Alcove October 2025 Newsletter

Spooky season at Alcove!

Author

Alcove Centre
October 01, 2025

Month at a Glance

Hello October! The air’s getting crisp, the days a little shorter, and yes—it’s officially spooky season. We’ve lined up a whole month of creative fun, from pumpkin carving workshops to live events and partner programs happening. We’ll be making art, memories, and a little bit of magic at both Alcove Core and Beltline! Take a look at our programs calendar below!

Please note: Drop-in Art Space at Alcove Core will be CLOSED on

  • Thursday, October 2

  • Saturday, October 11 & Sunday, October 12

  • Thursday, October 16

Jam Session & Performance w/ HAVEN Vanguard at Alcove Beltline

Mark your calendars, HAVEN is coming to Alcove! Known as Calgary’s premiere Jazz/Hip-Hop/Neo-Soul showcase, HAVEN will be putting on a show to remember at our special Friday Night Jam.

This jam is open to intermediate-level musicians (all instruments welcome, just bring your own), or just come by to enjoy the music and hang out with community.

Friday, October 3, 2025 from 8:00 PM - 10:30 PM

  • Free Admission

  • Drop-in, no registration required

  • All Ages

*Please note Alcove Beltline is not wheelchair accessible, and has a few steps to enter

Check out what else is happening this month at Alcove Beltline (1040 8 St SW) on the program calendar below!

Alcove Jam Sessions: Field Trip Edition!

This month, we’re switching things up and taking some of our jams out on the town! Instead of Alcove Core (244 7 Ave SW), join us at two amazing venues for music, a fresh change of scenery, and the same Alcove energy you know and love:

The Drop-In Art Space at Alcove Core will be CLOSED during these nights, but we can’t wait to jam with you in these exciting spaces!

Meet the Creative Minds Behind This Month’s Workshops!

At Alcove, we’re lucky to work with incredible artists who bring their passion, experience, and creativity to every workshop. Meet your three talented facilitators this month!

Workshop: Learn the basics of playwriting and what it takes to bring a script from the page to the stage. Designed for beginners, this session offers a welcoming introduction to theatre-making.

Kodie Rollan
Philippine-born, Scarborough-raised, and now based in Moh'kins'tsis (Calgary), Kodie is a playwright, dramaturg, lyricist, and producer whose work centers on justice in all its intersectional forms.

As the Artistic Director of Chromatic Theatre, he is passionate about creating care-forward environments where artists can thrive. Kodie has collaborated with organizations across Turtle Island, including the Banff Playwrights Lab, Lunchbox Theatre, and fuGen Theatre. Outside of the arts, you’ll find him talking Raptors basketball.

Saturday, October 18 2025 from 1:30-3:30pm

Workshop: Dive into mixed media with oil pastels, experimenting with color, layering, and mark-making to create textured pieces that reflect your personal story. Perfect for beginners looking to explore and play.

Lauren B. Sanchez (Artist LBS)
Lauren is a multidisciplinary artist whose vibrant work blends oil pastels, paint, and texture to tell powerful stories of identity, heritage, and empowerment.

Her art has been featured internationally by organizations like Lululemon, Spotify, and the Paralympics, often celebrating womanhood and creative expression. With a passion for accessibility, Lauren invites participants to experiment, play, and discover their artistic voice.

Sunday, October 19 2025 from 1:30-3:30pm

Workshop: Take pumpkin carving to the next level with subtractive 3D sculpting. Whether you’re a beginner or advanced, you’ll be guided through creating expressive portraits and faces that bring your pumpkin to life.

DIVERSITY (Carlos Roche)
An award-winning Venezuelan-born Canadian artist, DIVERSITY has lived and worked across cultures, enriching their creative practice with woodworking, photography, painting, and sculpting. Their multidisciplinary approach transforms ideas into reality with skill and imagination.

Sunday, October 26 2025 from 1:30-3:30pm

*All workshops at Alcove Core require registration on Eventbrite.

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 workshops are pay what you can! Suggested $20 - $30 to support facilitator fees and supplies.

Event Highlights

There’s so much happening at Alcove this month! Here’s what you can look forward to:

  • Weekly Thursday Night Jams – A lively open session funded by Canada Council for the Arts where musicians can come together, collaborate, and create.

  • And Much More! – Stay up-to-date for even more exciting events and creative experiences at Alcove.

Want to support Alcove? Here’s how!

Alcove is a creative hub for everyone. Whether you're an artist, a supporter, or someone who believes in the power of community, there’s a place for you here. As a charity, we rely on the kindness and actions of people like YOU to help us make Calgary’s art scene accessible. Here’s how you can get involved and support our work:

  • If you’re able, consider making a donation! Donations help fuel our mission to provide a full-time space where people can cultivate their creativity and build meaningful connections within our community. Donations over $20 are eligible for a tax receipt. 

  • Snag a 2025 Community Card — Treat yourself or a friend to an all-access pass to special offers and creative experiences in Calgary for $30! Every purchase helps support local businesses AND accessible arts programming in Calgary!

  • Bring Alcove to Work — Does your workplace support local arts and culture? Whether it’s through an employee giving campaign or a corporate donation, your workplace can help fuel creativity in Calgary. Email [email protected] and let’s chat!

  • Show Up & Get Creative — Swing by during drop-in hours, join a workshop, or check out one of our events. When you show up, you support local artists and help build community. Click here for our program schedule. 

Alcove belongs to all of us — thanks for being part of it!

2025 Community Card for Sale

The 2025 Alcove Community Cards are now 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.

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.

*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
The Alcove Centre for the Arts is a charity 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.