Arts Roundup
July 9, 2026
Emily Chu and Halie Finney have been selected to create artwork for the north panels of Edmonton's new Chinatown Gate. "We recognize this very unique opportunity to contribute local art to a cultural gate — it allows us to tell the story of our Chinatown on this land, on Treaty 6 territory, where our communities practiced their traditions, harvested sustenance and medicines, and are lucky to have called this our home," the artists posted. "As a Chinese and Métis artist duo, we aim to express a unified message of commemorating friendship, community care, and offer a warm welcome on the entrance into a community of peoples and histories we care deeply about."
The new Chinatown Gate, expected to be completed by 2027, will replace the one that was removed in 2017 to accommodate Valley Line LRT construction. The original gate was named for Harbin, China, one of Edmonton's sister cities. Gates such as these carry cultural significance that extends beyond the aesthetic. "Chinatown gates are not decorative façades. They are symbolic structures traditionally built with materials that convey permanence, respect, and cultural integrity — such as stone, brick, wood, glazed tile, or cast concrete," Joanna Wong from the Chinatown Transformation Collaborative told Postmedia after the city cut costs on materials as the budget grew to $8.7 million. The city set aside $30,000 for the artwork.
Chinatown and the communities invested in it are not a monolith, indicates an open letter in support of the gate, released after the Chinatown Benevolent Association withdrew its support in June. The collaboration between Chu, whose works include the Chinatown Stories Map, and Finney, a core member of the Ociciwan Contemporary Art Collective, is an example of how different experiences and perspectives can coexist and catalyze. To incorporate the voices of the Chinatown community into their work, they are asking community members to register for engagement sessions by July 15.
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Music
- The Prairie Song Folk Club has released its inaugural lineup featuring shows from local musicians. Artistic director Paul Jensen told CBC's Edmonton AM the club comes out of the Prairie Song Alliance, a network of singer-songwriters and venues working together to promote live music.
- Sofar Sounds, a global concert series that brings audiences to non-traditional venues, is holding a mystery concert on the south side on July 11. Local producer Siri Nelson said the venue and performer won't be revealed until 36 hours before showtime.
- The Highlands community has a new concert series running this summer at the Lowlands Project Space, curated by Double Lunch's Craig Martell. The venue is in the shared backyards of two houses, founded by artists Steven Teeuwsen and Jill Stanton.
- Cassia Hardy's In Relation and Home Front's Watch It Die are among the nominees for the inaugural Meridian Prize, which aims to recognize LPs from Western and Northern Canada. Executive director Michael Dawson said the prize aims to spotlight "complete creative statements" from across a region spanning nearly 6.8 million square kilometres. The winner, announced on Oct. 3, will receive $5,000.
- Composer and University of Alberta music professor Scott Smallwood discussed sound as a sculptural material in an episode of SSH: The Podcast series. He explores rich sound environments and "deep listening" as director of the Sound Studies Institute.
Visual arts
- The Whyte Avenue Art Walk, Art Gallery of Alberta, and Women for the Art Gallery of Alberta have partnered to create the Waga People's Choice Awards. Patrons of the art walk, running from July 10 to 12, will vote on their favourite artists across five categories. Winning artists will be featured in a special exhibition at the AGA's Community Gallery from January to March 2027.
- Organizers say wet weather cut attendance at The Works Art & Design Festival roughly in half this year, dropping to about 80,000 from a typical 150,000. Executive artistic director Amber Rooke said the festival will "tough it out" and expects it to return in 2027 despite the financial hit. Rooke is leaving the festival after more than 20 years of service, 14 of them in leadership.
- Applications are open until July 26 for the Affordability Futures Photovoice Project, a paid opportunity to participate in a community photography project capturing what affordability means. The project, run by End Poverty Edmonton, will culminate in two public exhibitions later this year.
- Eleven artists will compete in Art Battle's Edmonton championships at Casino Yellowhead on July 11. The evening of live-painting will also feature artist Katherine Gerola.
- Edify profiled several of Edmonton's little free libraries, highlighting how stewards use the tiny structures as canvases for personal and artistic expression, from a purple antique cabinet in Allendale to a repurposed newspaper box in Inglewood featuring a community pantry and hand-built bench.
- Augusta Fashion + Textiles founder Maria Augusta Wozniak hosted a fashion illustration class meant to offer a chance to unwind, meet new people, and build drawing skills.
Theatre and dance
- Brian Paisley, founder of the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival, died in Mexico on July 2 at age 78. Paisley helped influence global fringe festivals and left a lasting legacy on Edmonton's cultural scene. Theatre critic Liz Nicholls said she remembers him as "the wry, puckish visionary" behind the festival's start in 1982. The festival, which will mark its 45th anniversary on Aug. 13, plans to hold a Toast to Paisley tribute event on Aug. 20.
