Free First Thursday

September 3
5-9 PM

Join us for a creative evening celebrating Pride! Enjoy a free, all-ages evening with music from a live DJ, and hands-on art-making activities for all ages. 

Please join us as we play the card game Re/Turn: A Gifting Game, conceived and developed by the Play, (Re)Design, and Learn Group at the University of Calgary. Inspired by Ghazaleh Avarzamani's solo show Churn, Earn, Burn and then Return, Re/Turn: A Gifting Game gives players an opportunity to counter the hostile reality of imposed rules and competitive society. It's a collaborative card game where players constantly change rules and goals to gather and share resources within the community and beyond. Centered on communication, collective decision-making, and reciprocity, the game reminds players that individual and collective actions within the community could resist and impact dominant structures.

Explore our exhibitions, make something of your own, and connect with friends, family, and community in a fun and welcoming atmosphere. Come as you are and celebrate through art, music, and togetherness.

Enjoy free admission from 5–9 PM, a curated bar featuring wine, craft beer, and non-alcoholic beverages, and an evening of art, design, and community. All ages are welcome.

Art for All - FREE with registration.

Exhibition tour:

• At 6 PM, gather outside the Ring Gallery for a guided tour of Ghazaleh Avarzamani: Churn, Earn, Burn and then Return.

On view:

• Jane Jin Kaisen: Burial of This Order

• Ghazaleh Avarzamani: Churn, Earn, Burn and then Return

• Adelita Husni Bey: Agency

Perspective Film Series:

A Clockwork Orange (1971), dir. Stanley Kubrick

August 23

5:30 PM | Dome Theatre

Stanley Kubrick’s iconic A Clockwork Orange (1971) follows Alex, a charismatic but ultraviolent teenage delinquent in dystopian future Britain, who leads his "droogs" in drug-fueled crime sprees, narrating in futuristic slang (Nadsat). After being caught and imprisoned for murder, he undergoes the controversial Ludovico Technique, a psychological aversion therapy that conditions him to feel physically ill at the thought of violence, effectively removing his free will. Released as a "cured" citizen, he faces societal rejection and political manipulation, asking us to question the ethics of state control, the nature of free will, and whether true morality can exist without the freedom to choose.

Country: UK, US

136 minutes, in English

Disclaimer: This film contains some difficult subject matter, including violence and nudity, which may be triggering for some viewers.

FREE for members. Non-members: $10—your ticket to this screening includes admission to Contemporary Calgary. Our galleries are open from 12-5 PM for viewing prior to attending the program.

About Perspective Film Series

Curated by associate curator Muriel N. Kahwagi, the 2026 edition of Perspective is conceived as a sustained meditation on disaster in its broadest and most resonant terms. While ecological catastrophe remains a central point of reference, the series extends beyond literal scenarios of environmental collapse or speculative visions of planetary ruin, approaching disaster as a condition that permeates both collective structures and private lives, unfolding across social, political, and emotional terrains. In this sense, disaster is understood not only as a single event, but as an ongoing state – slow, uneven, and often normalized through systems of power, habit, and belief. The films in this series examine how moments of crisis reshape perception and behaviour, revealing fractures in meaning, and reflecting on the ways in which hope may persist long after the moment of rupture has passed.

About the Curator

Muriel N. Kahwagi ((she/her)) is a writer and curator, working primarily across publishing and programming. Her research is centered on the politics of collecting and archiving the performative; and the act of listening as a form of preservation in and of itself. In 2023, she was the TD Curatorial Fellow at Art Windsor-Essex, and a curator as part of Vtape’s Curatorial Incubator, v.19. She is currently the Assistant Curator at Contemporary Calgary, and a programmer at the Toronto Arab Film Festival.

A Long Dramatic Pause

August 16
Grotto | 2-2:30 PM

A Long Dramatic Pause is a live performance that explores strategies of resistance against ultranationalism and far-right politics through the languages of photography and theatre. Performed by Cindy Ansah and co-developed with artist Erdem Taşdelen, the narrative comprises twelve dramatic scenes that describe a photographic image, never showing it directly but rather bringing it to life through re-enactment and visual analysis.

At the heart of the photograph being described is a young woman, a figure of solidarity and defiance with whom the audience can identify. As the performer moves between observing and embodying this antifascist figure, the narrative gradually implicates the audience as if they had been unknowing protagonists in the image all along. With this, their focus shifts away from the performer towards their own agency and collective presence.

A Long Dramatic Pause is a process-based project developed anew with each staging. Every version emerges from a collaboration between the artist and a new performer, guided by a set of graphic scores created specifically for the work.

The first staging of A Long Dramatic Pause took place in London (UK) in September 2025. This second staging at Contemporary Calgary marks the performance’s Canadian premiere.

About the Artists

Cindy Ansah (she/her) is a storyteller, a vibrant embodiment of culture. A multidimensional creative, she embodies multiplicity as a dance artist, actress, filmmaker, writer, fashion visionary, and muse, dialoguing in Mohkínstsis (Calgary) and across Turtle Island. Since 2020, Cindy has been devoted to her role as Artistic Director of Not Another Political Playground Y’all (N.A.P.P.Y.), which has produced two acclaimed seasons. She co-founded the all-Black contemporary arts collective with collaborator Tiara Matusin, with the shared aspiration to champion Black artistry and collectivity in all its breadth, depth, and nuance.

