For more information on our programs and events, contact Heather Kehoe, Program & Event Coordinator.
SAAG at the Renaissance Fair: Art Activity
Hear ye, hear ye! The Gallery invites you to join us at the Renaissance Fair! Stop by to say hi, learn about our exciting upcoming projects, and participate in a gauntlet-on art activity!
Articulations & Opening Reception with Rachael Chaisson and Rita McKeough
Join us at the Gallery's new location for the opening of our newest exhibition Asterisms: Water Ways featuring Rachael Chaisson and Rita McKeough. The celebration begins with an artist-led tour with Rita and Rachael. Following the talk, we invite you to join us for the reception to celebrate the artists.
This event was made possible by the Alberta Culture Days Host Site Grant.
Resonant Matter: An Audio Art Workshop with Rita McKeough
Join artist Rita McKeough for this special workshop inspired by her work, focusing on sound, narrative, and collaboration.
The intention of the workshop is to give voice to objects that hold a significant place in our lives and to bring them into conversation with us and with other objects and natural elements. The workshop will focus on the idea that both living things and everyday objects and materials (such as metal, plastic, or trash) affect the world. Physical objects, natural elements, and non-human beings actively alter, influence, and shape the world around them without human intervention. They do not rely on humans to give them meaning; things possessed of material agency may also act as vocal matter—communicating their histories, purposes, and impacts through their physical presence and independent actions.
For this workshop, participants are asked to bring an object they love or that carries meaning and memories. Through experimental writing and interaction, Rita will guide participants in constructing speculative narratives that raise questions about our relationships with the objects that make up our lives. Participants will then be led through the creation of audio artworks that bring these narratives to life.
This workshop is free to attend thanks to the generous support of the Alberta Culture Days Host Site Grant. Supplies are provided, but participants are encouraged to bring their own laptop if possible.
Space is limited and registration is required. Registration will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis. To register, please email Heather Kehoe, Program & Event Coordinator, hkehoe@saag.ca or click the button below.
Rita McKeough is a performance and installation artist and musician. Born in Antigonish (NS), on the traditional and unceded land of the Mi’kmaq people, McKeough received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Calgary and Master of Fine Arts at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. McKeough works from a feminist perspective, and her recent work has focused on the impact of urban development and resource extraction on the lives and habitats of plants and animals. Rita is known for her large-scale, multilayered installations and performances, often comprised of complex audio works and electronic elements. McKeough uses sound as a medium to articulate the forces of resistance, giving her subjects voice and agency.
As a musician, McKeough is a drummer and has been a member of several bands dating back to the late 1970s, including The Permuters, Sit Com, Mode d’empoli, Almost Even, Demi Monde, Simian Crease, Confidence Band, Books All Over the Bed and most recently Sleepy Panther.
This program is free to attend thanks to the Alberta Culture Days Host Site Grant.
Cultural Canvas Workshop Series
Join the Gallery, in partnership with the BIPOC Foundation for a series of drop-in art workshops led by local artists
Seniors Tour & Tea
Seniors are invited to join us for a free hands-on art workshop on the First Tuesday of the month. Spend the morning participating in a guided art activity with tea, biscuits, and community.
Crafternoon in the River Valley: Nature Weaving
Join us in the river valley for a hands-on art activity. We will be making weavings inspired by our Asterisms installation, featuring the work of Jaeden Blewett and Germaine Koh. All materials are provided, this workshop is free to attend. Registration is encouraged for this outdoor program. We ask guests to wear sun protection and bring water.
Articulations: Mayunkiki in Conversation with Mio Yachita
Acclaimed artist Mayunkiki and curator/interpreter Mio Yachita will explore contemporary Ainu artistic practice, cultural expression, and share an exciting preview of Mayunkiki’s upcoming exhibition.
Presented in partnership with Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden.
Artist Grant Information Panel (Online)
Want to learn about funding and other development opportunities available to artists in Alberta? Join us for this free online information panel with Gallery staff and representatives from all levels of funding. We’re excited to welcome Michelle Schultz (Arts Liaison Consultant for the Canada Council’s Alberta Focus Initiative) and Ayla Stephen (Funding Manager for the Rozsa Foundation), as well as share information about the Alberta Foundation for the Art’s funding streams.
This program will be held online via Zoom. Registration is required and this program is free to attend. To register, please email Program & Event Coordinator Heather Kehoe, hkehoe@saag.ca.
