Alberta Culture Days
Explore with the province’s largest celebration of arts, heritage and community spirit
- Price: Free
Who’s ready to celebrate Alberta’s arts, heritage, and community spirit? Alberta Culture Days brings a whole weekend of free events to check out including live performances, art displays, behind-the-scenes peeks, and so much more.
What started in 2008 as a one-day event to recognize the value of Alberta’s arts and cultural communities, the celebration has expanded into a vibrant, three-day, province-wide celebration. The movement even helped inspire the creation of a pan-Canadian Culture Days to raise the awareness, accessibility, participation and engagement of all Canadians in the arts and cultural life of their communities.
From September 30 to October 2, 2016 Culture Days will be filled with hands-on art workshops, live musical performances, historical exhibits, doodle walls and art displays, puppetry, outdoor movie screenings, delicious food and so much more.
“Alberta Culture Days is a wonderful celebration of Alberta’s diverse and vibrant art and culture community, highlighting all the amazing aspects that make this province so unique,” says Alberta Minister of Culture and Tourism Ricardo Miranda in a statement. “The arts and cultural sector not only improves our quality of life, but is also a significant economic driver supporting local businesses and creating jobs.”
With more than 30 activities slated for Calgary alone, there’s certainly a plethora of events to check out. Here’s what we are most looking forward to:
Culture Days Block Party
September 30, 2016, 11:00am – 2:00pm
Olympic Plaza (228 8th Ave. SE)
Free
Get your Culture Days off to a great start with The City of Calgary’s Block Party. Enjoy a performance from Calgary’s Poet Laureate, Micheline Maylor, songs from Diane Lindsay, stilt walkers, living statues, and more.
calgary.ca
Culture Days at Arts Commons
September 30 & October 1, 2016, 11:00am – 2:00pm
Arts Commons (205 8th Ave. SE)
Free
There’s a whole bunch of great Culture Days programming taking place at Arts Commons including Baby Boomer Karaoke, guided tours of the newly renovated Max Bell Theatre, life drawing classes with costumes from the Theatre Calgary and Alberta Theatre Projects collections, musical performances, a listening booth, and more.
artscommons.ca
Community Dance Concert
September 30, 2016, 8:00pm
DJD Dance Centre (111 12th Ave. SE)
Free
Head to the new DJD Dance Centre for a free night of dance performances. The night includes performances from the DJD Company and students of the DJD Professional Training Program along with representatives from Calgary’s vibrant dance community. Tickets are free but are first come first serve.
decidedlyjazz.com
In-Definite Arts Art Sampler
October 1, 2016, 11:00am – 3:00pm
In-Definite Arts Society (8038 Fairmount Dr. SE)
Free
On October 1, join In-Definite Arts to celebrate the wealth of talent and creativity that exists within its diverse community with this drop-in Art Sampler Day and Open House. See artistic demos led by IDAS’ talented team of professional artists and tour the onsite galleries. The day includes door prizes and a free family BBQ.
indefinitearts.com
Artist Talk with Terrance Houle
October 1, 2016, 1:00 – 2:30pm
EMMEDIA Gallery & Production Society Screening Room (203, 351 11th Ave. SW)
Free
Join EMMEDIA for an artist talk with established media artist Terrance Houle. Born in Calgary, Houle, an internationally recognized interdisciplinary media artist and a proud member of the Kainai Nation (Blood Tribe), will be addressing Indigenous media arts in Alberta in this behind-the-scenes artist talk.
emmedia.ca
It’s Movie Night At DJD
October 1, 2016, 7:00pm
DJD Dance Centre (111 12th Ave. SE)
Free
Join Decidedly Jazz Danceworks for this special Culture Days screening of West Side Story. Did you know that West Side Story is based on Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet? DJD Artistic Director Kimberley Cooper will address this and talk about DJD’s upcoming performance Juliet & Romeo in an introduction to the movie. Tickets are free and available online on a first come, first serve basis. Popcorn and refreshments will be available for purchase.
decidedlyjazz.com
Free Dance Classes
October 2, 2016, 10:00am – 1:00pm
DJD Dance Centre (111 12th Ave. SE)
Free, please call 403.245.3533 to register
Get moving and try your hand at dance at the new DJD Dance Centre. Classes include West African for Families, Adult Open Level Jazz, and Adult Open Level Hip Hop.
decidedlyjazz.com
Alberta Culture Days runs September 30 to October 2, 2016 throughout the province. A full schedule of events can be found at ab.culturedays.ca.