Erdem Taşdelen (he/him) is an artist based in Tkaronto/Toronto, Canada. Through the use of diverse materials and media, he constructs semi-fictional narratives that incorporate unique historical figures, events and texts to implicate contemporary sociopolitical realities. His projects over the past 15 years have explored themes such as life under authoritarian rule; the theatricality and public spectacles of political discourse; migration, displacement and the haunting presence of the past in contemporary contexts; and the possibilities for self-expression and the limits of authorship within culturally learned forms. Taşdelen has exhibited at venues including The Power Plant, Aga Khan Museum and Mercer Union in Toronto; Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver; VOX Centre de l'image contemporaine, Montréal; Framer Framed, Amsterdam; Museum für Neue Kunst, Freiburg; and Pera Museum, Istanbul. He has been an artist-in-residence at the Delfina Foundation and Studio Voltaire, London; Hangar, Lisbon; Rupert, Vilnius; and KulturKontakt, Vienna. He was awarded the Joseph S. Stauffer Prize in Visual Arts by the Canada Council in 2016, the Charles Pachter Prize by Hnatyshyn Foundation in 2014, long-listed for the Sobey Art Award in 2019, and selected as a finalist for the Taoyuan International Art Award in 2025.

Contemporary Connections: Spanish Tour

August 8
Flanagan Family Gallery | 12-1 PM

Contemporary Connections is a guided tour series designed to make art accessible and engaging for Calgary’s diverse communities. These events create a welcoming and inclusive space for participants to explore our exhibitions and connect with others, fostering meaningful relationships through the shared experience of contemporary art.

Admission: Free with advance registration; walk-ins welcome, space permitting

Exhibition Tour: Richard Ibghy & Marilou Lemmens: Stacking Crates to Reach a Banana and Erdem Taşdelen: Wounded in Three Acts

Duration: 30-minute guided tour, followed by a post-tour conversation and optional mini mixer

Guide: Eglantina Miranda is a Gallery Attendant at Contemporary Calgary. Passionate about connecting with visitors and encouraging conversation around contemporary art. As a native Spanish speaker, Eglantina is excited to lead this tour, offering participants the opportunity to experience the exhibitions.

We welcome your suggestions for future tours in other languages! Email us at info@contemporarycalgary.com

Contemporary Connections is supported by program partner Immigrant Council for Arts Innovation (ICAI)

Contemporary Connections: Tour en Español

8 de agosto | 12-1 PM | Flanagan Family Gallery

Contemporary Connections es un programa de tours guiados diseñado para hacer que el arte sea accesible y atractivo para las diversas comunidades de Calgary. Estos eventos crean un espacio acogedor e inclusivo para que los participantes exploren nuestras exposiciones y se conecten con otros, fomentando relaciones significativas a través de la experiencia compartida del arte contemporáneo.

Admisión: Gratuita con registro anticipado; también se aceptan asistentes sin registro, según disponibilidad de espacio

Tour por las exposiciones: Richard Ibghy & Marilou Lemmens: Stacking Crates to Reach a Banana y Erdem Taşdelen: Wounded in Three Acts

Duración: Recorrido guiado de 30 minutos, seguido de una conversación posterior y un mini mixer opcional

Guía: Eglantina Miranda es Asistente de Galería en Contemporary Calgary. Apasionada por conectar con los visitantes y fomentar la conversación en torno al arte contemporáneo. Como su lengua madre es español y su pasión es el arte contemporáneo, para Eglantina es un honor liderar este recorrido, ofreciendo a los participantes la oportunidad de apreciar y entender las exposiciones.

¡Nos encantaría conocer tus sugerencias para futuros recorridos en otros idiomas! Escríbenos a info@contemporarycalgary.com

Contemporary Connections cuenta con el patrocinio del programa Immigrant Council for Arts Innovation (ICAI).

Free First Thursday

August 6
5-9 PM

Join us at Contemporary Calgary for Free First Thursday, featuring a special interactive art activation by Calgary artist Michelle Atkinson alongside exhibitions and programming presented by d.talks to kick off Design Week Calgary.

Created exclusively for Free First Thursday, Michelle Atkinson's interactive activation invites visitors to engage with her contemporary art practice, which explores weather, environmental data, and abstraction. 

Throughout the evening, choose from one of three original designs and watch as the artwork is heat-pressed live onto a limited-edition tote bag, creating a unique keepsake to take home. Part artist demonstration and part participatory experience, the activation offers a behind-the-scenes look at Michelle's creative process while giving visitors the opportunity to leave with an original artwork.

Explore Contemporary Calgary's current exhibitions and discover Design Week Calgary installations and activations throughout the gallery, including Lost & Found—a collaboration with Six Degrees and the festival’s flagship installation, which invites visitors to slow down and attune themselves to their surroundings, its ambient sounds, shifting light, and collective movement.

Pop by Design Week Calgary’s interactive workshop Cycles: Rework & Upcycle pop-up by Jonas. An up-cycling space to create, connect, and practice sustainability. Here you will find a clothing swap/donation bin, a Jonas themed photo op area, a hands-on workshop, and good conversation. 

Bring something pre-loved from your closet to donate, swap, or get reworked;and get hands-on at the workshop booth.

Enjoy free admission from 5–9 PM, a curated bar featuring wine, craft beer, and non-alcoholic beverages, and an evening of art, design, and community. All ages are welcome.

Art for All - FREE with registration.

Exhibition tours:

• At 6 PM, gather outside the Flanagan Family Gallery for a guided tour of Stacking Crates to Reach a Banana by Quebec-based artist duo Richard Ibghy and Marilou Lemmens

• At 8 PM, gather outside the Flanagan Family Gallery for a guided tour of Erdem Taşdelen’s exhibition Wounded in Three Acts

On view:

• Ghazaleh Avarzamani: Churn, Earn, Burn and then Return

• Adelita Husni Bey: Agency

• Haig Aivazian: You May Own the Lanterns, but We Have the Light

• Erdem Taşdelen: Wounded in Three Acts

• Richard Ibghy & Marilou Lemmens: Stacking Crates to Reach a Banana

Historic Calgary Week: Exhibition Tours and Performance

August 2
12-3 PM

Please join us for a curator-led tour of five solo shows by Canadian and international artists at Contemporary Calgary, reflecting on notions of belonging, power, resistance, evolving social dynamics, and speculative futures.

The tour will be followed by a A Long Dramatic Pause, a performance co-developed by Cindy Ansah and Erdem Taşdelen, one of the exhibiting artists, and performed by Ansah. The performance explores strategies of resistance through the languages of photography and theatre.

