Free This Week
With curator talks, boundary-pushing performances, poetry nights and more, there are plenty of ways to connect creatively this week. Meet new Nickle Galleries curator Jenelle Pasiechnik, experience Emily Promise Allison’s surreal performance Conundra, or wander through the cozy, art-filled Pink Door Show.
Read on for the full roundup.
Meet Jenelle Pasiechnik: Curator’s Talk
February 26, 2026, 12 – 1pm
Nickle Galleries, University of Calgary (410 University Ct. NW)
Free to attend
Join Jenelle Pasiechnik, the new Curator of Art at Nickle Galleries, for an introduction to her curatorial practice through past projects and her vision for the gallery’s future.
events.ucalgary.ca
Speak Up: BHM Edition
February 26, 2026, 5:30 – 7 pm
Sanktjuri-buks, Malborough Mall (34, 3800 Memorial Dr. NE)
Free to attend
Don’t miss a special Black History Month edition of Speak Up with featured Canadian poet and filmmaker Tola Dee. Everyone is welcome to participate — bring your own work or share the words of a legendary Black poet.
instagram.com
Emily Promise Allison: Conundra
February 26, 2026, 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Illingworth Kerr Gallery, AUArts (1407 14 Ave. NW)
Free to attend, registration required
In Conundra, Emily Promise Allison presents a 40-minute performance transforming everyday objects into poetic, absurd gestures. Blending humour and dreamlike physicality, the work explores how materials and humans shift and interact.
eventbrite.ca
Guided Slow Looking Session
February 26, 2026, 6 – 7pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9 Ave. SE)
Free to attend
What happens when Esker chooses to slow down and spend longer engaging with a work of art? Experience an hour of slow looking as you explore the works in their current exhibitions.
eskerfoundation.com
Closing Reception: Experimental Analogue
February 27, 2026, 5 – 9pm
Sparrow Artspace (36 4 St. NE)
Free to attend
Head over to Sparrow Artspace for the closing reception of Experimental Analogue, a month-long open-studio residency exploring experimental and analogue photography. This is your last chance to view works developed through darkroom techniques, alternative processes and material experimentation.
sparrowartspace.com
The Pink Door Show
February 27 – March 1, 2026, see website for schedule
The Pink Door Killarney House (3514 26 Ave. SW)
Free to explore
Don’t miss the first-ever “Side Door Show,” featuring 22 artists from 2025’s The Pink Door Show roster. Hosted in a stunning mid-century home in Killarney, expect accessible art, hot chocolate, fireside chats, artist hangouts and a welcoming vibe.
instagram.com
YYC Songwriter Showdown II: Round 1
February 28, 2026, 2 – 5 pm
Cafe Gravity (909 10 St. SE)
Free to attend
YYC Songwriter Showdown II returns with 32 artists battling head-to-head in a live, bracket-style competition for $10,000-plus in prizes and the title of champion. Round 1 runs Saturdays in February, featuring original performances judged by industry pros and fans.
bwemusic.art
Can You Hear Me Now?
March 3, 2026, 7 pm
Shelf Life Books (100, 1302 4 St. SW)
Free to attend or participate
Can You Hear Me Now? is an in-person monthly poetry event held on the first Tuesday of the month at Shelf Life Books. All ages and poetry styles are welcome. Sign-up is on arrival
shelflifebooks.ca
ProArts@Noon: Calgary Opera’s McPhee Artists
March 4, 2026, 12:10 – 1 pm
Cathedral Church of the Redeemer (604 1 St. SE)
Free to attend
Join Calgary Opera McPhee Artists Katelyn Bird, Maria Milenic, George Theodorakopoulos and Ryan Nauta for some of the most beautiful repertoire in the art song canon. Hear works exploring love, loss, joy and pathos through the female compositional gaze in a not-to-be-missed program!
proartssociety.ca
Have a free event that’s not listed? Email us at events@calgaryartsdevelopment.com or fill out this form.
