Free This Week

The calendar is bursting at the seams with all these great events

  • Price: Free

A huge week in Calgary’s arts community, it brings dozens of free offerings thanks to Beakerhead, Equinox Vigil, Doors Open Calgary, and more. So grab your calendar and start planning—it’s going to be a busy one!

Indigenous Art Exhibit

Until September 29, 2018
cSPACE King Edward (1721 29th Ave. SW)
Free

A showcase of Indigenous art at cSPACE King Edward, don’t miss this month’s visual arts exhibition from Making Treaty 7. Swing by the celebration at 5:00pm on September 19 or explore the show on your own.
facebook.com

ProArts Presents Nansee Hughes

September 19, 2018, 12:10 – 12:50pm
Cathedral Church of the Redeemer (604 1st St. SE)
Free

Queens, Martyrs, & Forsaken Women features soprano Nansee Hughes alongside pianist Claire Butler. Swing by ProArts@Noon to enjoy a program showcasing inspiring women and their struggle. From historical titans Joan of Arc and Mary Queen of Scots, to literary figures like Moniuszko’s Halka, don’t miss this stunning concert.
proartssociety.ca

Design Matters with Anderson Anderson Architecture

September 19, 2018, 5:00 – 7:30pm
St. Louis Hotel (430 8th Ave. SE)
Free

A thought-provoking lecture series, presented by the Faculty of Environmental Design, Design Matters brings to Calgary a range of important speakers to explore design in our contemporary culture. This time around, Mark Anderson and Peter Anderson present Architecture in the Means of Productions.
ucalgary.ca

WGA Fall Kick-Off

September 19, 2018, 6:00 – 10:00pm
The Rose & Crown Pub (1503 4th St. SW)
Free

Join author Angie Abdou and the Writers’ Guild of Alberta’s Samantha Warwick for a conversation about writing creative nonfiction, how to approach writing family life, and how to generate an honest narrative without exploiting family members or friends. Swing by early to enjoy dinner and drinks with friends in advance of the main program.
facebook.com

Open Mic Night

September 20, 2018, 6:00 – 8:00pm
Women’s Centre (39 4th St. NE)
Free

The Women’s Centre has partnered with Femme Wave to present its very first open mic night hosted by artist-in-residence, Mita. Starting with a performance, attendees are invited to come up and perform one or two songs or spoken word pieces. You’re welcome to share your voice, or just cheer on the performers as part of the audience.
womenscentrecalgary.org

Single Onion #152

September 20, 2018, 7:00pm
Shelf Life Books (1302 4th St. SW)
Free

The Single Onion kicks off its new season with a reading from Cecelia Frey and the launch of A Pebble in My Shoe, an anthology of haiku and tanka poetry.
facebook.com

Poster for Single Onion 152 at Shelf Life Books

PARK(ing) Day

September 21, 2018, 12:00 – 6:00pm
Along Centre St. SW
Free

Join The City of Calgary and see how citizens, artists, and designers can temporarily transform parking spots into interactive exhibits. Explore at your leisure and check out innovative ways that urban spaces can be re-imagined.
facebook.com

Fall Exhibitions Launch

September 21, 2018, 6:00 – 10:00pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free

Celebrate a new season of exhibitions at the Esker Foundation and explore Tammi Campbell’s Dear Agnes, Agnes Martin’s The mind knows what the eye has not seen, and Sarah Stevenson’s Nothing Hidden alongside Alana Bartol, Mia Rushton, and Eric Moschopedis’ a hint of perennial magic lingers in its fingertips in the project space.
facebook.com

feedback loop of commensurability Opening Reception

September 21, 2018, 8:00pm
The New Gallery (208 Centre St. SE)
Free

A floor-based interactive installation, feedback loop of commensurability consists of several speaker units positioned in a grid, communicating with a computer situated on the side. Swing by and explore the piece at its opening reception.
facebook.com

Spectral Illuminations III

September 21, 2018, 9:00 – 11:00pm
Memorial Park Library (1221 2nd St. SW)
Free

Presented by EMMEDIA Gallery and Production Society in partnership with the Calgary Public Library, the historic Memorial Park Library comes alive once again with site-specific projections that alter the appearance of the surface they are projected on to. A fantastic one-night-only show, this free offering is part of Beakerhead, so make sure you swing by.
beakerhead.com

Community Fall Fair

September 22, 2018, 10:00am – 5:00pm
ENMAX Park (Elbow River Pathway & MacDonald Ave. SE)
Free

Enjoy a day of fall festivities with the Calgary Stampede. The day includes a free pumpkin spice pancake breakfast, wagon rides from Draft Horse Town, entertainment, and a market featuring local produce and handmade goods.
facebook.com

Waiting: An Anthology of Essays

September 22, 2018, 2:00 – 3:00pm
Main Floor Salon, Memorial Park Library (1221 2nd St. SW)
Free, registration required

Celebrate the launch of this anthology featuring 32 writers and their experiences of waiting. The book is as much about hope as it is of waiting, embracing both widely-shared and surprising takes on the theme.
calgarypubliclibrary.com

Equinox Vigil

September 22, 2018, 6:30 – 9:30pm
Union Cemetery (Enter from Spiller Road)
Free

A graveyard might be the last place you’d expect to find live music, performances, and contemporary art installations, but that’s what the Equinox Vigil is. Back for its seventh year, this unique evening creates an atmosphere of community camaraderie while honouring those who have died.
equinoxvigil.ca

Doors Open Calgary

September 22 & 23, 2018
Throughout Calgary
Free

Ready to get a peek behind the doors of Calgary institutions? Doors Open invites buildings in all quadrants to let Calgarians in for free and many offer tours, special activities, and behind-the-scenes experiences.
doorsopenyyc.org

Paint Your Mona Lisa Art Walk

September 22 & 23, 2018, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre (2nd Floor, 197 1st St. SW)
Free

Calgary Northeast Senior Group is hosting a free art walk on September 22 and 23, 2018. Hosted by Janey’s Passions, participants can stop by to witness each other’s achievement.
janeysart.weebly.com

Culturefest 2018

September 22 & 23, 2018, 10:00am – 8:00pm
Genesis Centre (10, 7555 Falconridge Blvd. NE)
Free, family-friendly

Join Sabrang Radio and Canada India International Expo for this business networking opportunity with live dance performances. The event highlights arts, culture, and fashion from a variety of different communities.
culturefest.ca

A Reading with Rajinderpal S. Pal

September 25, 2018, 7:00pm
Shelf Life Books (1302 4th St. SW)
Free

A night of fantastic poetry with Rajinderpal S. Pal, the evening includes readings from Richard Harrison, Nikki Sheppy, Natalie Simpson, and Paulo da Costa. Pal is currently collaborating with musicians and videographers to create multi-disciplinary ways of presenting poetry, so don’t miss this reading.
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