Free This Week
First week of the season sees lots of awesome and affordable events
Despite some cancellations and postponements, the first week of fall brings a plethora of free arts and culture events to check out including book launches, outdoor concerts, workshops, and so much more. Grab your calendar and plan to check these ones out!
The Patio Set
September 22, 2021, 12:10 – 1:00pm
Cathedral Church of the Redeemer (604 1st St. SE)
Free to watch
The Patio Set delivers quality musical concerts, featuring a variety of professional musicians from the Calgary Wind Symphony. For this ProArts@Noon concert, The Patio Set features musicians Aaron Wong on bassoon, Julie Jacques on piano, and Terri Shouldice on flute.
proartssociety.ca
rump + flank
September 22, 2021, 6:00pm
Stream online
Free to watch, registration required
Join Shelf Life Books to celebrate the launch of Carol Harvey Steski’s poetry collection rump + flank, with special guest readers Catherine Graham and Patrick Friesen, followed by a Q&A. The book explores the body in nature’s many incarnations: human, animal, plant, microbe, even chemical. This event is held on Zoom and will be recorded.
eventbrite.ca
The Way We Talk Animals
September 22, 2021, 7:00 – 8:15pm
Steam online
Free to watch, registration recommended
Imagine On Air’s storytelling series returns with The Way We Talk Animals, featuring Pamela Korgemagi, Joni Murphy, Kai Cheng Thom, and Rachel Yoder. Each will perform an open-mic style monologue on the theme, as well as answer questions from the host, Pam Rocker. Be sure to RSVP and check it out this September.
wordfest.com
ArtsXpeditions
September 22, 24, 25 & 28, 2021
Various venues
Free to watch
ArtsXpeditions pop-up performances are continuing to bring music, dance, and performance art to community centres, parks, and even the occasional street corner throughout September! Connect with all of the amazing talent that our community has to offer—this week you can swing by and see performances at Olympic Plaza, C-Square, and Bowforth Park! It’s a great lineup!
artscommons.ca
Parks Pat Mysteries
September 23, 2021, 7:00 – 8:00pm
Stream online
Free to watch, registration required
Looking for a police procedural set in picturesque Canada? Detective “Parks” Pat—Margie Patenaude—is a new Calgary homicide detective. Catch this face-to-face book launch and author reading online with Owl’s Nest Books and kick off the release of P.D. Workman’s Parks Pat Mysteries series. Don’t miss it.
pdworkman.com
Mini Masters
September 23, 2021, 11:00am – 12:00pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free to participate, registration required
Mini Masters for children aged three to five explores themes in current exhibitions through art making, movement and play. From yoga to dance, painting to print-making, discover new mediums and techniques in all art forms. Register and check it out as a family.
eventbrite.ca
Wayne Johnston
September 23, 2021, 7:00 – 8:00pm
Steam online
Free to watch, registration recommended
Wordfest’s Imagine On Air presents Wayne Johnston and his latest literary tour de force: The Mystery of Right and Wrong. The one-hour conversation is hosted by literary critic Steven W. Beattie. Register to get your own unique Digital Doggie Bag after the event with links and extras sparked by the conversation.
wordfest.com
This Strange Visible Air
September 23, 2021, 7:00 – 8:00pm
Stream online
Free to watch, registration required
Join in for the online launch of Sharon Butala’s newest book, This Strange Visible Air: Essays on Aging and the Writing Life. Butala reflects on the ways her life has changed as she’s grown old. She knows that society fails the elderly, and so she tackles ageism and loneliness, friendship and companionship.
facebook.com
A Cultural Trilogy
September 23 & 24, 2021, 4:00 – 6:00pm
The GRAND (608 1st St. SW)
Free to watch, registration required
A story about women’s empowerment and cultural advancement taking a clue from folktales from Afro-Canadian perspectives and relevance to our modern-day cultural trends, Ethnik Festivals Association presents this fictional cultural expression. Book your tickets to check it out.
eventbrite.ca
Pokaiks – the Children
September 25, 2021, starting at 10:00am
Various venues
Free to participate
CIF Reconciliation Society welcomes you to the third annual Pokaiks – the Children: Orange Shirt Day Event. Start with a memorial walk from the corner of 3rd Street and 8th Avenue, then walk together to Olympic Plaza for an afternoon of events. Everyone is welcome to this free, family-friendly event!
