All in Behind the Scenes
This three-week performance residency gives four of Calgary's young performance artists real-life stage experience. This is the first step in the launching of a newly envisioned beautfiulyoungartists program which will kick-off in the fall with eight young artists given the learning experience of a lifetime.
You may have walked into the Blues Can or Ironwood and wondered at the powerful vocalist on stage, only to find out that she’s a local gem who now calls Calgary home. Bebe Buckskin, known off stage as Danielle Ghostkeeper, has set herself apart with her gritty and soulful performances, evoking such Canadian legends as Alanis Morissette. This May, you’ll have an opportunity to hear her perform on CKUA in a special live recorded performance in the Engineered Air Theatre at Arts Commons.
Welcome to the fifth instalment of the Artists of Arts Commons, a series sharing the stories of our staff who practice art in their personal time – whether it’s an active hobby or as much as a secondary career. We’ve been excited to be able to share a wide range of artistic pursuits with you, from painting to dancing, to felting and script writing. In part five, we introduce you to a puppeteer, a sketch artist, and a full-time music teacher who are all part of our dedicated front-of-house team.
This April, Arts Commons Presents and National Geographic Live are bringing a virtual presentation of three inspiring women photographers to screens and homes in Calgary. From diverse backgrounds exploring a variety of subjects, all three have one thing in common – they train their eyes on the subject of global migration, particularly on its effect on women around the world.
Love is in the air, or rather, halls!
Arts Commons is a home of so many memories and traditions. You might have seen your first concert, admired your favourite visual art piece, or even experienced a play. For some, memories include meeting or marrying their partner in one of our spaces.
This February, Arts Commons Presents: TD Amplify Cabarets return! Each of these popular cabaret-style performances feature a different cast of amazing local talent that have inspired, challenged, and energized audiences with dance, music, poetry, and performance art in the intimate space of the Engineered Air Theatre. As with so many events right now, this first presentation of the TD Amplify Cabaret series, Strawberries & Peaches will feel a little different, streamed virtually direct to your home rather than live in the theatre.
It’s been 10 months since Arts Commons teaching artists started to navigate virtual instruction and adapt their livelihoods to the virtual realm, unable to work directly with teachers and students in schools and onsite at Arts Commons or in their studios. And with growth mindset in mind, they have inevitable developed new best practices for creating interactive virtual arts education.
We reached out to teaching artists from the visual and performing arts to talk about what sort of constraints they have overcome and new joys they have discovered in keeping children and youth inspired and connected through the arts.
Entering its 17th season, Exposure Festival has delighted Calgarians with unique photography exhibitions in galleries, local businesses, online, and outdoors. Through its programme of exhibitions, portfolio reviews, artist talks, discussions and events, Exposure explores what photography is, what it can be, its current place in contemporary art, and the future of the medium. New for 2021, Exposure will bring an exciting city-wide public exhibition to its audiences in Calgary.
