Alberta Culture Days
Join in as the province celebrates arts, heritage, and community spirit
- Price: Free
With hundreds of free, family-friendly events and activities taking place across the province, Alberta Culture Days returns to celebrate the unique and interesting aspects of Alberta’s culture. Back for its 11th year, 2017 saw almost 100,000 Albertans taking part in the festivities.
“Alberta Culture Days is a celebration of everything that makes Alberta one of the best places to live in Canada because of our community, heritage, arts and, of course, culture,” says Alberta’s Minister of Culture and Tourism Ricardo Miranda, in a statement. “I encourage everyone to join Culture Days events across the province to try something new, learn more about their communities and realize how creative, vibrant, and diverse our province is.”
Across the province, nearly 80 organizations have been named official celebration sites. In Calgary, the Alberta College of Art + Design (ACAD) has been chosen as a central hub with three days of activities planned including guided gallery tours in the Illingworth Kerr Gallery, along with artist presentations, panel discussions and demonstrations, Indigenous teachings, and cultural workshops in the Lodgepole Centre.
But that’s not all. In Calgary alone, there are 80 activities scheduled—there’s something for everyone. Here’s what we are most looking forward to:
Culture Days at cSPACE King Edward
September 28 – 30, 2018
cSPACE King Edward (1721 29th Ave. SW)
Free
With two days of free tours, workshops, and demonstrations, all taking place at various locations throughout the hub and surrounding grounds, head to cSPACE King Edward and be amazed.
cspacekingedward.com
Culture Days at ACAD
September 28 – 30, 2018
Alberta College of Art + Design (1407 14th Ave. NW)
Free
Calgary’s feature celebration site, ACAD kicks off Culture Days on September 28 with a special event celebrating the opening of the Illingworth Kerr Gallery exhibition Unpacking IKG: 60 Years a Gallery and the ceramics conference 1000 Miles Apart Opening & Silent Auction. Free and open to the public, swing by to take part in Indigenous cultural teachings and drumming in the Lodgepole Centre, button making, origami lessons, and a workshop that focuses on unpacking public art with a visit to the legendary ACAD graffiti stairwell.
culturedays.ca
The Most Beautiful Art Tour in Alberta
September 28 – 30, 2018
Multiple locations
Free
An open studio event in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, go for a drive and go explore these six galleries and private studios dotted along Highway 22 and Highway 2A.
themostbeautifularttourinalberta.com
Free Admission at Studio Bell
September 29, 2018, 10:00am – 5:00pm
Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre (850 4th St. SE)
Free
The National Music Centre welcomes Alberta’s largest celebration of arts, heritage, diversity, and community spirit to Studio Bell with free admission this Saturday. You can help build an orchestra in an interactive scavenger hunt experience with Calgary Civic Symphony members and enjoy a performance by the group. Visitors can also delve into memorabilia from three Canadian Music Halls of Fame, new temporary exhibitions honouring an array of iconic Albertans, and see the Festival Alberta exhibition before it closes on October 1.
nmc.ca
Print It Yourself Festival
September 29, 2018, 11:00am – 4:00pm
Alberta Printmakers Gallery and Studio (4025 4th St. SE)
Free
Celebrating its 8th annual Print It Yourself Festival, join Alberta Printmakers and take part in print demos and activities for all ages. It’s the perfect time to learn about linocut, silkscreen, letterpress, and child-friendly printmaking techniques from local print artists. You even get to print yourself and take your very own work home. No experience is necessary.
facebook.com
Fall Paint-Out
September 29 & 30, 2018
Leighton Art Centre (282027 144 St. West, Foothills)
Free
An outdoor painting party, head to Leighton Art Centre for a weekend of activities sure to unleash your inner artist. The weekend features plein-air art making, mini-workshops, artist demos, art exhibitions, and breathtaking Foothills views.
leightoncentre.org
Cultural Heritage Celebration
September 29 & 30, 2018, 11:00am – 6:00pm
Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre (197 1st St. SW)
Free
Featuring multicultural performances, traditional handcrafts, a food market, and so much more, this fall festival celebrates cultures from around the world and is well worth hitting up.
culturalcentre.ca
What a Relief! Steamroller Printmaking Event
September 30, 2018, 11:00am – 7:00pm
Outside Prairie Dog Brewing (105D 58th Ave. SE)
Free
Drop in and get involved in Alberta Printmakers’ steamroller printmaking event. A/P has teamed up with local small batch breweries to have eight local printmakers roll up their sleeves and hand carve original brewery-inspired designs into giant woodblocks. All ages are welcome.
facebook.com
Alberta Culture Days runs September 28 to 30, 2018 throughout the province. A full schedule of events can be found at culturedays.ca.
