Alcove June 2025 Newsletter

Kickstarting Summer at Alcove!

We can’t believe how fast the first half of the year has flown by, and we can’t wait to celebrate the arrival of summer with you! As always, we’re hosting a variety of workshops, events, and programs this month; there’s a little something for everyone!

If you haven’t grabbed an Alcove Community Card already, NOW is a great time to do so! Warm weather means tons of adventures, exploring all the city has to offer, and making memories with friends. With our Community Card, you can support accessible arts programming while unlocking exclusive discounts and perks to some amazing local spots in Calgary. You can save money on bubble tea, books, gallery admissions, craft beer, art supplies, and more! Grab yours for only $30 at our front desk!

Check out our website for upcoming events, Community Card Details, and Drop-in Art Space hours!

NOTICE: Alcove will be CLOSED for the long weekend from Saturday, June 28, until Wednesday, July 2nd. See you back for Thursday Night Jams on July 3rd!

Join us for City Building Program Education Series Part 3!

City Building Program is looking for artists and creatives like YOU to help shape Calgary! In part 3 of 3 of the series hosted by Tyson Bankert, participants will learn how the lived experiences of artists and creatives are shaped by the new Zoning Bylaw and together we'll explore and address how the arts and culture community can continue to share their collective voice for a vibrant and creative Calgary.

Participation in Part 1 and/or 2 is not required to attend Part 3!

Part 1 Summary

• How zoning can impact arts and culture in Calgary

• participants shared their experiences of Calgary

Part 2 Summary 

• What is zoning and how can it impact arts and culture

• What are the new updated zoning bylaws

To learn more visit: https://www.calgary.ca/planning/city-building-program/city-building-program/the-zoning-bylaw.html. We hope to see you there!

• Registered attendees receive a small honorarium

• Free admission!

• Recommended for Ages 12+ 

• *Drop-ins welcome, but registration on Eventbrite encouraged!

Bloom into Summer with a Floral Watercolour Painting Workshop

You asked and we listened! We’re hosting a painting workshop this month and can’t wait to get crafty with you!

About the facilitator: Maya, a Mexican-Canadian graphic designer and artist, has called Canada home since 2007. Through her studio, Maya Corona Art, she crafts vibrant works reflecting freedom and joy, using watercolours, acrylics, and mixed media.

Her art has been featured in prestigious Canadian exhibitions like the Ferri Building Gallery, Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, and cSpace Mardaloop. As co-founder of The Bear and Unicorn Creative Co., Maya combines graphic design and mural painting to create storytelling art, collaborating with local organizations to transform spaces and foster community connections.

• Workshops are recommended for people ages 12 and over. Children under 12 years old are welcome with parent/guardian supervision. Please get a ticket for each person (incl. all children).

• The workshop is pay what you can! Suggested $20 - $30 donation to support facilitator fees and supplies.

• *Registration is required for this event!

Thank You to Everyone who Contributed to our Community Mural!

After months of hard work and collaboration, we just wanted to take a moment to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who contributed to our community mural! Your creativity and energy made this project truly special, and we couldn’t be happier with the final result.

A big shoutout to Finn Frankowski and Calgary Arts Development for helping us make this magic happen! Your support was key in bringing our ideas to life.

We're so proud of what we've created together and all the amazing memories we've made along the way. Every unique addition to the mural adds something special, and it really reflects our vibrant Alcove community! Check out the finished mural next time you’re in.

Want to Come to our Drop-in Arts Space but not Sure What to Do?

We’ve got you covered! With a range of free-to-use art supplies and instruments, we’ve got a little something for everyone! We have paint, pastels, collage magazines, clay, and so much more for you to come experiment with. No pressure, no expectations; just you and your creativity!

Here’s some summer-inspired art prompts to spark your creativity! Post a picture of your masterpieces and tag @alcoveartscentre on Instagram for a chance to be featured on our page.

• My Dream Summer Getaway: Close your eyes and picture the ultimate summer escape. Is it a cozy lakeside cottage, a solo adventure in a Paris café, or a colorful van parked along the Pacific Coast Highway? Use your meda to bring that dreamy scene to life through imagery, colors, and maybe a little itinerary.
  Use: Vintage travel ads, postage stamps, map backgrounds, hotel keys, floral paper snippets, or suitcase ephemera. We even have lego… make a childhood diorama!

• Vintage Postcard From Me to Me: Pretend you're sending a postcard to your current self—from your summer self. What message would you write? Use vintage-style handwriting, illustrations, or actual postcards to give it that old-school charm.
  Use: Postcard printables, aged paper, handwriting stamps, mini envelopes, clay (to seal the envelope) and faux postage stickers.

• My Summer Soundtrack: Capture the sound of summer. Make a visual or audio playlist of songs that instantly put you in a sunny state of mind—whether it’s 60s surf rock, backyard barbecue tunes, or your teenage summer anthem.
  Use: Record player or cassette imagery, lyric clippings, album covers, neon highlights, or play your songs using one of our instruments.

Our drop-in art space is open every week:

• Wednesday: 11 am to 2 pm

• Thursday & Friday: 6 pm to 9 pm

• Saturday & Sunday: 1 pm to 6 pm

Let’s get crafty this summer!

Event Highlights

Looking for some creative inspiration? Swing by Alcove this month! We’ve got a bunch of fun events and workshops waiting for you!

Artist Callout: Exhibit at our Mini Gallery

Are you a visual artist looking for a space to showcase your work? Our Mini Gallery on 2nd Street is now accepting submissions for its next exhibit!

Visible to the public 24/7, this space is designed for artists facing barriers in finding exhibition opportunities. When Alcove is open, visitors can also explore the gallery from the inside. Each showcase runs for an average of 4–6 weeks, providing a unique platform to share your creativity with the community.

2025 Community Card for Sale

The 2025 Alcove Community Cards are valid to use for the entire year! Come get your 2025 Community Card today at Alcove!

The Alcove Community Card is available to purchase for $30 and gives you access to special offers/discounts at 51 businesses around Calgary! We also offer team packages at a discounted rate! Enjoy discounted coffee, beers, galleries, lessons, art supplies, and quality time all while supporting local businesses! Valid from January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025.

A huge thank you to everyone who has purchased a Community Card so far, as well as Arts Commons and Rozsa Foundation for purchasing team packages. If your team is interested, please contact Bethel at [email protected] for more information!

We also have new additions to the Community Card this year, including, a quarterly Insider Newsletter, giving an exclusive look into Alcove and the local art scene, as well as a change to our Creatives Mixer admissions. Starting in 2025, you must own and register a Community Card to attend our quarterly Creatives Mixer events.

Alcove 2025 Community Survey

*This survey is anonymous and takes approximately 5-minutes to complete.

*Friendly reminder to guests that hot food is not permitted in the space, with exceptions during special events. This is to maintain the cleanliness and hygiene of the recreational art space.

*Parking in the loading zone by the back door is not permitted, except for staff and facilitators/performers who have a workshop or performance at Alcove. Please do not park there otherwise.

About Us
Alcove Centre for the Arts is a non-profit located in Calgary (244 7th Avenue SW). Our aim is to make the arts accessible through pay-what-you-can events and art workshops. We believe that art and creativity are integral to the human experience and in building vibrant and dynamic communities.

Visiting Us
Affordable parking is located at: TD Core’s Underground Parkade (745 4 St SW, Calgary, AB T2P 4K9). It has free 3-hour parking after 3pm on Weekdays, and a flat rate of $2 for longer. There is free 3-hour parking all day on Weekends, with a $2 flat rate for longer. If you are taking Calgary Transit, we are just across the street from 3rd Street Station.