Edmonton Arts Council

Today we celebrated the installation of Misi-mîkisak by at Hawrelak park. The celebration included a beautiful performance by Cheyenne's mother and greetings from our CEO Renee Williams. Thank you to everyone who joined us to welcome this incredible public art gift to our city!

Downtown park spaces are looking a little different as of late with live bands, backyard games, DJ sets, K-Pop dancing, mini golf, stilt walking workshops and more!

Experience a variety of fun and entertaining activations in downtown park spaces this summer! The City of Edmonton and the Edmonton Arts Council are planning diverse programming and entertainment for parks in the downtown core.

🎧 Alex Decoteau | 5 - 8PM | every other Monday

🛝 Beaver Hills & Michael Phair Park | 12 - 2PM & 5 - 7PM | Wednesdays (check schedule for timings)

⛳ Centennial Plaza | 11AM - 6PM | Fridays

🎲 O-day'min Park | 12 - 4PM | Every other Saturday

A lot of exciting programming is coming in June! See the schedule here: https://www.edmontonarts.ca/event/downtown-playdates-in-downtown-park-spaces

We're bringing the arts to every day life in downtown. Make plans with your co-workers, friends, family and neighbours to drop by a park soon!

Indigenous Futurist and interdisciplinary artist Cheyenne Rain LeGrande ᑭᒥᐊᐧᐣ explores history, knowledge and traditional practices while moving through installation, photography, video, sound, performance art, and most recently, public art. Cheyenne’s work is rooted in the strength to feel, express and heal — a spirit that she has imbued in her new public art project "Misi-mîkisak", a 14′ tall beaded earring constructed of colourfully painted fibreglass beads. With the artwork unveiling slated for May 30th, we chatted with Cheyenne about the evolution of her artistic practice, her definition of Indigenous futurism, and the inspiration behind her new public artwork.

Read the Q&A with Cheyenne on the EAC blog: https://www.edmontonarts.ca/blog/i-am-yeg-arts-cheyenne-rain-legrande-%E1%91%AD%E1%92%A5%E1%90%8A%E1%90%A7%E1%90%A3

Be among the first to see Cheyenne's new public artwork by joining the EAC on May 30th at 11:00 AM for a special celebration marking the official unveiling of "Misi‑mîkisak", set within the beautiful, newly reopened William Hawrelak Park. The event will feature remarks from the artist, who will share insights into the inspiration and meaning behind the work, followed by words of reflection from her Elder and a closing song by Cikwes Connie LeGrande.

Following the public art celebration, check out the City of Edmonton - Local Government’s grand reopening event at Hawrelak Park from 12:00 – 4:00 PM. The celebration will feature various activities across the park throughout the day:https://www.edmonton.ca/sites/default/files/public-files/documents/william-hawrelak-park-grand-opening-postcard.pdf

Kick off your week with these arts events in Edmonton! 📅

MAY 25 - 30 | Experience movement traditions from across the African diaspora by attending Evolving Rhythms Conference.

MAY 28 | For Edmonton International Film Festival's 40th anniversary they are screening some of their favourite films, one from each decade of the festival's life, starting with "Bye Bye Blues."

MAY 30 | Celebrate soul music across generations in a one-of-a-kind Edmonton collaboration with The Get Downs and Cantilon Choirs.

Make sure to save this list for later and share with someone you'd like to attend with!

May 25
• Indie Touring 101 with EPL Musician In Residence

May 25 - 31
• Siegfried

May 26
• Lunch & Listen - Where We Came From (and where we go from here): A Vietnamese Art & Heritage Exhibit

May 27
• Billy Preston: That’s The Way God Planned It
• It's Free To Dream Art Show
• Spotlight Series: Rick St. Clair

May 28
• Galerie CAVA | New Exhibition - Opening Reception
• May Gallery: New Expressions - Jeff Collins: Closing Reception

May 29
• Friday Nite Live - Sebastian Barrera
• Thread The Light Album Release Concert
• Trevor Sanders, classical guitarist

May 29 - 30
• BWDC presents Isak Enquist | Fall(se) Circ(us)
• Bach’s Magnificat & Vivaldi’s Gloria
• UFest 2026

May 29 - 31
• Producer Lab at the RISER New Works Festival
• Edmonton Drag Festival 2026

May 30
• Public art unveiling & William Hawrelak Park grand reopening
• Petite Ondine by Anaïs Pellin
• Look Out!, Avout, Word
• Voices in Ink
• Bride of Chucky

May 31
• Art Experience: Learn to Sew
• Bach to LIFE!… eternal inspiration
• ZUMI PIANO DUO: Concert for Two Pianos & Art Exhibit, featuring Tanya Harnett
• Ice: Voices for a Frozen World
• For the Love Of Music: Featuring- Lower Than Landon, Hen Coo, Payton Cook

Looking for things to do in Edmonton? Find the best arts and culture events in the city at edmontonarts.ca/events ◀️

UPDATE: Tours are now full!

