Free This Week

Fall in love with these free finds

  • Location: Various Venues

The week ahead brings the final week of Chinook Blast festivities, talks from acclaimed authors Leah Horlick and Jamaica Kincaid, and new visual art exhibitions — all for free! So, start planning your next arts outing.

Chinook Blast

Until February 12, 2023
Various venues
Select events are free to attend or explore

Experience the magic of Chinook Blast, Calgary’s winter festival celebration. From night markets to live music to light installations, the best of Calgary’s arts community is on display!
chinookblast.ca

In Conversation with Leah Horlick

February 8, 2023, 12 – 1pm
Nickle Galleries, University of Calgary (2500 University Dr. NW)
Free to attend

Join Christena McKillop, UCalgary’s Academic Librarian, for a conversation with Canadian Writer-in-Residence Leah Horlick. Bring your questions about creative writing, Canada’s publishing industry, or any other writing-related queries!
events.ucalgary.ca

Emily Phernambucq & Augustine Yates

February 8, 2023, 12:10 – 1pm
Cathedral Church of the Redeemer (604 1st St. SE)
Free to attend

Talented flutist Emily Phernambucq who performs as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral player is joined by Canadian pianist Augustine Yates for a noon-hour concert presented by ProArts Society.
proartssociety.ca

Palentine’s Showcase

February 9, 2023, 5 – 9pm
cSpace King Edward (1721 29th Ave. SW)
Free to attend

Mingle with the artists and creative entrepreneurs that make up the cSPACE community at this showcase series featuring a cash bar, live music, art exhibitions and live demo & activities!
cspacekingedward.com

An Evening with Jamaica Kincaid

February 9, 2023, 6:30 – 7:30pm
MacEwan Ballroom, University of Calgary (402 Collegiate Blvd. NW)
Free to attend, registration required (currently on waitlist)

Join the Calgary Distinguished Writers Program for an evening with Jamaica Kincaid hosted by UCalgary Creative Writing Professor Suzette Mayr, winner of the 2022 Scotiabank Giller Prize; with a book signing following the main event.
eventbrite.ca

Restorying the Garden

February 10, 2023, 11am – 12noon
Inglewood Bird Sanctuary (2425 9th Ave. SE)
Free to attend, registration required (currently on waitlist)

Join acclaimed author Jamaica Kincaid for a conversation led by local poet Rosemary Griebel exploring our relationship with plants, including a colonial perspective of gardens and plant language and cultural approaches to gardening,
events.ucalgary.ca

Broken Hearts, Friends, & Lovers

February 10 – 12, 2023
Municipal Complex Atrium (800 Macleod Tr. SE)
Free to explore

Market Collective is offering another exciting market as part of Chinook Blast! Visitors can expect amazing tunes spun by local DJs, a broken/heart photo-booth, a make-up/break-up lounge and 60 vendors offering unique, locally made goods.
marketcollective.ca

Fireside Stories

February 11, 2023, 1 – 2pm
Fort Calgary (750 9th Ave. SE)
Free to attend

Fort Calgary invites you to join us around the fire to hear from Indigenous storytellers from Treaty 7. The listening circle will be warm and bright with a roaring fire, heaters, blankets and hot chocolate.
fortcalgary.com

Artist Talk: Joshua Jensen-Nagle

February 11, 2023, 2pm
Newzones Gallery (730 11th Ave. SW)
Free to attend

Joshua Jensen-Nagle joins Newzones for an artist talk and Q&A during the opening of his exhibition, Sunsets and Fireworks, which features photos of inspirational sunsets, printed out and re-photographed with fireworks in the foreground.
newzones.com

Red: The Colour of Love — Opening Reception

February 11, 2023, 2 – 5pm
Wallace Galleries (500 5th Ave. SW)
Free to explore

Wallace Galleries presents a group exhibition that embraces and celebrates the colour of Valentine’s Day with works by gallery artists: David Alexander, Simon Andrew, David Newkirk, Steve Mennie, Harold Town, Diana Zasadny, and more.
wallacegalleries.com

Have a free event that’s not listed? Email us at events@calgaryartsdevelopment.com or fill out this form.