• Price Free

It’s so easy to enjoy arts and culture in our city. In fact, each and every week our calendar is overflowing with free events thanks to the generosity of the Calgary community. From workshops to screenings to lunch hour getaways, here’s what we’re hitting up this week:

Taking Flight

Until April 8, 2017
University of Calgary (2500 University Dr. NW)
Free – $15

An interdisciplinary celebration of dance, drama, and music at the University of Calgary, the School of Creative and Performing Arts is ready to take off with its annual festival of student work. There are even a number of free events on the schedule including three performances of Dance@Noon.
scpa.ucalgary.ca

ProArts Presents Laura Brandt & Even Mounce

March 29, 2017, 12:00 – 12:50pm
Cathedral Church of the Redeemer (604 1st St. SE)
Free

Pianist and coach Evan Mounce has been heard with Calgary Opera in productions of Docteur Miracle, The Magic Flute, L’enfant et les sortilèges, Scorpion’s Sting, Portrait of Manon, and Hansel and Gretel. Joined by Soprano Laura Brandt, catch this free lunch hour concert with ProArts@Noon.
proartssociety.ca

Art of Our Times

March 29, 12:10 – 12:50pm
Contemporary Calgary (117 8th Ave. SW)
Free

Held over the lunch hour, this weekly series invites Calgarians working in the downtown core to enjoy their lunch while they listen to thought-provoking talks and tours.
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70 Acres in Chicago: Cabrini Green

March 29, 2017, 7:00pm
Gallery Hall Taylor Family Digital Library, University of Calgary (410 University Ct. NW)
Free for students with ID, and for community members with food bank donation

Join Movies That Matter as it closes its season with 70 Acres in Chicago: Cabrini Green. Twenty-years in the making, 70 Acres in Chicago tells the story of the Cabrini Green public housing development located on the most hotly contested 70 acres of land in Chicago. With its prime central location, Cabrini Green was initially hailed as a public housing triumph, then more recently demonized as an urban disaster. A 30 minute Q&A with director Ronit Bezalel follows the screening. Seating is limited so please arrive early.
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The Business of Writing with Teresa de Grosbois

March 29, 2017, 7:00 – 9:00pm
Shelf Life Books (1302 4th St. SW)
Free

Join Shelf Life Books and the Writers’ Guild of Alberta for this workshop with four-time bestselling author Teresa de Grosbois. Specializing in the topic of influence, de Grosbois is the founder of the Evolutionary Business Council and leads an international organization of influential speakers and authors.
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The Midwife of Torment and Other Stories

March 30, 2017, 7:00 – 9:00pm
Shelf Life Books (1302 4th St. SW)
Free

Head to Shelf Life Books and celebrate the launch of paulo da costa’s latest volume, The Midwife of Torment and Other Stories. A collection of sudden fiction, these short stories often dwell on the strange—and the horror—found in our mundane lives.
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Inventions and Interventions in Inuit Art with Dr. Heather Igloliorte

March 31, 2017, 7:00 – 8:00pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free, registration recommended

Join Dr. Heather Igloliorte for this lecture that examines the history of modern and contemporary Inuit art. She investigates how artistic innovation and interventions have changed and expanded the field of production.
eventbrite.ca

Land’s End Composers Competition

March 31, 2017, 7:30pm
Rozsa Centre, University of Calgary  (206 University Court NW)
Free

Calgary’s own Land’s End Ensemble continues to celebrate 20 seasons of new music-making with the 17th edition of this competition! Catch a behind-the-scenes look as the ensemble dissects and performs new works by three exciting young composers.
landsendensemble.ca

Lisa Brawn Popsho Opening Reception

March 31, 2017, 5:00 – 9:00pm & April 1, 2017, 2:00 – 5:00pm
Ruberto Ostberg Gallery (2108 18th St. NW)
Free

Artist Lisa Brawn offers a fresh opportunity to re-examine and evaluate the machismo of historical figures and fictional characters with her new show Popsho. Featuring one hundred mini-macho woodcuts in an epic showdown, check it out at one of two opening receptions.
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Bowness Spring Craft Sale

April 1, 2017, 10:00am – 3:00pm
Bowness Community Centre (7904 43rd Ave. NW)
Free

Get out and support the many local crafters and artists in attendance at this annual Bowness tradition. The sale features ceramics, pottery, handmade accessories, garden gifts, reclaimed signage, and much more.
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then/again

April 1, 2017, 2:00 – 4:00pm
Shelf Life Books (1302 4th St. SW)
Free

Shelf Life Book celebrates the launch of Michelle Elrick’s latest volume of poetry then/again. Elrick will be joined by Natalie Simpson for this special reading.
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Classical Guitar Society of Calgary Preview Concert

April 2, 2017, 2:00 –4:00pm
Shelf Life Books (1302 4th St. SW)
Free

Enjoy an afternoon of live classical guitar performances from Brett Gunther, Yu Nakamura, Quinn Goddard, and Matthew Beaubien.
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This is My City Festival

April 3 – 27, 2017
Multiple locations
Free

For the fifth consecutive year, This is My City Art Society presents this interdisciplinary festival of art from the margins. It all kicks off with several visual art exhibits and continues with a great lineup of film screenings, music, and workshops. All programs are free of charge and all are welcome, donations are gratefully accepted.
thisismycitycalgary.ca

An Artful Community: Pop-up Activity

April 4, 2017, 4:00 – 6:00pm
Central Library, Calgary Public Library (616 Macleod Tr. SE)
Free

Join This is My City Art Society artist-mentor Bill and add your designs to a colourful wooden mosaic in the making. Expect to spend a delightful 120 minutes.
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Can You Hear Me Now?

April 4, 2017, 6:30 – 9:00pm
Shelf Life Books (1302 4th St. SW)
Free

Check out Calgary’s all-ages poetry slam and open mic as participants gear up for the fourth annual provincial junior high and high school poetry slam competition. Poets of all ages are welcome to come out and share their words competitively (in the slam) or non-competitively (open mic).
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