This program is free to attend and presented in partnership with the BIPOC Foundation’s DigiArts Festival.
AYLA STEPHEN
Ayla Stephen is the Funding Manager at the Rozsa Foundation, where she develops and delivers funding programs that support Alberta's non-profit arts sector. She works closely with arts managers to strengthen organizational capacity and explore new opportunities. Before joining the Foundation, Ayla spent 15 years in Alberta's professional theatre community, including more than a decade as Associate Producer of The Shakespeare Company. A Betty Mitchell Award-nominated actor and longtime member of the Late Late Breakfast Show sketch comedy ensemble, Ayla brings both funder and practitioner perspectives to conversations about building sustainable arts careers and organizations.
Photo by Mike Tan
MICHELLE DEANNE SCHULTZ
Michelle Deanne Schultz is currently Arts Liaison Consultant for the Canada Council’s Alberta Focus Initiative. She is an art consultant, strategist and curator who has worked in public and private institutions in Canada, the US and the UK for the last 15 years. Since moving back to Edmonton in 2015, her focus has been on Prairie-based artists and institutions. She is often on the road, believing in the importance of building connections for artists nationally and internationally. In her role as arts liaison consultant, she works with artists and organizations throughout Alberta, with a focus on metropolitan centres, to build an on-the-ground presence for the Canada Council.
Photo by Zachary Ayotte
Bletcher Hour: 2026 Arts Writing Prize Winner Reception (Virtual)
Bletcher Hour: 2026 Arts Writing Prize Winner Reception
Join us for a special virtual reception celebrating the winners of the 2026 SAAG Arts Writing Prize and the Aruna D'Souza Award for BIPOC Writers!
Hosted as part of the Gallery's Bletcher Hour Reading Group, this online gathering will feature special readings and a live Q&A with all of our award-winning authors.
Congratulations to the 2026 Winners:
Tess Larsen – Winner, Arts Writing Award
Jesse-Ross – Runner-Up, Arts Writing Award
F.M. Rosey – Winner, Aruna D'Souza Award for BIPOC Writers
Chris Corvan – Runner-Up, Aruna D'Souza Award for BIPOC Writers
Learn more about the winners by clicking the button below.
Registration:
All are welcome to join this online event! Registration is highly encouraged. To RSVP and receive the Zoom access link (sent the week of the program), please email Heather Kehoe at hkehoe@saag.ca.
You are welcome to invite others to attend as well—please just have them email Heather directly to register.
SAAG at Whoop Up Days Art Activity
Join the Gallery at Whoop Up Days! Stop by to say hi, learn about our exciting upcoming projects, and participate in a hands-on art activity!
Articulations & Opening Reception with Jaeden Blewett and Germaine Koh
Join us in Indian Battle Park to celebrate the opening of our newest exhibition Asterisms featuring Jaeden Blewett and Germaine Koh. The celebration begins with an artist-led walk and talk with Jaeden and Germaine. We will meet at the parking lot and walk to their installation in the River Valley. Following the talk, we invite you to join us for the reception at the nearby Alberta Picnic Shelter. We encourage you to pre-register for this outdoor event.
Seniors Tour & Tea
Seniors are invited to join us for a free hands-on art workshop on the First Tuesday of the month. Spend the morning participating in a guided art activity with tea, biscuits, and community.
Crafternoon at the Farmers Market
Join the Gallery at the Lethbridge Farmer's Market! We will be hosting an outreach booth on July 25th from 8 AM - 1 PM. Stop by to say hi, learn about our exciting upcoming projects, and participate in a hands-on art activity!
Articulations & Opening Reception with Don Gill
Join us at Excite Lethbridge to celebrate the opening of our newest exhibition in partnership with Excite Lethbridge featuring artworks by Don Gill. The event will feature an artist talk and tour of the new installation led by Don Gill, as well as a chance to connect with community over light refreshments.
Pedals & Public Art
Join the Gallery, the Galt Museum & Archives Akaisamitohkanao’pa, and Bike Lane for a two-wheeled exploration of Lethbridge’s rich collection of public art!
The journey begins at the Galt Museum & Archives, where Bike Lane will provide complimentary bike inspections from 5:30 PM - 6:00 PM to ensure everyone is road ready. After a brief overview of the route and a discussion on cycling safety, participants will embark on the public art bike crawl, discovering murals, sculptures, and other artistic landmarks scattered throughout Lethbridge.
