentored have gone on to prestigious institutions such as Juilliard, CLI Conservatory, Arts Umbrella, USC Kaufman, and Rambert, but her truest pride lies in the process—the unfolding of each dancer’s voice.
As the co-founder of The Archive Collective, Mary leads with vision and care, shaping a space that honours the vulnerability and power of the artistic process. Her work within the studio celebrates curiosity, transformation, and the kind of shared creativity that ripples far beyond its walls.
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”
– Maya Angelou
At The Archive Collective, we honour that our home is on the traditional lands of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Piikani, and Kainai), the Tsuut’ina, and the Stoney Nakoda Nations, as well as the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3. This is Treaty 7 territory, a place of deep history, storytelling, and creativity that long precedes us.
We are grateful to gather here, to dance, to create, and to connect — and we hold respect for the Indigenous Peoples who continue to care for this land. In building a space for artists, movers, and dreamers, we hope to carry forward values of respect, reciprocity, and community.