Free This Week
From pottery and pop-up galleries, to artist talks and cultural celebrations, this week is bursting with creativity. Hunt for handcrafted treasures at an art market, embark on a self-guided tour of local art studios, catch a European Union Film Series screening and more!
Free First Thursday
May 1, 2025, 5 – 9pm
Contemporary Calgary (701 11 St. SW)
Free to attend
Join Contemporary Calgary for a late-night gallery experience at Free First Thursday! Get a first look at the LOOK25 Art Auction exhibition, enjoy live music by Jani Parsons and Chris Sies, participate in a hands-on art-making session and more!
contemporarycalgary.com
FascinAsian Film Festival
May 1 – 4, 2025
Calgary Public Library (800 3 St. SE)
Free to attend, registration may be required
Celebrate the stories and perspectives of Asian-Canadian and American filmmakers with 12 film screenings at Central Library. There will also be a film industry resource fair and panel discussions for everyone to enjoy!
calgarylibrary.ca/fascinasian
The Teapot Show and Sale
May 2, 2025, 6 – 9pm
NVRLND. arts foundation (1048 21 Ave. SE)
Free to attend
Join the Alberta Potters’ Association for the third annual APA Teapot Show and Sale, showcasing unique handcrafted teapots. Everyone is welcome to attend and explore the artistry on display!
albertapottersassociation.org
Calgary Artists Studio Tour
May 2 – 4, 2025
Various venues
Free to explore
The Calgary Artists Studio Tour invites you to explore 79 studios and meet 101 local artists across the city and surrounding areas. Enjoy a free, self-guided adventure with friends or family, discovering creative spaces, learning about artistic processes and purchasing original artwork.
calgaryartistsstudiotour.com
Mosaic Pop Up Fine Art Gallery
May 3, 2025, 10am – 4pm
Canyon Meadows Community Association (844, 848 Cantabrian Dr. SW)
Free to explore
Discover a diverse collection of artwork from talented local artists, ranging from landscapes to realism-style portraits. Enjoy live painting sessions, meet the artists and connect with fellow art lovers while shopping for original pieces.
calgaryartcommunity.ca
Artist Talk with Joshua Jensen-Nagle
May 3, 2025, 1 – 3pm
Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art (730 11 Ave. SW)
Free to attend
Newzones presents an artist talk with Canadian contemporary photographer Joshua Jensen-Nagle. The talk is presented during the opening for his solo exhibition Reflections and Recollections, in association with the Art Dealers Association of Canada’s annual Art Hop.
newzones.com
Spring Pottery Market
May 4, 2025, 10am – 4pm
Triwood Community Hall (2244 Chicoutimi Dr. NW)
Free to explore
Join Mount Pleasant Potters’ Guild for Calgary’s largest spring pottery market, featuring a talented lineup of local artists! Every piece is 100 per cent Canadian-made, crafted with care and totally one of a kind — from beautiful mugs and bowls to stunning and decorative art, there’s something for everyone.
calgarypottery.com
Halo Halo Merkado
May 4, 2025, 12 – 7pm
The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland (750 9 Ave. SE)
Free to explore
Experience the vibrant spirit of Filipino culture at the Merkado, a dynamic marketplace featuring art, food and community connections. Enjoy workshops, local artist collectives and engaging activities with groups like Indioz Bravoz, FilipinosRising and the Philippine Arts Council.
theconfluence.ca
DREAMS: Artists Trading Cards
May 4, 2025, 1 – 4pm
Sparrow Artspace (36 4 St. NE)
Free to attend
As part of Sparrow Artspace’s May residency, Pillow Fort Sessions: Ashley Johnston & Arran Brownlee, you can channel your dreams, symbols and inner visions onto pocket-sized canvases in this special Artists Trading Cards session. Once your cards are complete, exchange them with fellow artists.
sparrowartspace.com
Spring Pottery Sale
May 4, 2025, 10am – 4pm
Acadia Recreation Complex (240 90 Ave. SE)
Free to attend
Join the potters from Fairview Studios for a showcase and sale of their beautiful ceramic pieces. Enjoy free entry, free parking and a great time! This event is perfect for picking up gifts for Mother’s Day or indulging in your own pottery passion. Don’t miss out!
facebook.com/fairviewsale
Casting Cart
May 3, 2025
9th Ave., Inglewood, 8:30am – 10:30pm
Free to attend
Get ready for a creative warm-up before the InglewooDIY Festival! Join MAPPERZ along 9th Ave. and bring the buildings of Inglewood to life with your own animated doodles! Using a tablet and projector, the Casting Cart lets anyone create a drawing and watch it light up the historic streets in real time. Head down and take part!
instagram.com/castingcart
Three Women and the War
May 5, 2025, 6:30 – 9:30pm
Patricia A. Whelan Performance Hall, Central Library (800 3 St. SE)
Free to attend, registration required
Join Calgary European Film Festival for a screening of the documentary Three Women and the War, an inspiring portrait of Margaret Bourke-White, Martha Gellhorn and Lee Miller, three pioneering journalists who made history as the first female correspondents to report on the Second World War.
calgarylibrary.ca
LitCon 2025
May 5 – 29, 2025,
Virtual and select Calgary Public Library locations
Free to attend, registration required
Calgary Public Library’s LitCon is back with programs led by literary artists. The virtual and in-person sessions throughout May will inspire students (grades K to 9) to explore creative processes in writing, drawing, poetry, music, comics, oral storytelling and more.
calgarylibrary.ca
Aya Mhana
May 7, 2025, 12:10 – 1pm
Cathedral Church of the Redeemer (604 1 St. SW)
Free to attend
ProArts@Noon Concert Series presents Aya Mhana, an award-winning Syrian-born singer, songwriter and oud player whose musical journey is deeply influenced by her Syrian roots. Check her out!
proartssociety.ca
Have a free event that’s not listed? Email us at events@calgaryartsdevelopment.com or fill out this form.