As we explore, there will be opportunities to pause, take in the artwork, and discuss its significance. The first part of the tour will focus on new public art projects in the downtown core. The second part of the tour will begin with a ride down 7th Avenue to Henderson Lake, where we will check out the many installations around the park. We’ll finish with a ride back to Theoretically Brewing to enjoy a drink on the patio.
This event is open to all ages, children must be accompanied by a caregiver. Participants are required to bring their own bicycles, helmets, and safety gear, and it’s recommended to bring a water bottle to stay hydrated. Please note that washrooms will not be available along the route. This program is free and registration is required.
Seniors Tour & Tea
Seniors are invited to join us for a free hands-on art workshop on the First Tuesday of the month. Spend the morning participating in a guided art activity with tea, biscuits, and community.
Crafternoon at Pride in the Park
Join us in Galt Gardens for a drop-in art activity! Enjoy the sun, visit with the Gallery, and celebrate Lethbridge Pride! All materials provided, all ages welcome.
Bletcher Hour Reading Group
Join us for Bletcher Hour, the Gallery’s monthly critical reading group. Readings explore key themes of the exhibitions and current events, with the intent to deepen our understanding of the artworks and their context within our community.
This program is free to attend. Please contact Heather Kehoe, Program & Event Coordinator, to register. Readings are sent as PDFs in advance of the event. If you cannot make it in person, online attendance options are available.
Curator's Tour
Join Curator & Exhibitions Manager Adam Whitford for a tour of the Gallery’s current exhibitions. The tour will start at the Gallery to explore Art's Alive & Well in the Schools, featuring work by Lethbridge Grade 9-12 students. We will then go on a short walk to Analog Books to take part in Micah Lexier and May Kineyetums' Asterisms: Say the Word
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Southern Alberta Art Gallery Maansiksikaitsitapiitsinikssin will hold its 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday, May 20, 2025 at 4 p.m. at the Gallery (601 3 Ave. S, Lethbridge, AB). Light refreshments will be provided.
ARTICULATIONS & OPENING RECEPTION
Join us at the Gallery to celebrate the opening of our newest exhibitions: Art’s Alive & Well in the Schools featuring the work of Lethbridge students in grades K-12, and Asterisms: Say the Word by May Kineyetums and Micah Lexier.
ARTICULATIONS | 3 PM
WALK & TOUR | 3:15 - 4:30 PM*
REMARKS | 5 PM
RECEPTION | 5- 7 PM
GALLERY CLOSES | 7 PM
*Meet in front of the Gallery, walk to Nectar Fine Tattooing, Analog Books, returning to the Gallery.
Art’s Alive and Well in the Schools is presented by Westco Construction
Asterisms: Say the Wordis generously supported by Coffee News.
ART AUCTION 2026
Art Auction returns on May 2, 2026! Art Auction is the Gallery’s longest-running, much beloved annual fundraiser—and an important opportunity to contribute to the Gallery’s work making southern Alberta a place where contemporary art creates and supports vibrant communities. Funds raised through Art Auction are invested right back into delivering the Gallery’s core mission by supporting programming and exhibitions throughout the year.
Get your tickets now!
ART AUCTION CURATOR'S TOUR
Join Curator & Exhibitions Manager Adam Whitford for a tour of the Art Auction Preview show, featuring the work donated to our annual fundraiser.
SENIOR'S TOUR & TEA
Seniors are encouraged to come to the Gallery for a special program on the First Tuesday of the month. Spend the morning participating in a guided tour and art activity with tea, biscuits, and community.
SAAG AT LIFF FT. DAMIEN EAGLE BEAR
The Gallery is thrilled to be part of the 2026 Lethbridge International Film Festival.
Join us on April 18th at the Galt Museum & Archives from 4:45-7:30 PM. The screening will feature the premiere of a special short film project produced by the Gallery and directed by Damien Eagle Bear, as well as Damien’s original documentary #skoden. The event will feature a Q&A following the screenings with Damien and #skoden collaborator Mark Brave Rock, moderated by Hali Heavy Shield.
Get your tickets at https://visitlethbridgearena.evenue.net/events/LIFF2026 and check out the full LIFF program here: https://www.galtmuseum.com/liff-2026.
