Must-Sees in Calgary if You Love Art, Music & Theatre

Five must-see live arts destinations in Calgary

Calgary is famous for the Stampede, the nearby Canadian Rockies and Alberta beef. But this eclectic city is so much more. In fact, it’s filled with art, music and culture — and it’s easy to dive right in.

Stafford Arima is the artistic director of Theatre Calgary. He was born in Toronto, then relocated to Manhattan for nearly two decades. Now, he’s put down roots in Calgary.

How was he persuaded to leave those vibrant cities? Calgary’s thriving art scene.

“There is so much happening here that has not necessarily been given voice,” Arima says. “We know it exists here in the city as Calgarians, but anybody outside of our province or our city might not necessarily think about that.”

Here’s Arima’s curated list of five artistic gems to check out year-round in Calgary.

Visual arts at Contemporary Calgary

A former planetarium is now home to a world-class gallery.

“[It’s] a very exciting space that houses some of the most innovative, fresh and modern works in the city,” Arima says.

Contemporary Calgary is a destination dedicated to modern and contemporary art. The building itself is an architectural marvel. The gallery’s exhibits feature diverse artists from Canada and beyond. View their latest exhibits and upcoming talks, auctions and other events.

Studio Bell for music history and beyond

Studio Bell is home to the sprawling National Music Centre and historic King Eddy.

The National Music Centre (NMC) holds more than 2,000 rare instruments and artifacts. Visitors can discover iconic performers in the Canadian Music Halls of Fame or get a “behind-the-glass” tour of the NMC’s collection. And it hosts a legendary piece of rock and roll history, too.

“It’s the only place that you can see this amazing studio that the Rolling Stones recorded in,” Arima says, referring to the Stones’ mobile recording studio (it’s even available for commercial recording sessions).

Next door, the King Eddy serves up live performances alongside premium cocktails. It was Calgary’s longest-operating bar before it closed and was later refurbished brick-by-brick to its new glory.

Altogether, Studio Bell is a vibrant hub for music, innovation and special events.

From classical to the silver screen at the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) presents classical masterworks, musical scores live to picture and textured tributes to pop favourites throughout the year.

“To hear the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra play the theme from Star Wars is as thrilling as it is to hear a classical piece by Beethoven,” Arima says.

The CPO has been a stand-out in the Calgary music and arts scene for more than 65 years. Led by Music Director Rune Bergmann, the orchestra performs at Calgary’s best acoustic venues, including the Jack Singer Concert Hall, Bella Concert Hall, and Jubilee Auditorium. See what’s on this season.

Larger-than-life stories at Calgary Opera

From Sunday opera brunches and master-class singing lessons, to library events for families and polished performances, Calgary Opera is busy throughout the year.

“They have a very strong balance between the classics and alternative works,” Arima says, “so you're not just going to see the classic Verdi opera, you're going to experience some of the old and some of the new.”

Calgary Opera is known for collaborations with arts organizations and a thoughtful mix of classics and alternative works.

After more than 50 years in the community, Calgary Opera has become nationally and internationally recognized for developing Canadian talent and creating new operas.

Discover incredible music, renowned singers and big drama during the opera’s upcoming performances and events.

Live performances at Theatre Calgary

Theatre Calgary’s mission is to stimulate, provoke and delight through ambitious programming. For more than 50 years, Theatre Calgary has played a vital role in the arts community, sparking local, national and international engagement.

This season, Theatre Calgary ignites the stage with new artistic energy and scintillating drama only live theatre can deliver.