Free This Week
This week brings a mix of art, storytelling and music. Catch the final days of the Exposure Photography Festival, explore Métis voices through digital storytelling with Nickle at Noon or join author Lawrence Hill and celebrate Black History Month. Read the full roundup for even more free arts offerings!
Exposure Photography Festival
Until February 28, 2025
Various venues
Free to explore
The month-long Exposure Photography Festival comes to a close this week. Don’t miss your chance to check out exceptional photography work by emerging artists from across Alberta!
exposurephotofestival.com
Yvonne Poitras Pratt: Métis Voices and Digital Storytelling
February 27, 2025, 12 – 1pm
Nickle Galleries, University of Calgary (435 Campus Lane NW)
Free to attend
Learn about the digital storytelling project undertaken in the Fishing Lake Métis Settlement in this Nickle@Noon talk by Yvonne Poitras that explores how a community-based and Indigenous-led media project shifted the typical StoryCentre workshop format into a decolonizing space where Indigenous voices and perspectives were uplifted.
events.ucalgary.ca
Home Reclaimed — Collage Workshop
February 27, 2025, 6pm
Greater Forest Lawn Area
Free to participate, registration required
Join International Avenue Arts and Culture for an engaging art workshop exploring the concept of home through collage. Using one (or many) upcycled wooden houses as your canvas, you’ll create a personal representation of what home means to you. Email residentartist@iaacc.ca to register and for location details.
iaacc.ca
Franco Winterfest
February 28, 2025, 11am – 4:30 pm
The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland
Free to attend
Check out the third edition of Franco Winterfest featuring vibrant musical and cultural performances from Québec, Alberta, Africa and Indigenous traditions. Enjoy a classic brunch, maple taffy on snow and a warm community atmosphere — all with free admission!
calgary.acfa.ab.ca
Negotiating Fact & Fiction in the Art of Storytelling
February 28, 2025, 3pm
Ross Glen Hall, Mount Royal University (18 Mount Royal Cir. SW)
Free to attend
Join MRU’s Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and the Faculty of Arts for a Black History Month talk by renowned author Lawrence Hill. Exploring the intersection of fact and fiction in storytelling, Hill will discuss race, identity and social justice, followed by a reception.
events.mtroyal.ca
Particle + Wave Media Arts Festival
February 28 – March 2, 2025
Various Venues
Free to attend
Calgary’s premier media arts festival returns for a milestone 10th anniversary, bringing together digital art, experimental films, live performances and thought-provoking discussions. Join them as they kickoff their festival programming with their opening reception, an artist talk and a workshop!
emmedia.ca
Bergers — French Language Film Screening
March 1, 2025, 6pm
Globe Cinema (617 8 Ave. SW)
Free to attend, RSVP required
Le Franco Festival Calgary, in collaboration with Société CinéMAgine de l’Alberta, invites you to a free screening of Bergers. Presented in French with English subtitles. Make sure to check it out!
docs.google.com
VIEW from the Inside Residency
March 1 & 2, 2025
Sparrow Artspace (36 4 St. NE)
Free to attend, tickets required
WP Puppet Theatre is doing a residency filled with engaging programming at Sparrow Artspace in March. Join them for their Puppet Pop Up for Families on March 1, and the opening of the VIEW exhibit and screening of past participants’ reflective videos on March 2nd!
wppuppet.com
Winter Food Festival
March 2, 2025, 11am – 4pm
Daqing Square (215 2 Ave. SW)
Free to attend
Join the Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre and the City of Calgary to celebrate Chinese culture with food, games and interactive activities for all ages. Learn about the Chinese Zodiacs while enjoying delicious refreshments and family-friendly fun.
culturalcentre.ca
The Moon the Sun Forgot — Book Launch
March 4, 2025, 7 – 8:30pm
Owl’s Nest Books (815A 49 Ave. SW)
Free to attend
Celebrate the launch of The Moon the Sun Forgot by local author B.J. Wagner. This event moderated by Rob Gordon, includes a short reading, Q&A discussion and an opportunity to win a one-of-a-kind Europa-themed scarf! Meet the author and get a signed copy of this exciting debut novel.
eventbrite.co.uk
Contemporary Kids: Framing New Perspectives
March 2, 2025, 1 & 3pm
Contemporary Calgary (701 11 St. SW)
Free to participate, registration required
Exploring photography works from the Exposure Photography Festival exhibitions, kids will discover how a simple frame can completely transform a picture, all while considering how photographers make choices as they create their own unique frames to bring these ideas to life.
contemporarycalgary.com
Scholz Trumpet Quartet
March 5, 2025, 12:10 – 1pm
Cathedral Church of the Redeemer (604 1 St. SW)
Free to attend
Join the Scholz Trumpet Quartet for their upcoming performance with the ProArts Society, themed Trumpet Through Time. This unique program requires 17 different instruments and takes the audience on a musical journey highlighting trumpet repertoire from the 16th century to the present day.
proartssociety.ca
Have a free event that’s not listed? Email us at events@calgaryartsdevelopment.com or fill out this form.
