Free This Week
If you’re on the prowl for free September happenings, you’re in the right place. Check out Single Onion’s kickoff, a new Indigenous exhibition at Nickle Galleries and a magical mask-making workshop for kids at Contemporary Calgary. That’s not all — explore more free arts events below!
Hello/Goodbye 2024
September 19, 2024, 6 – 9 pm
Studio Theatre, cSPACE Marda Loop (1721 29 Ave. SW)
Free to attend, registration required
Join the Calgary Distinguished Writers Program as they welcome incoming 2024 – 25 Canadian Writer-in-Residence Danny Ramadan, and thank outgoing writer Francine Cunningham for her residency in 2023 – 24. Make sure to register!
go.ucalgary.ca
Single Onion #204
September 19, 2024, 7pm
Shelf Life Books (1302 4 St. SW)
Free to attend
The Single Onion, Calgary’s longest-running poetry reading series, kicks off its fall season by featuring: Jill M. Armstrong, Wakefield Brewster, Olivia Van Guinn, Emmery Poppleton and Anne Sorbie.
shelflifebooks.ca
Nickle at Noon: Exhibition Tour with Judy Anderson and Katherine Boyer
September 20, 2024, 12 – 1pm
Nickle Galleries, University of Calgary (435 Campus Lane NW)
Free to attend
Join Nickle Galleries for special lunch hour tour of Anderson and Boyer’s exhibition mâmawohkamâtowak in which they present a mix of existing and new works that explore their respective Indigenous identities.
events.ucalgary.ca
Fall Exhibitions Opening Reception
September 20, 2024, 6 – 9pm
Esker Foundation (4th Floor, 1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free to attend
Join Esker Foundation to celebrate the launch of their fall Project Space exhibitions and Constellations: Racial myths, land, and labour curated by Su-Ying Lee. This group exhibition begins with the flows of people and plants circulated through the routes of early European colonialism.
eskerfoundation.com
Park(ing) Day
September 20 – 22, 2024
Kensington (Kensington Road & Kensington Crescent NW)
Free to explore
Park(ing) day is a global, public, participatory project where people repurpose curbside parking and empty spaces to convert them into public parks and social spaces. This year Park(ing) Day includes 12+ installations from local artists, students and designers, hosted right in the heart of Kensington!
activateyyc.calgarycommunities.com
Curator Tour w/ Su-Ying Lee
September 21 2024, 1 – 2pm
Esker Foundation (4th floor, 1011 9 Ave SE)
Free to attend
Join curator Su-Ying Lee for a talk and tour about her fall 2024 exhibition Constellations: Racial myths, land, and labour. Constellations is a metaphor for early European colonialism’s configuration of racialization, with land and labour.
eskerfoundation.com
Paper Story — Exhibit & Installation
September 21 & 22, 2024, 1 – 5pm
Bridgeland-Riverside Community Association (917 Centre Ave. NE)
Free to attend
Experience hundreds of handmade paper sheets crafted into an art installation. This public art project by Andrea Lau showcases community crafted paper made from local fibre. Everyone in attendance is welcome to take a sheet home at the closing reception on Sunday September 22, 3 – 5pm.
andrealau.com
Contemporary Kids: Masks & Magic
September 22, 2024, 1 & 3pm
Contemporary Calgary (701 11 St. SW)
Free to participate, registration required
Join Contemporary Calgary for a Mystic Masks Magic workshop inspired by Marcel Dzama’s exhibition, Ghosts of Canoe Lake: New Work by Marcel Dzama. They’ll explore the magical and whimsical elements of folklore and create our own ghostly eye masks. Register now!
contemporarycalgary.com
Ellen Chang-Richardson – Blood Belies w/ Guests
September 25, 2024, 7pm
Shelf Life Books (1302 4 St. SW)
Free to attend
Wolsak & Wynn and Shelf Life Books invite you to the Calgary launch of Blood Belies by Ellen Chang-Richardson. Hosted by Ryanne Kap with local guest poet Samantha Jones, the evening will feature readings and a moderated Q&A.
shelflifebooks.ca
University District’s Night Market
September 25, 2024, 5 – 9pm
Central Commons Park, University District (University Ave. NW)
Free to explore
They’re back with another summer night market! Join University District to check out and enjoy over 35 local vendors, live music and entertainment by Earl Stevenson, The Rondel Roberts Band, Safire’s Hula Hoop Show and more! This is a free event for all ages.
myuniversitydistrict.ca
Have a free event that’s not listed? Email us at events@calgaryartsdevelopment.com or fill out this form.