BLETCHER HOUR READING GROUP
Join us for Bletcher Hour, the Gallery’s monthly critical reading group. Readings explore key themes of the exhibitions and current events, with the intent to deepen our understanding of the artworks and their context within our community. This month we will. Be reading selections of Making a Noise! Aboriginal Perspectives on Art, Art History, Critical Writing and Community.
This program is free to attend. Please contact Heather Kehoe, Program & Event Coordinator, to register. Readings are sent as PDFs in advance of the event. If you cannot make it in person, online attendance options are available.
WRITING PRIZE DEADLINE
SAAG ARTS WRITING PRIZE 2026
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS CLOSES TUESDAY, APRIL 7
The Southern Alberta Art Gallery Maansiksikaitsitapiitsinikssin is excited to announce the 15th annual SAAG Arts Writing Prize. This prize aims to recognize and support emerging writers whose writing relates to the field of contemporary art. Art writing is essential to supporting a healthy art ecosystem, providing access points for contemporary art practice, engaging different voices in the field, and encouraging and developing discourse in the arts.
Writers can be considered for one or both of this year’s categories: 1) Arts Writing and 2) the Aruna D’Souza Award for BIPOC Writers. The requirements and prizes for each category are listed below. All entries are eligible to be included in the digital SAAG Arts Writing Prize Reader 2026, which will be shared on the Gallery’s website and sent out to all contributors via email.
This prize focuses on submissions of writing about contemporary art. This includes but is not limited to: exhibition reviews, critical essays, ekphrasis, etc. We will also consider experimental and innovative approaches to writing about contemporary art, including poetry, prose, creative fiction, etc.
EXHIBITION OPENING: HALI HEAVY SHIELD | HAT & BOOT DANCE
Join us at Excite Lethbridge in the Real Estate Centre Lobby Seating Area to celebrate the opening of our newest exhibition in partnership with Excite Lethbridge featuring artworks by Hali Heavy Shield titled Hat & Boot Dance.
Phytogram and Sustainable Photo Development Workshop with Nancy Valladares
Phytogram and Sustainable Photo Development Workshop with Nancy Valladares
In conversation with Image Metabolisms by Nancy Valladares
Saturday March 21, 1-3 p.m.
$10 members | $15 non-members
No prior experience is required. Designed for ages 14+. All materials are provided.
Join us and artist Nancy Valladares (attending virtually) for this hands-on workshop. Nancy and Gallery staff will lead participants through the process of making phytograms, a cameraless photography technique using the natural chemistry of plants to imprint directly onto photographic paper. Participants will create their own phytogram prints and develop them using caffenol, a sustainable photodevelopment process.
No prior experience is required, designed for ages 14+. All materials are provided, and participants will leave with at least one finished print. Space is limited and registration is encouraged. To register, please contact Program & Event Coordinator Heather Kehoe, hkehoe@saag.ca.
Nancy Valladares is an interdisciplinary artist, filmmaker and educator currently based in New York. Born in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Nancy’s practice is deeply influenced by the construction of Honduran national identity through botanical and agricultural regimes. Trained as a photographer and filmmaker, her practice grapples with the networks and flows of image-making, and their technopolitics: from sensors, to servers, to precious metal extraction and the carbon intensive footprint of the cloud.
Valladares was a resident at Triangle Arts Association and the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation, and received fellowships at Harvard University’s Film Studies Center and the Transmedia Storytelling Initiative at MIT. Nancy’s work has been exhibited and screened at Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions, the MIT List Visual Arts Center, Cambridge; Stiftung Bauhaus Dessau; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Sakiya Foundation, Ramallah; Goethe Institute Chicago; Ralph Arnold Gallery, Chicago; and Microscope Gallery in New York.
Alongside Hsurae, Nancy runs Lythologies.org a decentralized research group interested in climate futures and new ecological imaginaries. Their collaborative practice emerges from pedagogical experiments, cooking sessions, and art workshops held in the high desert and the arctic: sites of geologic and temporal frictions. With the support of cultural organizations in Taiwan and the US they have built a network of collaborators that are deeply invested in telling stories about climate and the environment. Collaborative works and workshops have been exhibited at MIT, Maxxi, RIXC Arts and Science Festival, Fab Cafe Taipei, Parsons (The New School) and Artica Svalbard
Fee Assistance
The Southern Alberta Art Gallery Maansiksikaitsitapiitsinikssin aims to reduce barriers that would otherwise prevent community members from accessing our programming. If you have any questions, require assistance with the application process, and/or find the workshop fee to present a barrier please contact Heather Kehoe | hekhoe@saag.ca | 403-327-8770 x 29.
