Free This Week
This week's free arts finds
Get into some art this week as Calgary Opera’s McPhee Artists hit the ProArts@Noon stage, two new exhibitions open at Contemporary Calgary and The Spring Market takes over the Deerfoot Inn & Casino!
Calgary Opera’s McPhee Artists
April 10, 2024, 12:10 – 1pm
Cathedral Church of the Redeemer (604 1 St. SE)
Free to attend
Calgary Opera’s McPhee Artists perform operatic rarities and cross-over into the worlds of cabaret and music theatre — be prepared for surprises! Eight young professional singers from across Canada take the stage for another appearance at ProArts this season.
proartssociety.ca
Building Black Civilizations: Journey of 2,000 Ships
Opens April 10, 2024
Glenbow at The Edison (Second Floor, 150 9 Ave. SW)
Free to explore
In this exhibition, artist Ekow Nimako explores what might have been when ruler Abu Bakr II chose to abdicate his throne and set out across the Atlantic. Using LEGO® to recreate epic possibilities, Nimako creates a narrative of Black civilizations and imagines liberated futures.
glenbow.org
Exhibition Opening: Winnie Truong + Derek Liddington
April 10, 2024, 6 – 9pm
Contemporary Calgary (701 11 St. SW)
Free to attend, registration required
Join Contemporary Calgary for the opening of two solo exhibitions, Winnie Truong: Curious Nature and Derek Liddington: the trees weep, the mountain still, the bodies rust, featuring remarks and conversations with the artists.
contemporarycalgary.com
A Conversation with Leonard Suryajaya
April 11, 2024, 6 – 7pm
Esker Foundation
Free to attend, registration required
Join artist Leonard Suryajaya and curator Elizabeth Diggon for a talk about Suryajaya’s current exhibition at Esker Foundation, Parting Gift for Quarantine Blues.
eskerfoundation.com
Open Studio for 55+
April 12, 2024, 1 – 4pm
Contemporary Calgary (701 11 St. SW)
Free to attend, registration required
Contemporary Calgary’s Open Studio for 55+ on Fridays in April invites participants to bring projects they are currently engaged in, or ideas and materials for projects, offering the opportunity to work with the support of peers and a facilitator with a background in visual art.
contemporarycalgary.com
Acclaimed Fine Art Spring Show
April 12 – 14, 2024
Crescent Heights Community Association (1101 2nd St. NW)
Free to attend
This beautiful show features hundreds of original pieces by local artists in multiple sizes, formats and styles. Not only can you view these pieces, but you can talk directly with the artists to find out all the details about your potential new art piece!
acclaimedfineart.com
Spring Show & Sale
April 13, 2024, 10am – 4pm
Montgomery Community Centre (5003 16 Ave. NW)
Free to explore, food bank donations accepted
The Calgary Creative Arts Guild is hosting its annual Spring Show and Sale featuring original works from over 30 local artists. There will be door prizes and a raffle draw for an original piece of art.
facebook.com
Diana Zasadny: Exploring Southern Alberta
April 13, 2024, 2 – 5pm
Wallace Galleries (500 5 Ave. SW)
Free to attend
In this exhibition, Diana Zasadny continues to explore abstraction in her unique approach to capture the landscape of southern Alberta. Always stretching and exploring the sensations and mood that a particular region or area evoke, these works explore more than just the trees, grass and skies.
wallacegalleries.com
The Spring Market
April 14, 2024, 11am – 4pm
Deerfoot Inn & Casino (Suite 1000, 11500 35 St. SE)
Free to explore
After a successful Holiday Market, The Downtown Markets bring you The Spring Market. You will find up to 80 vendors offering you everything you may need to bring spring into your home and spirit!
thedowntownmarkets.ca
Contemporary Kids: Dimensions, Mixed-Media and Sculpture
April 14, 2024, 1 – 2:30pm or 3 – 4:30pm
Contemporary Calgary (701 11 St. SW)
Free to attend, registration required
Inspired by the exhibition Surface by Anton Ginzburg at Contemporary Calgary, this hands-on collage workshop invites kids to explore the fun of collaborative collage, while considering ideas related to related to different dimensions, feelings and how our brain can work as an algorithm.
contemporarycalgary.com
Classical Guitar Preview Concert
April 14, 2024, 2 – 4pm
Shelf Life Books (1302 4 St. SW)
Free to attend
Join Shelf Life Books for an afternoon preview concert by the Classical Guitar Society of Calgary. Beautiful and unusual pieces played with expertise and flavoured with dashes of historical context.
shelflifebooks.ca
TransitStory Talk with Artist Jill Anholt
April 15, 2024, 6 – 8pm
Hellenic Cultural Centre and Banquet Hall (1 Tamarac Cres. SW)
Free to attend, registration required
Join Artist Jill Anholt and The City of Calgary Public Art Conservator Lisa Isley for a discussion about the creation of the TransitStory artwork and learn more about the process behind restoring and integrating the piece into the 45th Street LRT station.
eventbrite.ca
Book Launch for Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit
April 16, 2024, 7 – 9pm
Shelf Life Books (1302 4 St. SW)
Free to attend, registration required
Nadine Sander-Green and friends launch of Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit from House of Anansi Press! Join Shelf Life Books for an evening of readings, conversation and classic, nightclub entertainment, with Irving Bestanke featuring Darian Pichochi and the XS Orchestra.
shelflifebooks.ca
Antyx Youth Programming
Ongoing
Various venues
Free to participate
Antyx Community Arts invites Youth ages 12 – 18 to participate in a number of their programs focused on providing safe spaces for creative expression including their mural projects, Youth Arts Action, The Film Lab and more!
antyx.ca
Have a free event that’s not listed? Email us at events@calgaryartsdevelopment.com