Exhibitions on view include Erdem Taşdelen: Wounded in Three Acts; Richard Ibghy & Marilou Lemmens: Stacking Crates to Reach a Banana; Ghazaleh Avarzamani: Churn, Earn, Burn, and Then Return; Haig Aivazian: You May Own the Lanterns, but We Have the Light; and Adelita Husni Bey: Agency.

Free with registration.

A Long Dramatic Pause

August 2
Grotto | 2-2:30 PM

A Long Dramatic Pause is a live performance that explores strategies of resistance against ultranationalism and far-right politics through the languages of photography and theatre. Performed by Cindy Ansah and co-developed with artist Erdem Taşdelen, the narrative comprises twelve dramatic scenes that describe a photographic image, never showing it directly but rather bringing it to life through re-enactment and visual analysis.

At the heart of the photograph being described is a young woman, a figure of solidarity and defiance with whom the audience can identify. As the performer moves between observing and embodying this antifascist figure, the narrative gradually implicates the audience as if they had been unknowing protagonists in the image all along. With this, their focus shifts away from the performer towards their own agency and collective presence.

A Long Dramatic Pause is a process-based project developed anew with each staging. Every version emerges from a collaboration between the artist and a new performer, guided by a set of graphic scores created specifically for the work.

The first staging of A Long Dramatic Pause took place in London (UK) in September 2025. This second staging at Contemporary Calgary marks the performance’s Canadian premiere.

About the Artists

Cindy Ansah (she/her) is a storyteller, a vibrant embodiment of culture. A multidimensional creative, she embodies multiplicity as a dance artist, actress, filmmaker, writer, fashion visionary, and muse, dialoguing in Mohkínstsis (Calgary) and across Turtle Island. Since 2020, Cindy has been devoted to her role as Artistic Director of Not Another Political Playground Y’all (N.A.P.P.Y.), which has produced two acclaimed seasons. She co-founded the all-Black contemporary arts collective with collaborator Tiara Matusin, with the shared aspiration to champion Black artistry and collectivity in all its breadth, depth, and nuance.

Erdem Taşdelen (he/him) is an artist based in Tkaronto/Toronto, Canada. Through the use of diverse materials and media, he constructs semi-fictional narratives that incorporate unique historical figures, events and texts to implicate contemporary sociopolitical realities. His projects over the past 15 years have explored themes such as life under authoritarian rule; the theatricality and public spectacles of political discourse; migration, displacement and the haunting presence of the past in contemporary contexts; and the possibilities for self-expression and the limits of authorship within culturally learned forms. Taşdelen has exhibited at venues including The Power Plant, Aga Khan Museum and Mercer Union in Toronto; Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver; VOX Centre de l'image contemporaine, Montréal; Framer Framed, Amsterdam; Museum für Neue Kunst, Freiburg; and Pera Museum, Istanbul. He has been an artist-in-residence at the Delfina Foundation and Studio Voltaire, London; Hangar, Lisbon; Rupert, Vilnius; and KulturKontakt, Vienna. He was awarded the Joseph S. Stauffer Prize in Visual Arts by the Canada Council in 2016, the Charles Pachter Prize by Hnatyshyn Foundation in 2014, long-listed for the Sobey Art Award in 2019, and selected as a finalist for the Taoyuan International Art Award in 2025.

A Long Dramatic Pause

July 25
Grotto | 2-2:30 PM

A Long Dramatic Pause is a live performance that explores strategies of resistance against ultranationalism and far-right politics through the languages of photography and theatre. Performed by Cindy Ansah and co-developed with artist Erdem Taşdelen, the narrative comprises twelve dramatic scenes that describe a photographic image, never showing it directly but rather bringing it to life through re-enactment and visual analysis.

At the heart of the photograph being described is a young woman, a figure of solidarity and defiance with whom the audience can identify. As the performer moves between observing and embodying this antifascist figure, the narrative gradually implicates the audience as if they had been unknowing protagonists in the image all along. With this, their focus shifts away from the performer towards their own agency and collective presence.

A Long Dramatic Pause is a process-based project developed anew with each staging. Every version emerges from a collaboration between the artist and a new performer, guided by a set of graphic scores created specifically for the work.

The first staging of A Long Dramatic Pause took place in London (UK) in September 2025. This second staging at Contemporary Calgary marks the performance’s Canadian premiere.

About the Artists

Cindy Ansah (she/her) is a storyteller, a vibrant embodiment of culture. A multidimensional creative, she embodies multiplicity as a dance artist, actress, filmmaker, writer, fashion visionary, and muse, dialoguing in Mohkínstsis (Calgary) and across Turtle Island. Since 2020, Cindy has been devoted to her role as Artistic Director of Not Another Political Playground Y’all (N.A.P.P.Y.), which has produced two acclaimed seasons. She co-founded the all-Black contemporary arts collective with collaborator Tiara Matusin, with the shared aspiration to champion Black artistry and collectivity in all its breadth, depth, and nuance.

Erdem Taşdelen (he/him) is an artist based in Tkaronto/Toronto, Canada. Through the use of diverse materials and media, he constructs semi-fictional narratives that incorporate unique historical figures, events and texts to implicate contemporary sociopolitical realities. His projects over the past 15 years have explored themes such as life under authoritarian rule; the theatricality and public spectacles of political discourse; migration, displacement and the haunting presence of the past in contemporary contexts; and the possibilities for self-expression and the limits of authorship within culturally learned forms. Taşdelen has exhibited at venues including The Power Plant, Aga Khan Museum and Mercer Union in Toronto; Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver; VOX Centre de l'image contemporaine, Montréal; Framer Framed, Amsterdam; Museum für Neue Kunst, Freiburg; and Pera Museum, Istanbul. He has been an artist-in-residence at the Delfina Foundation and Studio Voltaire, London; Hangar, Lisbon; Rupert, Vilnius; and KulturKontakt, Vienna. He was awarded the Joseph S. Stauffer Prize in Visual Arts by the Canada Council in 2016, the Charles Pachter Prize by Hnatyshyn Foundation in 2014, long-listed for the Sobey Art Award in 2019, and selected as a finalist for the Taoyuan International Art Award in 2025.

