Free This Week

Warm up with these upcoming events

  • Price: Free

This blast of winter won’t slow us down, not when we have events like these to check out. From staged readings to open rehearsals, this week gives you a chance to go behind the scenes.

Here’s what we’re hitting up this week:

ProArts Presents HYMN

February 6, 2019, 12:10 – 12:50pm
Cathedral Church of the Redeemer (604 1st St. SE)
Free admission

HYMN is a traditional Middle Eastern fusion band focusing on bringing traditional melodies from all around the world to the stage. An authentic east-meets-west experience, this concert features Syrian singer-songwriter Aya Mhana.
proartssociety.ca

Staged Reading: The Laramie Project

February 6, 2019, 7:30pm
F.R. Matthews Theatre, University of Calgary (210 University Court NW)
Free admission

A play by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project, The Laramie Project is based on the true story of Matthew Shepard—the young man who, in October 1998, was savagely beaten and left to die in Laramie, Wyoming. Shepard’s name became a grim rallying cry for those drawing attention to hate crimes committed against the LGBTQ2S+ community. Presented as part of UCalgary Diversity Days, swing by this staged reading featuring alumni and students.
ucalgary.ca

A photo of a street in the Historic District in Laramie, Wyoming
The downtown Historic District in Laramie, Wyoming | Photo: Courtesy of the School of Creative and Performing Arts
Mini Masters

February 7, 2019, 11:00 – 11:45am
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free, registration essential

Calling Calgary’s newest contemporaries! Join the Esker Foundation on the first Thursday of every month for a hands-on art class. Parents and guardians are invited to bring their little ones, ages two to five, to explore art making in this fun and social program. All are welcome to participate, just dress for mess.
eventbrite.ca

Black History Month Film Festival

February 7, 2019, 6:30 – 8:30pm
Jenkins Theatre, Mount Royal University (4825 Mount Royal Gate SW)
Free admission, donations accepted

Featuring work by black filmmakers from Calgary and across the globe, this new festival kicks off with a screening of We Are The Roots, a documentary film written and produced by University of Lethbridge professor Jenna Bailey and University of Calgary professor David Este that explores the remarkable history of early black settlers to Canada.
facebook.com

Single Onion #156

February 7, 2019, 7:00 – 9:00pm
Shelf Life Books (1302 4th St. SW)
Free admission

The Single Onion continues its 2019 Lecture Series with a special event to celebrate Black History Month. Featuring Tola Dee, Phree Boy, Wakefield Brewster, and Bethel Afework, don’t miss this night of readings.
facebook.com

Free First Thursday Nights

February 7, 2019, 5:00 – 9:00pm
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission

Since its launch in 2016, Free First Thursday Nights has provided access to over 56,000 visitors and this popular program returns to Glenbow for 2019. And, with the first chance to check out a ton of new exhibitions including the much-anticipated international fashion exhibition, Christian Dior, you won’t want to miss it!
facebook.com

Sweaty Zuckerberg and Cool Computing with Dr. Mél Hogan

February 7, 2019, 7:00 – 8:00pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission, registration recommended

In 2010 Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was on stage at D8: All things Digital Conference being asked about Facebook’s privacy policies. The topic proved difficult and Zuckerberg quickly broke out into a terrible sweat. An evening talk with Dr. Mél Hogan, head to the Esker Foundation as that image becomes the focus of this presentation.
eventbrite.ca

Open Rehearsal: Luminous Voices

February 8, 2019, 4:00 – 5:30pm
*VENUE CHANGE* Bella Concert Hall, Mount Royal University (18 Mount Royal Circle SW)
Free admission, registration required

Experience behind-the-scenes music-making at Luminous Voices’ next open rehearsal as the choir prepares to present a cappella choral masterpiece Path of Miracles by British composer Joby Talbot. Free and open to public, RSVP to info@lumiousvoices.ca. And be sure to stick around for a light reception.
facebook.com

A poster for Open Rehearsal with Luminous Voices featuring Path of Miracles

The Female Lens Opening Reception

February 8, 2019, 5:00 – 8:00pm
Christine Klassen Gallery (200, 321 50th Ave. SE)
Free admission

Co-curated by Heather Saitz and the Christine Klassen Gallery, The Female Lens is a group exhibition featuring nine female photo-based artists—Diana Thorneycroft, Dona Schwartz, Elyse Bouvier, Haley Eyre, Heather Saitz, Julya Hajnoczky, Lori Andrews, Rocio Graham, and Vivek Shraya.
christineklassengallery.com

Returning Home Opening Reception

February 8, 2019, 6:00 – 9:00pm
Framed on Fifth (1207 5th Ave. NW)
Free admission

February celebrates Alberta’s Exposure Photography Festival and at Framed on Fifth you can see Returning Home, a new solo exhibition from Kris Schofield featuring photos of the homesteads of Alberta’s past.
framedonfifth.com

TC OUT LOUD #5

February 8, 2019, 7:30 – 9:30pm
Theatre Calgary Rehearsal Hall, Arts Commons (220 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission, registration required

Theatre Calgary’s TC OUT LOUD continues with three new pieces from local writers, read by local actors, alongside a new work by an established playwright. This month’s featured writer is John Murrell so don’t miss this low-key evening celebrating new work and Calgary’s fantastic community of artists. RSVP to jturk@theatrecalgary.com.
facebook.com

Artist Talk with Glenna Cardinal

February 9, 2019, 1:00 – 2:00pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission, registration recommended

In conjunction with her exhibition in the Project Space, mourning home, Glenna Cardinal discusses her work and her deep connection to the loss of her childhood home to the Southwest Calgary Ring Road.
eventbrite.ca

The Stories Were Not Told: Canada’s First World War Internment Camps

February 10, 2019, 1:00 – 3:00pm
Performance Hall, Central Library (800 3rd St. SE)
Free admission

Through memory work and photography, Sandra Semchuk creates a space for WWI internees and their descendants to tell their stories. Celebrate the launch of this new publication with an afternoon of readings.
facebook.com

Bill’s Book Café with Jim Ellis

February 11, 2019, 6:30 – 8:00pm
Central Library (800 3rd St. SE)
Free admission, registration required

Join Calgary Public Library CEO Bill Ptacek as he sits down with Jim Ellis, acclaimed English professor and Director of the Calgary Institute for the Humanities, to discuss the J.R. Ackerley novel, My Dog Tulip.
facebook.com

Black History Month Film Festival

February 12, 2019, 6:30 – 8:30pm
Jenkins Theatre, Mount Royal University (4825 Mount Royal Gate SW)
Free admission, donations accepted

Featuring work by black filmmakers from Calgary and across the globe, this new festival continues with a screening of Mahalia Melts in the Rain, Black Hair, Texted, and Race Anonymous.
facebook.com

Print(ed) Word Salon Series: Eveline Kolijn & Aritha van Herk

February 12, 2019, 7:00 – 8:00pm
Simmons-Harvie Community Living Room, Central Library (800 3rd St. SE)
Free admission, registration required

This February, join artist Eveline Kolijn and writer Aritha van Herk as they discuss their artist book, Deep Cold on the 11A, as part of this monthly salon series.
facebook.com