Acting as a universal language, art has the power to unite diverse voices, evoke empathy, and spark conversations.
When we share creative experiences, we discover similarities that deepen our understanding of one another, creating stronger connections. At Carya’s Village Commons, we offer a diverse range of art-based programming, including drop-in sessions, community-led workshops, and artist-in-residence programs, providing opportunities for meaningful engagement and expression.
Art for All supports and encourages the development of art and culture in Calgary by bringing people together through free creative workshops at Village Commons. Welcoming both beginners and returning artists, these sessions offer accessible arts programming such as beading, painting, drawing, poetry, songwriting, printmaking, and more. Led by talented local facilitators, Art for All provides a supportive space to learn, create, and reconnect with your creative voice alongside community.
Carya gratefully acknowledges the support of The City of Calgary’s Arts and Culture Microgrant, which helps make Art for All possible.
A one-night, hands-on cultural art experience led by Moonstone Creations. Participants will be guided through the traditional techniques and teachings behind Fish Scale Art while creating their own finished piece to take home. The evening blends artistic practice with storytelling, cultural context, and shared tastings, creating space for learning, reflection, and connection.
For adults (18+). Youth (16+) can attend but must be accompanied by an adult.
Date: Tuesday, April 28
Time: 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Location: Village Commons – 610 8 Avenue SE
Registration required.
To register or for more information, contact NickolasB@CaryaCalgary.ca
a one-night creative workshop designed to introduce participants to traditional Indigenous art practices through a guided, hands-on experience with Moonstone Creations.
For adults (18+). Youth (16+) can attend but must be accompanied by an adult.
Date: Tuesday, May 19
Time: 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Location: Village Commons – 610 8 Avenue SE
Registration required.
To register or for more information, contact NickolasB@CaryaCalgary.ca
A celebration of all art created through art for all, with a community project that will bring all of us into one collective art piece!
For adults (18+). Youth (16+) can attend but must be accompanied by an adult.
Date: Thursday, May 28
Time: 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Location: Village Commons – 610 8 Avenue SE
Registration required.
To register or for more information, contact NickolasB@CaryaCalgary.ca
A fun, fast-paced introduction to drawing basics. Designed for first time drawers or people returning to the art you will learn shading, line work, perspective, and how to bring everyday objects to life on the page.
Date: Fridays, January 16 – February 6
Time: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: Village Commons – 610 8 Avenue SE
Registration required.
To register or for more information, contact NickolasB@CaryaCalgary.ca
Discover the magic of transforming wool into colourful felt. Participants learn traditional felting techniques to make small artworks, ornaments, or decorative pieces.
Date: Wednesdays, February 11 – March 4
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Location: Village Commons – 610 8 Avenue SE
Registration required.
To register or for more information, contact NickolasB@CaryaCalgary.ca
A beginner-friendly introduction to songwriting. Explore melody, rhythm, lyrics, and the creative process while developing your own original piece.
Date: Tuesdays, February 10 – March 3
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Location: Village Commons – 610 8 Avenue SE
Registration required.
To register or for more information, contact NickolasB@CaryaCalgary.ca
During this four-week course participants will explore and practice a wide range of poetry and poetic styles. Participants will develop their critical poetry reading and creative poetry writing skills. Ultimately, this course aims to create a safe space for writers to examine and discuss poetry, to create and share (or not) their own poems at any stage of development, and to provide and receive positive poetry feedback.
Date: Thursdays, February 12 – March 5
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Location: Village Commons – 610 8 Avenue SE
Registration required.
To register or for more information, contact NickolasB@CaryaCalgary.ca
Layered Stories is a four-week mixed media art series exploring how identity is built through fragments, textures, revisions, and colour. Participants will experiment with collage, layered materials, and acrylic painting while developing their own visual language.
Date: Tuesdays, April 14 – May 5
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Location: Village Commons – 610 8 Avenue SE
Registration required.
To register or for more information, contact NickolasB@CaryaCalgary.ca
This one-night workshop explores the connection between scent, memory, and emotion through a guided, hands-on experience led by Ana from ol.facto. Participants will learn how scent interacts with the brain before creating a personalized, memory-based fragrance using essential oils. Each attendee leaves with a custom series of scent samples, packaged as a lasting sensory reminder of the experience!
For adults (18+). Youth (12+) can attend but must be accompanied by an adult.
Date: Wednesday, April 8
Time: 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Location: Village Commons – 610 8 Avenue SE
To learn more, contact NickolasB@CaryaCalgary.ca
Participants will be introduced to the core principles of frame-by-frame animation, including frame rate, incremental movement, and visual continuity.
Date: Thursdays, April 30 – May 21
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Location: Village Commons – 610 8 Avenue SE
Registration required.
To register or for more information, contact NickolasB@CaryaCalgary.ca
Experiment with soft pastels to create rich, blended color and expressive textures. Great for beginners who want to play with colour in a relaxed environment.
Date: Fridays, March 13 – May 3
Time: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: Village Commons – 610 8 Avenue SE
Registration required.
To register or for more information, contact NickolasB@CaryaCalgary.ca
A welcoming, beginner-focused writing class that introduces you to the Hero’s Journey – a classic storytelling structure where an ordinary person is called to an adventure, faces challenges, grows, and returns transformed.
Through fun prompts and easy steps, you’ll learn how to build characters, shape a story arc, and start writing your own creative pieces with confidence. Perfect for first-time writers or anyone looking to explore storytelling for the very first time. Registration is required.
Date: Thursdays, March 12 – April 2
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Location: Village Commons – 610 8 Avenue S.E.
To register or for more information, please contact 403-536-6558 or email NickolasB@CaryaCalgary.ca
It was a wonderful experience; I learned a lot about myself and grew as an artist and a human
-Carya Participant