Contemporary Connections: Tagalog Tour

July 24
Ring Gallery | 12-1 PM

Contemporary Connections is a guided tour series designed to make art accessible and engaging for Calgary’s diverse communities. These events create a welcoming and inclusive space for participants to explore our exhibitions and connect with others, fostering meaningful relationships through the shared experience of contemporary art.

Admission: Free with advance registration; walk-ins welcome, space permitting

Exhibition Tour: Ghazaleh Avarzamani: Churn, Earn, Burn and then Return

Duration: 30-minute guided tour, followed by a post-tour conversation and optional mini mixer

Guide: Sophie Garcia is a Filipino educator and curator living and working in Mohkinstsis, Treaty 7 Territory. Originally from Manila, she immigrated to Canada in 2019 and draws on her lived experience as a newcomer in both her art and teaching practice. She is passionate about sharing diverse voices within the Canadian art landscape through community-rooted work in educational and artistic spaces. She has facilitated art workshops for children, newcomers, and older adults alongside non-profit organizations and has organized exhibitions across Calgary. Her curatorial work explores how belonging, memory, and identity are shaped by and rooted in the land. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Education with a minor in Museum & Heritage Studies from the University of Calgary, and currently teaches with the Calgary Board of Education.

We welcome your suggestions for future tours in other languages! Email us at info@contemporarycalgary.com

Contemporary Connections is supported by program partner Immigrant Council for Arts Innovation (ICAI)

Contemporary Connections: Tagalog Tour

Biyernes, Hulyo 24 | 12-1 PM | Ring Gallery

Ang Contemporary Connections ay isang serye ng guided tour na ginawa upang gawing mas inklusibo ang sining para sa iba’t ibang komunidad sa Calgary. Layunin nitong magbigay ng pagkakataon sa mga kalahok na tuklasin ang aming mga eksibisyon at makipag-ugnayan sa iba sa pamamagitan ng kontemporaryong sining.

Pagpasok: Libre sa pagparehistro nang maaga; tumatanggap ng walk-ins kung may available na espasyo.

Titulo ng Kurator at ng Exhibition Tour: Ghazaleh Avarzamani: Churn, Earn, Burn and then Return

Tagal: Tatlumpung minutong (30 minutes) guided tour, na may kasunod na kuwentuhan at opsyonal na mini mixer.

Gabay: Si Sophie Garcia ay isang Pilipinang guro at kurator na naninirahan at nagtatrabaho sa Mohkinstsis, Treaty 7 Territory. Mula sa Maynila, lumipat siya sa Canada noong 2019 at ginagamit niya ang kanyang karanasan bilang bagong dating sa kanyang sining at pagtuturo. Mahilig siyang magbahagi ng iba’t ibang pananaw sa sining sa Canada sa pamamagitan ng mga proyektong pangkomunidad.

Siya ay nakapag-organisa ng mga art workshop sa mga bata, mga bagong dating, at mga senior kasama ng mga non-profit na organisasyon. Siya rin ay nakapag-organisa ng mga eksibisyon sa Calgary tungkol sa kung paano tayo nauugnay sa lupain, sa ating mga alaala, at sa ating pagkakakilanlan.

Nagtapos siya ng Bachelor of Fine Arts at Bachelor of Education na may minor sa Museum and Heritage Studies sa University of Calgary. Siya ngayon ay isang guro sa Calgary Board of Education.

Tinatanggap namin ang inyong mga mungkahi para sa mga susunod na tour sa iba pang mga wika! Mag-email sa amin sa info@contemporarycalgary.com.

Ang Contemporary Connections ay sinusuportahan ng program partner na Immigrant Council for Arts Innovation (ICAI).

Perspective Film Series:

A Separation (2011), dir. Asghar Farhadi

July 19

5:30 PM | Dome Theatre

A Separation (2011) follows Nader and Simin, whose marriage dissolves when they disagree on emigrating. When Nader hires a religious woman to care for his Alzheimer's-stricken father, a chain of lies and a tragic incident lead to an intense legal battle that explores class, faith, and morality in modern Iran.

Country: Iran

123 minutes, in Farsi with English subtitles

Disclaimer: This film contains some difficult subject matter, including violence and nudity, which may be triggering for some viewers.

FREE for members. Non-members: $10—your ticket to this screening includes admission to Contemporary Calgary. Our galleries are open from 12-5 PM for viewing prior to attending the program.

About Perspective Film Series

Curated by associate curator Muriel N. Kahwagi, the 2026 edition of Perspective is conceived as a sustained meditation on disaster in its broadest and most resonant terms. While ecological catastrophe remains a central point of reference, the series extends beyond literal scenarios of environmental collapse or speculative visions of planetary ruin, approaching disaster as a condition that permeates both collective structures and private lives, unfolding across social, political, and emotional terrains. In this sense, disaster is understood not only as a single event, but as an ongoing state – slow, uneven, and often normalized through systems of power, habit, and belief. The films in this series examine how moments of crisis reshape perception and behaviour, revealing fractures in meaning, and reflecting on the ways in which hope may persist long after the moment of rupture has passed.

About the Curator

Muriel N. Kahwagi ((she/her)) is a writer and curator, working primarily across publishing and programming. Her research is centered on the politics of collecting and archiving the performative; and the act of listening as a form of preservation in and of itself. In 2023, she was the TD Curatorial Fellow at Art Windsor-Essex, and a curator as part of Vtape’s Curatorial Incubator, v.19. She is currently the Assistant Curator at Contemporary Calgary, and a programmer at the Toronto Arab Film Festival.

