Free This Week
Round out your April with free events like The Passionate Painters’ Spring Show & Sale, a multicultural festival hosted by Sabrang Radio, a mural unveiling and tribute show for longtime Calgary music staple Marvin “The Fly” Kee, and more!
Emily Triggs
April 24, 2024, 12:10 – 1pm
Cathedral Church of the Redeemer (604 1 St. SE)
Free to attend
Triggs has truly come into her own, stepping out as a solo artist and embracing the spotlight in performances at Vancouver and Calgary Folk Music Festivals. Catch her live as she hits the ProArts@Noon stage for lunch hour show!
proartssociety.ca
Literary Editions
April 24, 2024, 5 – 6:30pm
Stream online
Free to watch
University of Alberta Press is pleased to announce its annual event Literary Editions. Join online for this poetry event featuring readings from UAlberta Press’ newest collections: That Audible Slippage by Margaret Christakos, Deviant by Patrick Grace and Northerny by Dawn Macdonald.
eventbrite.ca
Art Wall Launch Party
April 24, 2024, 6 – 8pm
Cold Garden (1100 11 St. SE)
Free to attend, RSVP required
Check out launch party for a group art exhibition showcasing local artists in Calgary, hung on the walls of Cold Garden! Go meet the talented artists who will have their work showcased until July 15.
eventbrite.ca
Nickle at Noon: Spaces Becoming Form — BFA Honours Exhibition Tour
April 25, 2024, 12 – 1pm
Nickle Galleries, University of Calgary (435 Campus Lane NW)
Free to attend
Students in the BFA Honours (visual studies) are involved in creative research and visual art practices that engage with contemporary society. Join students Chris Lukas Maier, Kuhlein Migue, Will Neuhaus and Jasneet Pritam for an intimate tour of their exhibition, Spaces Becoming Form.
events.ucalgary.ca
Holt Renfrew Presents: A Shopping Experience Where Fashion and Art Unite
April 25, 2024
Holt Renfrew (510 8 Ave SW)
Free to attend
Step into the intersection of fashion and art at Holt Renfrew, in support of Contemporary Calgary. Join them for a Fashion + Art Activation during the lunch hour and an evening celebration where models will showcase the fusion of fashion and art, complemented by artworks from the LOOK Live & Silent Auction.
contemporarycalgary.com
Open Studio for 55+
April 26, 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, for an opportunity to work with the support of peers and a facilitator with a background in visual art.
contemporarycalgary.com
Spring Show & Sale
April 27, 2024, 10am – 4pm
St. Peter’s Anglican Church (903 75 Ave. SW)
Free to explore
The Passionate Painters are a group of Alberta artists who love to create and share. Join artists Pat Johansen, Marie Flynn, Brent Ciccone, Mary Ann Tarini Hews, Darolyn Daniel and others to celebrate the spring!
passionatepainters.ca
Canadian Independent Bookstore Day
April 27, 2024, 11am – 6pm
Shelf Life Books (Suite #100, 1302 4 St. SW)
Free to explore
Celebrate Canadian Indie Bookstore Day at Shelf Life Books! Chat with local authors Amy Lin and Ellyce Fulmore as your browse their reads while you enjoy tunes provided by DJ Jeremy Curry, a pop-up coffee shop by Kaffeeklatsch, prizes and more!
shelflifebooks.ca
Shibboleth Artist Tour
April 27, 2024, 1pm
Online or in-person at The New Gallery (208 Centre St. S)
Free to attend, registration required
Pedro Barbáchano is giving a tour of his exhibition Shibboleth in The New Gallery’s main space. Join him as he guides us through the thought processes, concepts and creation of the exhibition.
thenewgallery.org
Vaisakhi Mela
April 27, 2024, 12 – 6pm
Genesis Centre (7555 Falconridge Blvd. NE)
Free to attend, registration required
Rajesh Angral in collaboration with Sabrang Radio presents Vaisakhi Mela 2024! They host this multicultural festival annually to celebrate diversity and bring together multicultural communities in Canada to share each others’ cultural heritages.
vaisakhimela.ca
Snow Melter Festival: Flyfest
April 27, 2024
Inglewood (9 Ave. SE)
Free to attend
Music Mile YYC, Mo Gravy Records and the Inglewood BIA invite you to the first night in their Snow Melter festival: Flyfest — A Musical Tribute to Marvin “The Fly” Kee, featuring evening live performances, along with a daytime mural unveiling that captures the vibrant venues of Calgary’s Music Mile.
musicmile.ca
Contemporary Kids: Exploring Native Plants Presentation & Workshop
April 28, 2024, 1 – 2:30pm or 3 – 4:30pm
Contemporary Calgary (701 11 St. SW)
Free to attend, registration required
Join Contemporary Calgary for a workshop with Star Crop Eared Wolf which includes a tour of Star’s exhibition Niitoyis and her sharing insights from her native plant collection and captivating stories while providing guidance to enhance participants’ understanding of native plants.
contemporarycalgary.com
Can You Hear Me Now? — Poetry Slam
April 30, 2024, 6:30 – 8:30pm
Shelf Life Books (Suite #100, 1302 4 St. SW)
Free to attend/participate
Can You Hear Me Now? is in-person monthly poetry event! Join them for their poetry open mic and slam. All ages and poetry styles are welcome, and sign-up will be on arrival the night of the event.
shelflifebooks.ca
Building Black Civilizations: Journey of 2,000 Ships
Until May 12, 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
International Jazz Days Festival
Until May 12, 2024
Various venues
Select events are free to attend
This year’s International Jazz Days Festival features the finest in local and national musicians playing live in some of Calgary’s best music venues, including free offerings like their kickoff show, Saturday Jazz Jam and International Jazz Day Jazz Walk.
jazzyyc.com
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 or fill out this form.
