Free This Week
Celebrate Calgary’s arts community with these affordable offerings
A great way to get out of your comfort zone is to check out something you’ve never seen before. This week alone you can take in a traditional acoustic concert, explore Glenbow, and see two staged readings of new Canadian work—all for free.
Empathy Week
Until June 7, 2019
Multiple locations
Most events are free
A festival of events that promote empathy, human connection, and recognition of our shared humanity, Empathy Week is curated by Humainologie and is a community initiative with partner organizations and individuals coming together.
humainologie.com
ProArts Presents Godfrey & Tod
June 5, 2019, 12:10 – 12:50pm
Cathedral Church of the Redeemer (604 1st St. SE)
Free admission
Godfrey & Tod are a traditional acoustic duo from Calgary. Through their performances on guitar, resonator, mandolin, and five-string banjo, they bring the past to life in songs and stories. Don’t miss this free lunch hour concert that runs the gamut of the old-time repertoire.
proartssociety.ca
Mini Masters
June 6, 2019, 11:00 – 11:45am
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission, registration required
Calling Calgary’s newest contemporaries! Join the Esker Foundation on the first Thursday of every month for a hands-on art class. Parents and guardians are invited to bring their little ones, ages two to five, to explore art making in this fun and social program. All are welcome to participate, just dress for mess.
eventbrite.ca
Free First Thursday Nights
June 6, 2019, 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission
Get into Glenbow without paying a dime and check out its popular Thursday night affair, this June offers a great chance to explore exhibitions like Art of Resilience, Recent Acquisitions, and Kent Monkman’s The Rise and Fall of Civilization.
facebook.com
Cycle Track 2.0
June 6, 2019, 7:00 – 8:00pm
Hotel Arts (119 12th Ave. SW)
Free admission, registration required
What does the existing cycle network mean for citizens, shop owners, and visitors to Calgary? What challenges and obstacles did the pilot track overcome? Where do we go from here? David Low moderates this unique panel featuring Dale Calkins, Peter Oliver, Scott Harvey, and Werna Boek,
eventbrite.ca
Bring the Baby Art Tour & Tummy Time
June 7, 2019, 12:00 – 1:00pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission, registration recommended
A relaxed, social tour, bring your baby to the Esker Foundation and have tot-friendly fun while discussing the exhibitions. This program starts with a casual half-hour tour of the current exhibitions, followed by a half-hour of tummy time social fun for both baby and guardian!
eventbrite.ca
Nvrlnd Open House
June 7, 2019, 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Nvrlnd (1048 21st Ave. SE)
Free admission
Nvrlnd is opening to the public on the first Friday of every month. An artist-driven collective, it’s a great chance to have a wander through the halls, explore the space, and meet the resident artists to see what they are creating.
facebook.com
This Woman’s Work
June 7, 2019, 6:00pm
Loft 112 (112, 535 8th Ave. SE)
Free admission, registration required
Part of New Forum, a festival dedicated to showcasing women’s writing, art, and film, This Woman’s Work is a visual showcase of nine artists. Meet the creators and purchase a new piece or two at this show and sale.
brownpapertickets.com
The Yellow Forest Opening Reception
June 7, 2019, 7:00 – 11:00pm
TRUCK Contemporary Art Gallery (2009 10th Ave. SW)
Free admission
Jessie Rose Vala and Stephen Nachtigall’s The Yellow Forest focuses around an expansive multiple channel video installation, sculptural ceramic forms, cut vinyl structures, and printed imagery. Explore it at the opening reception.
truck.ca
Stage One Festival of New Canadian Work
June 7, 2019, 12:00 & 6:00pm
Lunchbox Theatre (160, 115 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission
See a series of staged readings and new works at this annual offering from Lunchbox Theatre. Each year offers a variety of free lunch hour offerings and evening presentations. This week you can catch Keara Barnes’ Traveltheatrics and Dale Lee Kwong’s Ai Yah! Open The Door!
lunchboxtheatre.com
Disability Pride Celebration & Parade
June 9, 2019, 10:30am – 2:00pm
Various Venues
Free admission
Disability Pride is about being happy with who you are and sharing yourself with the people around you. Celebrate with a day of entertainment and fun. After gathering outside Banker’s Hall, stroll down Stephen Avenue in a parade.
eventbrite.ca
Fix your hearts or die
June 11, 2019, 6:30 – 7:30pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission, registration required
Esker Foundation and the Art Gallery of Alberta (AGA) present artists Daniel Cardinal McCartney, Adrian Stimson, and Kablusiak for this discussion with AGA Adjunct Curator of Indigenous Arts, Jessie Ray Short. The panel explores gender, sexuality, and the intersection of cultural identity and colonial traumas represented in the artists’ work currently on display at the AGA.
eventbrite.ca
Print(ed) Word Salon Series
June 11, 2019, 7:00 – 8:00pm
Simmons-Harvie Community Living Room, Central Library (800 3rd St. SE)
Free admission
Join artist Sally Reesman and writer Barb Howard as they discuss their book, Saturday Afternoon At The Calgary Exhibition And Stampede. This free event is the sixth in a series of 12 talks.
facebook.com