A Long Dramatic Pause

July 18
Grotto | 2-2:30 PM

A Long Dramatic Pause is a live performance that explores strategies of resistance against ultranationalism and far-right politics through the languages of photography and theatre. Performed by Cindy Ansah and co-developed with artist Erdem Taşdelen, the narrative comprises twelve dramatic scenes that describe a photographic image, never showing it directly but rather bringing it to life through re-enactment and visual analysis.

At the heart of the photograph being described is a young woman, a figure of solidarity and defiance with whom the audience can identify. As the performer moves between observing and embodying this antifascist figure, the narrative gradually implicates the audience as if they had been unknowing protagonists in the image all along. With this, their focus shifts away from the performer towards their own agency and collective presence.

A Long Dramatic Pause is a process-based project developed anew with each staging. Every version emerges from a collaboration between the artist and a new performer, guided by a set of graphic scores created specifically for the work.

The first staging of A Long Dramatic Pause took place in London (UK) in September 2025. This second staging at Contemporary Calgary marks the performance’s Canadian premiere.

Free with registration.

About the Artists

Cindy Ansah (she/her) is a storyteller, a vibrant embodiment of culture. A multidimensional creative, she embodies multiplicity as a dance artist, actress, filmmaker, writer, fashion visionary, and muse, dialoguing in Mohkínstsis (Calgary) and across Turtle Island. Since 2020, Cindy has been devoted to her role as Artistic Director of Not Another Political Playground Y’all (N.A.P.P.Y.), which has produced two acclaimed seasons. She co-founded the all-Black contemporary arts collective with collaborator Tiara Matusin, with the shared aspiration to champion Black artistry and collectivity in all its breadth, depth, and nuance.

Erdem Taşdelen (he/him) is an artist based in Tkaronto/Toronto, Canada. Through the use of diverse materials and media, he constructs semi-fictional narratives that incorporate unique historical figures, events and texts to implicate contemporary sociopolitical realities. His projects over the past 15 years have explored themes such as life under authoritarian rule; the theatricality and public spectacles of political discourse; migration, displacement and the haunting presence of the past in contemporary contexts; and the possibilities for self-expression and the limits of authorship within culturally learned forms. Taşdelen has exhibited at venues including The Power Plant, Aga Khan Museum and Mercer Union in Toronto; Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver; VOX Centre de l'image contemporaine, Montréal; Framer Framed, Amsterdam; Museum für Neue Kunst, Freiburg; and Pera Museum, Istanbul. He has been an artist-in-residence at the Delfina Foundation and Studio Voltaire, London; Hangar, Lisbon; Rupert, Vilnius; and KulturKontakt, Vienna. He was awarded the Joseph S. Stauffer Prize in Visual Arts by the Canada Council in 2016, the Charles Pachter Prize by Hnatyshyn Foundation in 2014, long-listed for the Sobey Art Award in 2019, and selected as a finalist for the Taoyuan International Art Award in 2025.

Contemporary Connections: Punjabi Tour

July 17
Ring Gallery | 12-1 PM

Contemporary Connections is a guided tour series designed to make art accessible and engaging for Calgary’s diverse communities. These events create a welcoming and inclusive space for participants to explore our exhibitions and connect with others, fostering meaningful relationships through the shared experience of contemporary art.

Admission: Free with advance registration; walk-ins welcome, space permitting

Exhibition Tour: Ghazaleh Avarzamani: Churn, Earn, Burn and then Return

Duration: 30-minute guided tour, followed by a post-tour conversation and optional mini mixer

Guide: Harpreet M Dayal is an author, poet, community convener, and believer in the power of the arts to connect and heal. Harpreet works with numerous non-profit, settlement, and arts organizations and collaborates with local businesses in Calgary through her platform. 

She founded 'Love Notes,' an event that gathers artists from across disciplines to create a performative love note to Calgary and beyond. Since its inception in 2017, Harpreet has collaborated with Arts Commons to bring Love Notes to their Amplify Cabaret Series, Moonlight Market, and cSpace. Her work has featured in HuffPost, Avenue Magazine, CBC, CTV, and the Canadian Mental Health Association.

We welcome your suggestions for future tours in other languages! Email us at info@contemporarycalgary.com

Contemporary Connections is supported by program partner Immigrant Council for Arts Innovation (ICAI)

Contemporary Connections: ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਟੂਰ

ਸ਼ੁੱਕਰਵਾਰ, 17 ਜੁਲਾਈ | ਦੁਪਹਿਰ 12-1 ਵਜੇ | Ring Gallery

ਕੰਟੈਂਪਰੇਰੀ ਕਨੈਕਸ਼ਨ ਇੱਕ ਗਾਈਡਡ ਟੂਰ ਲੜੀ ਹੈ ਜੋ ਕੈਲਗਰੀ ਦੇ ਵਿਭਿੰਨ ਭਾਈਚਾਰਿਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਲਾ ਨੂੰ ਪਹੁੰਚਯੋਗ ਅਤੇ ਦਿਲਚਸਪ ਬਣਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਤਿਆਰ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਪ੍ਰੋਗਰਾਮ ਦਰਸ਼ਕਾਂ ਦਾ ਹਾਰਦਿਕ ਸੁਆਗਤ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲਾ ਇਕ ਬਹੁਤ ਹੀ ਖ਼ਾਸ ਸਥਾਨ ਹੈ ਜਿੱਥੇ ਉਹ ਸਾਡੀਆਂ ਪ੍ਰਦਰਸ਼ਨੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਦੇਖ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਨ ਅਤੇ ਦੂਜਿਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਮਿਲਜੁਲ ਕੇ ਇਸ ਆਧੁਨਿਕ ਕਲਾ ਦੇ ਸਾਂਝੇ ਅਨੁਭਵ ਦਾ ਅਹਿਸਾਸ ਕਰ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਨ।  