Did you miss our Tawatinâ Bridge tours with artist David Garneau back in October? The FREE tours are back this June where you will discover the stories behind the over 500 paintings across the bridge and gain a new appreciation for this public artwork.

DATES: Saturday, June 20th & Sunday, June 21st
TIMES: 9AM, 11AM and 1:30PM each day
COST: FREE (Pre-registration required due to limited capacity)

On these guided tours, explore the Tawatinâ Bridge and learn the stories behind its paintings of the River Valley's flora and fauna, and the First Nation, Métis, and settler histories of the area.

Whether you’re an art lover, history enthusiast, live nearby, or are curious to learn more about this beloved public artwork, we welcome you to join us!

🔗 Learn more and register for FREE here: https://www.edmontonarts.ca/event/public-art-walking-tours-tawatin%C3%A2-bridge

Capacity is limited, so plan ahead to secure your spot!

The Edmonton Arts Council’s survey project is one of the major ways we are fostering a culture of evidence-informed decision-making and demonstrating short and long-term change in Edmonton’s arts ecology.

Today, we’re highlighting the 2026 Edmonton Arts Council Public Survey. Conducted every two years, the public survey helps us evaluate the effectiveness and impact of our programs and services.

Tell us why the arts matter to you! Join the conversation and share your story about the arts - how they've made a difference in your life, what arts funding means to you, and what we gain as a City when we fund the arts in Edmonton.

To read more about the survey results, visit: https://www.edmontonarts.ca/blog/why-the-arts-matter-now-what-were-hearing-from-edmontonians

To join the conversation about why the arts matter, visit:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Gv2UTuu2-U6eAei5HVrOAbjUpf61tzRMjbiZJQ9H--JUOFBQRzdSV0VBTUJPVjhaM1M4TExMUldZUi4u

Start planning your week with this round-up of 20+ arts events happening in and around Edmonton! 📅

MAY 21 | Celebrate the rare and significant achievement of Axios Men's Ensemble Juno Award win with the launch of their national tour.

MAY 22 - 23 | Mile Zero Dance invites everyone to share in the excitement of a new work in progress from local interdisciplinary arts group "The Ember Collective" that is rooted in movement, sound, and form to carry forward both ancestral and emergent stories.

MAY 23 - JUNE 13 | Come out to dhARTworld this Saturday evening to take in the inaugural solo exhibition, "Romantic Tensions," of theatrical print and sculptural works by local artist Brianna Tosswill.

Make sure to save this list for later and share with someone you'd like to attend with!

May 20
• St. Albert Downtown Night Market

May 21
• The Gift (formerly The Sugar Mama) Screening

May 21 - 31
• Buanderie/Boulangerie by Sophie Gareau-Brennan

May 22
• Friday Nite Live - Fresh Out of Creativity
• Reign of Error, Ballpark Franks, Av!tas

May 22 - 24
• 48hr Mobile Device Filmmaking Challenge

May 22 - June 7
• The Seed Paintings: New work by Jim Macgregor

May 23
• Funding Opportunities for Media Artists with Laura Jeanne Lefave
• Celebrate Spring - A Handbell Concert
• 18th Annual Spring Awakening Gala
• Sell Your Book: Everyone Wants to See Their Name in Lights, But Few Want to Do The Work to Turn the Power On
• Tim Olive (Kobe, Japan) with k.burwash, Jacob Audrey Taves & Steph Patsula
• Ron Josol in Edmonton
• The Rocky Horror Picture Show
• Free Screening of "Perfect Days"

May 23 - 24
• EKOSingers Presents: Summer Breeze

May 24
• Made of Snow and Story: Book Launch with Lana Skauge
• Edmonton Recorder Society Springtime Gala
• Africa Day Song & Drum Circle Celebration
• KASIA, Indigo Ice, Nine Iron Violence
• Capital City Big Band - Summer Swing

Looking for things to do in Edmonton? Find the best arts and culture events in the city at edmontonarts.ca/events ◀️

Clouds, rain and wind won't stop us from having a great time at "Splash Day" tomorrow Saturday, May 16th from 12 - 4PM with free family-friendly activities for everyone!

If you missed our announcement yesterday, Splash Day will move indoors to City Hall due to the chilly weather forecasted. Here's what you'll find inside!

City Hall, City Room | 12 - 4PM:

🪘 12 - 1PM | Sharing West African rhythms with people of all ages, be entertained by Sangea Academy.

🎶 1:30 - 2:30PM | Biboye Onanuga Quartet plays Miles Smiles as part of his city-wide celebration marking the legacy of Miles Davis.

🧘‍♀️ 3 - 4PM | Kevin Gaudet leads a meditative sound bath with gong performance. Bring an optional blanket or yoga mat!

🥤 All afternoon you'll be able to stop in at The Hallway Cafe for delicious food and snacks. Don't forget to enjoy a free drink too!

Please note that the fountain will be closed due to inclement weather on Saturday, May 16. Please check the City of Edmonton Facility Notifications before heading out for accurate information.

For up to date weather and cancellation information, please visit EAC’s social media and our web listing for updates: https://www.edmontonarts.ca/event/splash-day-2026