facebook.com
Creative Community Day
September 25, 2021, 10:00am – 4:00pm
cSPACE King Edward (1721 29th Ave. SW)
Free to explore
Explore cSPACE’s creative community! Grab some local goodies from the weekend market, discover the work of incredible local artisans, drop in and see a real artist’s studio at play, and catch up on what’s been hatching in the Creative Incubator with artist talks and performances throughout the day.
cspacekingedward.com
Roots and Rhymes
September 25 & October 2, 2021, 11:00am – 12:30pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free to participate, registration required
Every child has a unique experience of the world and a story to tell. Esker invites children aged eight to 12 to explore their stories, creativity, and identity with local artists Sydonne Warren and Nastassia Aikman in a two-part writing, art-making, and performance workshop.
eventbrite.ca
Stage Two Festival of New Canadian Work
September 25, 2021, 12:00pm
Stream online
Free to watch, registration required
Lunchbox Theatre’s Stage Two develops new plays selected from its recent Stage One Festival, culminating in a presentation to be streamed online for a digital audience. It’s the perfect way to ease back into live activity safely while developing artistic work for potential production. This week see the next step in the production of Scope.
lunchboxtheatre.com
Artwalk & Open Studio
September 25, 2021, 12:00 – 4:00pm
Atelier Artista, cSPACE King Edward (410, 1721 29th Ave. SW)
Free to explore
Get to know Atelier Artista at this fun event. The studio doors will be open, the equipment out, and the studio’s muse, Darian, will be posing clothed on the model stand in the afternoon. Space is limited, it’s first come, first served to secure a place to be able to sit down and draw!
facebook.com
Matt Blais & Kate Stevens
September 25, 2021, 2:00 – 3:30pm
Central Library (800 3rd St. SE)
Free to watch, registration required
It’s Alberta Culture Days! Join the Calgary Public Library for a double header live performance featuring songwriter in residence, Matt Blais, and Alberta singer-songwriter Kate Stevens. The concert is presented by Rozsa Arts at the Library. Register and don’t miss it.
calgarylibrary.ca
Unmasking Your Roots
September 25 & October 2, 2021, 3:00 – 4:30pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free to participate, registration required
What makes you authentically you? How do you stay connected to that authenticity? Esker presents youth aged 16 to 25 with the opportunity to explore these questions with local artists Sydonne Warren and Nastassia Aikman in a two-part poetry and performance workshop.
eventbrite.ca
The Great Race
September 26, 2021, 10:00am – 11:00am
Stream online
Free to watch
The Great Race sees Awa, the duck, and Akiko, the rooster, who’s silly feathered war between each other has dragged out and has affected all of those around them. The film promotes Afro-Cuban culture to children and young people and seeks to erase stereotypes about it in Canadian society. Tune in and enjoy!
casamexico.ca
Passionate Painters Art Group Show & Sale
September 26, 2021, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Country Hills Golf & Country Club (1334 Country Hills Blvd. NW)
Free to explore
The Passionate Painters Art Group features 10 Calgary artists presenting a variety of styles and mediums. Check out its work at the group’s third annual show at the Country Hills Golf & Country Club.
facebook.com
Early Music
September 26, 2021, 7:00pm
Central Library (800 3rd St. SE)
Free to watch, registration required
What looks like a cello, but has six strings and frets like a guitar? What looks like a piano, but is made of wood and has plucked strings? Join early music specialists Tristan Best and Justin Luchinski for an interactive performance featuring the viola da gamba and harpsichord.
calgarylibrary.ca
The Market on Stephen Avenue
September 28, 2021, 11:00am – 4:00pm
Stephen Avenue (Between 1st St. & Center St. SE)
Free to explore
Join Delisle Marketing and Events on Stephen Avenue for this local market then wander down the avenue for more from amazing local shops and restaurants. There is sure to be tons of vendors, music, food, and so much more.
eventbrite.ca
Have a free event that’s not listed? Email us at events@calgaryartsdevelopment.com or fill out this form.