ਦਾਖਲਾ: ਐਡਵਾਂਸ ਰਜਿਸਟ੍ਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਨਾਲ ਮੁਫ਼ਤ; ਜਗ੍ਹਾ ਦੀ ਉਪਲਬਧਤਾ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ, ਬਿਨਾਂ ਰਜਿਸਟ੍ਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਦੇ ਵੀ ਆਉਣ ਦਾ ਸੁਆਗਤ ਹੈ।

ਪ੍ਰਦਰਸ਼ਨੀ ਟੂਰ: ਗ਼ਜ਼ਾਲੇਹ ਅਵਾਰਜ਼ਾਮਾਨੀ: Churn, Earn, Burn and then Return

ਮਿਆਦ: 30 ਮਿੰਟ ਦਾ ਟੂਰ, ਉਸ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਅਤੇ ਜੇ ਚਾਹੋ ਤਾਂ ਥੋੜ੍ਹਾ ਮੇਲ-ਮਿਲਾਪ ਵੀ ਕਰ ਸਕਦੇ ਹੋ। 

ਗਾਈਡ:  ਹਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਐਮ ਦਿਆਲ ਇੱਕ ਲੇਖਕ, ਕਵੀ, ਅਤੇ ਕਲਾ ਦੀ ਤਾਕਤ ਨੂੰ ਸਮਝਦੀ ਹੈ, ਜੋ ਆਰਟ ਰਾਹੀ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਆਪਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਜੋੜਨ ਦੀ ਸ਼ਕਤੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਵਿਸ਼ਵਾਸ ਰੱਖਣ ਵਾਲੀ ਹੈ। ਉਸਨੇ 'ਲਵ ਨੋਟਸ' ਦੀ ਸਥਾਪਨਾ ਕੀਤੀ, ਇੱਕ ਅਜਿਹਾ ਪ੍ਰੋਗਰਾਮ ਜੋ ਕੈਲਗਰੀ ਅਤੇ ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਹਰ ਇੱਕ ਪ੍ਰਦਰਸ਼ਨਕਾਰੀ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਪੱਤਰ ਬਣਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਵੱਖ-ਵੱਖ ਵਿਸ਼ਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਕਲਾਕਾਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਇਕੱਠਾ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ। 2017 ਵਿੱਚ ਇਸਦੀ ਸ਼ੁਰੂਆਤ ਤੋਂ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਹੁਣ ਤੱਕ ਹਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਨੇ ਲਵ ਨੋਟਸ ਨੂੰ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਦੀ ਐਂਪਲੀਫਾਈ ਕੈਬਰੇ ਸੀਰੀਜ਼ (Amplify Cabaret Series), ਮੂਨਲਾਈਟ ਮਾਰਕੀਟ (Moonlight Market), ਅਤੇ ਸੀ-ਸਪੇਸ (cSpace) ਵਿੱਚ ਲਿਆਉਣ ਲਈ ਆਰਟਸ ਕਾਮਨਜ਼ ਨਾਲ ਸਹਿਯੋਗ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ। ਹਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਨੇ HuffPost, Avenue Magazine, CBC, CTV, ਅਤੇ ਕੈਨੇਡੀਅਨ ਮੈਂਟਲ ਹੈਲਥ ਐਸੋਸੀਏਸ਼ਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਪ੍ਰਦਰਸ਼ਿਤ ਹੋ ਚੁੱਕਾ ਹੈ।

ਅਸੀਂ ਹੋਰ ਭਾਸ਼ਾਵਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਭਵਿੱਖ ਦੇ ਟੂਰਾਂ ਲਈ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਸੁਝਾਵਾਂ ਦਾ ਸੁਆਗਤ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਾਂ! ਸਾਨੂੰ info@contemporarycalgary.com ਤੇ ਈਮੇਲ ਕਰੋ। 

ਇਹ ਪ੍ਰੋਗਰਾਮ, ‘ਕੰਟੈਂਪਰੇਰੀ ਕਨੈਕਸ਼ਨ’ ਵੱਲੋਂ, ਇਮੀਗ੍ਰੈਂਟ ਕੌਂਸਲ ਫਾਰ ਆਰਟਸ ਇਨੋਵੇਸ਼ਨ (ICAI) ਦੀ ਸਪੋਰਟ ਨਾਲ ਹੋ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ। 

Pancake Breakfast

Thursday, July 9
8:30-11 AM | Front Plaza

With the help of the Calgary Stampede Batter Boys and Western Welcome, we invite you to join us for a FREE Pancake Breakfast! Enjoy a morning meal featuring treats from Downtown West favourites, Art Café and Alforno, live music by local talent Melody Stang, and drop-in art activities for all ages. Returning again this year is local artist Erik Olson, who will be making artful pancakes.

To keep the western spirit going, the Ranchman's Promotional Dance Team will be on site to lead a fun, drop-in line dancing tutorial. Whether you're a seasoned dancer or trying line dancing for the first time, everyone is welcome to join in!

Come for breakfast, stay for the art! Our exhibitions are open to explore free of charge from 9-11 AM. Bring your family and friends and celebrate with a morning of music, art, creativity, and community.

Donations are welcome to support the art of community building which we bring to life year round here at Contemporary Calgary.

FREE to the public—while supplies last. 

Free First Thursday

July 2
5-9 PM

Join us for Free First Thursday on July 2 at Contemporary Calgary! Enjoy complimentary admission from 5–9 PM, and a full evening of exhibitions and tours, hands-on creativity, and a feature Quickdraw Animation Society Activation. 

Inspired by the Surrealist drawing game, Exquisite Corpse, the students of the Alberta University of Arts Animation Development Course created looping stream-of-consciousness animated characters not knowing they would be remixed with the creations of their classmates. The result is an outrageous combination of over 300 different character combinations, screened in our front Plaza.

Get Stampede-ready with a hands-on airbrush bandana workshop led by Calgary artist Karin McGinn. Explore surface design techniques while McGinn guides you through the process using her own airbrushing techniques to help you create your very own airbrush painted bandana. No experience necessary, all materials provided.

Come explore our galleries, enjoy guided exhibition tours, and participate in a Stampede inspired drop-in art-making session.