Future Perfect: Rewriting the Rules of Lethbridge with Mia & Eric
Future Perfect: Rewriting the Rules of Lethbridge with Mia & Eric
In conversation with Future Perfect by Mia & Eric and Action Hero
Saturday March 7, 2-4 p.m.
$10 members | $15 non-members
No prior experience is required. Designed for all ages. All materials are provided.
What if the rules of the city were written differently? What if they reflected care, imagination, and possibility?
Participants are invited to explore how bylaws shape everyday life in Lethbridge. Together, we will use the language of existing municipal bylaws as creative material rather than fixed instructions. Participants will cut, remix, and rewrite these texts to imagine new rules for a future city.
You will create your own version of a bylaw for Lethbridge. It might be practical, poetic, absurd, or strange. It might describe how people move through public space, how we treat each other, or what is allowed to happen in the city. There is no right answer, and no legal knowledge is needed.
The workshop is inspired by Future Perfect: New By-laws for Civic Spaces, a public art project that turns official city language into playful signs and statements across Lethbridge. Like the project, this workshop asks simple but important questions. Who writes the rules of the city? Why are they written the way they are? What happens when we change the words?
This is a space to slow down, notice the city around you, and imagine how it could be different. By rewriting the rules together, participants are invited to see civic space with fresh eyes and to take part in shaping its future.
Everyone is welcome. All you need is curiosity about how words shape the places we share.
Mia Rushton and Eric Moschopedis are an interdisciplinary artist team from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Since 2008 they have been creating interdisciplinary exhibitions, temporary public art, participatory works, and interventions under the moniker, Mia + Eric. They bring together elements of craft, performance, cultural geography, and multi-species ethnography to create site-specific and socially-engaged works. Thematically their practice deals with interspecies relationships, biodiversity and place-based knowledge production in cities, small towns, and rural spaces. They have presented projects, artist talks, workshops, and exhibitions at both formal and DIY galleries, festivals, residencies, conferences, and post-secondary institutions regionally, nationally, and internationally. They often work in contemporary performance/theatre and visual art contexts.
Fee Assistance
The Southern Alberta Art Gallery Maansiksikaitsitapiitsinikssin aims to reduce barriers that would otherwise prevent community members from accessing our programming. If you have any questions, require assistance with the application process, and/or find the workshop fee to present a barrier please contact Heather Kehoe | hekhoe@saag.ca | 403-327-8770 x 29.
Future Perfect is generously supported by Lead Sponsor PATTISON Outdoor Advertising.
Free First Friday & Youth Art Club
Join us for Free First Friday! The Gallery is open from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. with complimentary admission all day long.
If you’re a middle or high-school-aged youth looking to explore your artistic side in a warm and welcoming environment, join us that afternoon from 1-3 p.m. for our drop-in Youth Art Club program. Bring your own art to work on or make something here while also taking in a tour of the current exhibitions. Supplies, snacks, and refreshments are included in this program.
Please note that Youth Art Club is for youth ages 12+. Those under the age of 12 are encouraged to join us with their families for our monthly Crafternoon, sign-up for Coulees & Culture, and participate in our other all-ages arts-based programming.
Senior's Tour & Tea
Seniors are encouraged to come to the Gallery for a special program on the First Tuesday of the month. Spend the morning participating in a guided tour and art activity with tea, biscuits, and community
Crafternoon: House-Shaped Lanterns
Looking for a fun and family-friendly activity on a Saturday afternoon? Visit the Gallery for Crafternoon, a self-directed art activity in our Creativity Centre. All supplies are provided. This month we will be making house-shaped lanterns, inspired by Kelly Mark's Glow House
Writing Prize Info Session
Want to learn more about this Gallery’s Annual SAAG Arts Writing Prize? Join us for this zoom info session about this year’s Prize. We will review the call for submissions and frequently asked questions, and answer your questions.
To register for this program, please email Program & Event Coordinator Heather Kehoe | hkehoe@saag.ca to receive the zoom invitation.