- Coun. Sheena Hughes in St. Albert is bringing forward a motion to bar people over 19 from being cast in shows from the St. Albert's Children's and Community Theatre, saying adult actors, some in their 40s and 50s, have been taking key roles meant for kids. The company recently changed its name from St. Albert Children's Theatre to "reflect the all-ages programming that has already been happening."
- Freewill Shakespeare Festival's production of Something Rotten! drew praise from reviewers for its run in the renewed Heritage Amphitheatre at Hawrelak Park. Edmonton Journal's Liane Faulder called it a "toe-tapping extravaganza," while Lucy Haines lauded the performances, and Liz Nicholls was impressed by the cast's chutzpah during rotten weather. The production runs until July 12.
- Found Festival runs until July 12 at unconventional and unexpected venues across the city, including a Google Doc. Shyanne Duquette's SKNHEAD explores the world of inner-city, mixed-race latchkey kids. "In that desperate middle-school time, at 14 you don't really know who you're going to be, who you'll be," Duquette told Liz Nicholls.
- Theatre Prospero is touring city parks with free, interactive family performances on weekdays through July. The company is also a guest performer at the Edmonton Arts Council's Green Shack Shows through July 10.
- Elm Tree Theatre's Water Wishes program offers an aquatic theatre experience for kids aged one to five, featuring poetry, songs, and movement in a swimming pool at MacEwan University.
Books and publishing
- Hingston & Olsen Publishing, the boutique publisher behind the Short Story Advent Calendar, is winding down after selling 20,000 short story collections over 10 years. Co-founder Michael Hingston, who now runs Porch Light Books, said rising shipping and paper costs eroded the company's margins, though he doesn't feel despair about the future of print.
- Spilt Zero Proof co-founder JoAnne Pearce's literary essay Drinks that Taste of Seasides and Woodsy Walks explores the creative rewards of making and consuming mocktails. The absence of alcohol allows bartenders to explore unexpected flavour combinations — ones that often prompt genuine surprise — she posited.
- Dad Era by Jordan Abel was the top-selling poetry book on the Edmonton bestseller list from the Book Publishers Association of Alberta.
Screen industries
- Buffet Infinity by Simon Glassman is nominated for a Fangoria Chainsaw Award in the Best First Feature category. Voting is open until July 15, and the winners will be announced on Oct. 25.
- More than a year after the disappearance of 14-year-old Samuel Bird in west Edmonton, his mother, Alanna, is channeling her grief into a film project to honour his life and shed light on Indigenous youths' experiences in Canada. She has partnered with Indigenous filmmaker Corben Bowen on Every Day Gets Closer to Winter, which is in development and seeking funding.
- The John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights produced a documentary on the life and death of Mathios Arkangelo, an Edmonton man killed by police in June 2024. His family has since launched a lawsuit against the four officers involved and the city's police chief. Haruun Ali, an advocate for the case, spoke to CBC Edmonton's Radio Active about the documentary.
- Brian Tanner of Artificial Agency discussed why it's hard to insert agents into video games compared with real-world automation.
- The Edmonton Short Film Festival has opened early bird submissions for trailers, music videos, web series, commercials, and short films of any genre.
More headlines
- Edify has published its Summer Faves series, featuring profiles of Edmontonians sharing their favourite local spots and experiences. Faves include the eats and culture at Cariwest, selected by poet and performer Titilope Sonuga; sushi from Japonais Bistro, selected by hip-hop artist Ardn; the chicken arepas from Sabor de Los Andes, selected by Augusta Fashion + Textiles founder Maria Augusta; and fare at Vi's for Pies, selected by art dealers Camille and Peter Robertson.
- Metro Cinema is screening Challengers on July 11 in partnership with the Garneau Tennis Club, with proceeds from the fundraiser supporting the club's tennis court replacement project.
Happenings
Here are some events coming up over the next seven days:
- July 9: Patio Series - Cynthia Hamar starting at 6pm at La Cité francophone
- July 9-12: Found Festival
- July 10-11: RavenWood Music Festival at Festival Place
- July 10-12: Whyte Avenue Art Walk
- July 11: Fifty Years of All of Baba's Children: A Symposium starting at 8am at Allard Hall
- July 11-12: Rockin' Thunder Music Festival at Exhibition Lands Racetrack
- July 11-12: In the Garden at Rutherford House
- July 12: The Sunday Book Club YEG starting at 2pm at Edmonton Public Library (Stanley A. Milner)
- July 13: Short & Sweet, Why Word-Economy Needs to be in Every Writer's Toolkit starting at 7pm online
- July 14: Junk Journalling with Sidney McConnell starting at 6pm at Alberta Craft Council
- July 15: Garden Concert: Beppie starting at 7pm at Anglican Parish of Christ Church
And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:
- July 25: Chinatown After Dark at 10640 98 Street
- July 27: Reading Between the Barcode Lines: Scanning for Surplus starting at 7pm at Magpie Books
- July 30: Summer Reading Fest: Let's Write a Hit starting at 2pm at Edmonton Public Library (Londonderry)
Visit the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.
This roundup was sponsored by ATB.
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