Art for All – FREE with registration

Calling all AUArts Students! 

In recognition of the centennial milestone, Contemporary Calgary is offering complimentary annual memberships throughout 2026 to all currently enrolled AUArts undergraduate and graduate students. Stop by, support your peers in the Animation Development Course and get your FREE Membership.

Exhibition tours:

• At 6 & 8 PM, gather outside the Ring Gallery for a guided tour of Ghazaleh Avarzamani: Churn, Earn, Burn and then Return.

On view:

• Ghazaleh Avarzamani: Churn, Earn, Burn and then Return

• Adelita Husni Bey: Agency

• Haig Aivazian: You May Own the Lanterns, but We Have the Light

• Erdem Taşdelen: Wounded in Three Acts

• Richard Ibghy & Marilou Lemmens: Stacking Crates to Reach a Banana

Perspective Film Series:

Until the End of the World (1991), dir. Wim Wenders

June 28

5:30 PM | Dome Theatre

Wim Wenders’ 1991 sci-fi epic, Until the End of the World, follows Claire Tourneur across a near-future, globe-spanning apocalypse in 1999. She pursues Trevor McPhee, a man carrying a device designed to record visual experiences for his blind mother. As they flee the CIA, a damaged nuclear satellite threatens civilization, forcing them to confront the dangerous, addictive nature of technology and dreams. 

Country: Australia, Germany, France, US

158 minutes, in English, French, and German with English subtitles

Disclaimer: This film contains some difficult subject matter, including violence and nudity, which may be triggering for some viewers.

FREE for members. Non-members: $10—your ticket to this screening includes admission to Contemporary Calgary. Our galleries are open from 12-5 PM for viewing prior to attending the program.

About Perspective Film Series

Curated by associate curator Muriel N. Kahwagi, the 2026 edition of Perspective is conceived as a sustained meditation on disaster in its broadest and most resonant terms. While ecological catastrophe remains a central point of reference, the series extends beyond literal scenarios of environmental collapse or speculative visions of planetary ruin, approaching disaster as a condition that permeates both collective structures and private lives, unfolding across social, political, and emotional terrains. In this sense, disaster is understood not only as a single event, but as an ongoing state – slow, uneven, and often normalized through systems of power, habit, and belief. The films in this series examine how moments of crisis reshape perception and behaviour, revealing fractures in meaning, and reflecting on the ways in which hope may persist long after the moment of rupture has passed.

About the Curator

Muriel N. Kahwagi ((she/her)) is a writer and curator, working primarily across publishing and programming. Her research is centered on the politics of collecting and archiving the performative; and the act of listening as a form of preservation in and of itself. In 2023, she was the TD Curatorial Fellow at Art Windsor-Essex, and a curator as part of Vtape’s Curatorial Incubator, v.19. She is currently the Assistant Curator at Contemporary Calgary, and a programmer at the Toronto Arab Film Festival.

Contemporary Connections: Cantonese Tour

June 27
Ring Gallery | 12-1 PM

Contemporary Connections is a guided tour series designed to make art accessible and engaging for Calgary’s diverse communities. These events create a welcoming and inclusive space for participants to explore our exhibitions and connect with others, fostering meaningful relationships through the shared experience of contemporary art.

Admission: Free with advance registration; walk-ins welcome, space permitting

Exhibition Tour: Ghazaleh Avarzamani: Churn, Earn, Burn and then Return

Duration: 30-minute guided tour, followed by a post-tour conversation and optional mini mixer

Guide: Phoenix Ning graduated from the Alberta University of the Arts with a major in Visual Communication Design. She is a multidisciplinary visual creator working across digital design, craft-based practices, and public art. She has been actively involved in community-based volunteer work and has led and realized multiple public art projects across Calgary.

We welcome your suggestions for future tours in other languages! Email us at info@contemporarycalgary.com

Contemporary Connections is supported by program partner Immigrant Council for Arts Innovation (ICAI)

當代藝術連結（Contemporary Connections）：粵語導覽

6月27日（星期六）
Ring Gallery展館 | 12-1 PM

當代藝術連結（Contemporary Connections）是卡加利當代藝術館（Contemporary Calgary）舉辦的多語言導覽系列，旨在為來自不同社區及文化背景的觀眾提供一個開放且包容的共享空間，讓參與者更深入地探索藝術作品、促進彼此交流，並建立更具意義的連結。

入場費：免費（需預先登記；名額有限，亦歡迎現場參與）

展覽導覽：
藝術家 Ghazaleh Avarzamani
《Churn, Earn, Burn and then Return》(流轉、收穫、燃燒，最終回歸)

導覽時長：
約30分鐘，隨後設有交流環節。

導賞員：
寧可菲(Phoenix Kefei Ning), 畢業於阿爾伯塔藝術大學（Alberta University of the Arts）視覺傳達設計專業，創作涵蓋設計、工藝實踐及公共藝術。長期參與卡加利不同社區的志願服務，並組織與策劃多個公共藝術項目。

歡迎對我們的多語言導覽提出建議！
請電郵至：info@contemporarycalgary.com

本活動由合作夥伴 Immigrant Council for Arts Innovation (ICAI) 支持

Simran Workshop

June 20
2-3 PM

Learn about Simran, a focused practice for the mind designed to help you build clarity and resilience. 

Through guided sessions, you will learn how to quieten the mind and build an inner practice you can keep coming back to for a deeper, peaceful connection with your true self. 

FREE and OPEN TO ALL.

JOURNEY OF THE MIND is presented in partnership with Contemporary Calgary.

ABOUT without SHAPE without FORM 

without SHAPE without FORM is an assembly of artists, thinkers and cultural practitioners committed to making moments of self-discovery accessible for everyone. Rooted in Sikh philosophical concepts, their contemporary artistic programme enables people to have meaningful conversations about the mind. 

Guided by insights and tools from over 500 years of Sikh knowledge, without SHAPE without FORM explores a transformative philosophy that pursues self-mastery in the service of others, connecting courage, compassion and community with a commitment to education, collaboration and exchange. 

without SHAPE without FORM create spaces to explore the power of the mind – through curating exhibitions, producing podcasts, publishing articles, delivering workshops and hosting gatherings for Simran (a practice of stillness and deep listening). These encounters help people find peace, resilience and purpose in an increasingly noisy and fractured world. 

Social action and openness are central to everything we do. Their approach is boundaryless, experiential and participatory – inviting global voices to a cross-cultural dialogue about purposeful living. 

Simran Workshop

June 20
2-3 PM

Learn about Simran, a focused practice for the mind designed to help you build clarity and resilience. 

Through guided sessions, you will learn how to quieten the mind and build an inner practice you can keep coming back to for a deeper, peaceful connection with your true self. 

FREE and OPEN TO ALL.

JOURNEY OF THE MIND is presented in partnership with Contemporary Calgary.

ABOUT without SHAPE without FORM 

without SHAPE without FORM is an assembly of artists, thinkers and cultural practitioners committed to making moments of self-discovery accessible for everyone. Rooted in Sikh philosophical concepts, their contemporary artistic programme enables people to have meaningful conversations about the mind. 

Guided by insights and tools from over 500 years of Sikh knowledge, without SHAPE without FORM explores a transformative philosophy that pursues self-mastery in the service of others, connecting courage, compassion and community with a commitment to education, collaboration and exchange. 

without SHAPE without FORM create spaces to explore the power of the mind – through curating exhibitions, producing podcasts, publishing articles, delivering workshops and hosting gatherings for Simran (a practice of stillness and deep listening). These encounters help people find peace, resilience and purpose in an increasingly noisy and fractured world. 

Social action and openness are central to everything we do. Their approach is boundaryless, experiential and participatory – inviting global voices to a cross-cultural dialogue about purposeful living. 

Contemporary Connections: Farsi Tour

June 20
Ring Gallery | 12-1 PM

Contemporary Connections is a guided tour series designed to make art accessible and engaging for Calgary’s diverse communities. These events create a welcoming and inclusive space for participants to explore our exhibitions and connect with others, fostering meaningful relationships through the shared experience of contemporary art.

Admission: Free with advance registration; walk-ins welcome, space permitting

Exhibition Tour: Ghazaleh Avarzamani: Churn, Earn, Burn and then Return

Duration: 30-minute guided tour, followed by a post-tour conversation and optional mini mixer

Guide: Shaghayegh (Poppy) Ghasemi is a PhD candidate at the University of Calgary, with research focusing on children. She holds a bachelor's degree in Museum Studies and a master's in Anthropology. Awards from both the University of Manitoba and the University of Calgary have supported her research on child neglect. Poppy has over six years of hands-on experience working with children and youth in museums and schools across Iran, Turkey, and Canada. Before joining Contemporary Calgary, she was a program educator at the Manitoba Children's Museum. She is passionate about activating children's critical and creative thinking through programs delivered in English, French, Farsi, and Turkish. In her leisure time, she enjoys cooking and playing chess.

We welcome your suggestions for future tours in other languages! Email us at info@contemporarycalgary.com

Contemporary Connections is supported by program partner Immigrant Council for Arts Innovation (ICAI)

Power of Connection Workshop

June 19
5:30-7 PM

Develop sharper attention and deeper awareness to strengthen connection and collaboration. 

This hands-on workshop invites you to experience togetherness through sound, drawing and movement, offering an opportunity to connect more deeply with yourself and others while creating collaborative artwork. 

FREE and OPEN TO ALL.

JOURNEY OF THE MIND is presented in partnership with Contemporary Calgary.

ABOUT without SHAPE without FORM 

without SHAPE without FORM is an assembly of artists, thinkers and cultural practitioners committed to making moments of self-discovery accessible for everyone. Rooted in Sikh philosophical concepts, their contemporary artistic programme enables people to have meaningful conversations about the mind. 

Guided by insights and tools from over 500 years of Sikh knowledge, without SHAPE without FORM explores a transformative philosophy that pursues self-mastery in the service of others, connecting courage, compassion and community with a commitment to education, collaboration and exchange. 

without SHAPE without FORM create spaces to explore the power of the mind – through curating exhibitions, producing podcasts, publishing articles, delivering workshops and hosting gatherings for Simran (a practice of stillness and deep listening). These encounters help people find peace, resilience and purpose in an increasingly noisy and fractured world. 

Social action and openness are central to everything we do. Their approach is boundaryless, experiential and participatory – inviting global voices to a cross-cultural dialogue about purposeful living. 

Simran Workshop

June 18
5:30-6:30 PM

Learn about Simran, a focused practice for the mind designed to help you build clarity and resilience. 

Through guided sessions, you will learn how to quieten the mind and build an inner practice you can keep coming back to for a deeper, peaceful connection with your true self. 

FREE and OPEN TO ALL.

JOURNEY OF THE MIND is presented in partnership with Contemporary Calgary.

ABOUT without SHAPE without FORM 

without SHAPE without FORM is an assembly of artists, thinkers and cultural practitioners committed to making moments of self-discovery accessible for everyone. Rooted in Sikh philosophical concepts, their contemporary artistic programme enables people to have meaningful conversations about the mind. 

Guided by insights and tools from over 500 years of Sikh knowledge, without SHAPE without FORM explores a transformative philosophy that pursues self-mastery in the service of others, connecting courage, compassion and community with a commitment to education, collaboration and exchange. 

without SHAPE without FORM create spaces to explore the power of the mind – through curating exhibitions, producing podcasts, publishing articles, delivering workshops and hosting gatherings for Simran (a practice of stillness and deep listening). These encounters help people find peace, resilience and purpose in an increasingly noisy and fractured world. 

Social action and openness are central to everything we do. Their approach is boundaryless, experiential and participatory – inviting global voices to a cross-cultural dialogue about purposeful living.