Art pop-ups and firepits coming to Kensington this month

Feb 1 2021, 8:58 pm

As recommended by health officials, if you choose to participate in events outside of your home, please adhere to COVID-19 health and safety measures, including proper physical distancing, mask wearing, and frequent handwashing. If you are sick, please stay home.

While Valentine’s Day and the month of love may look a little different this year, Kensington is hoping to add some extra fun to the community this February with the launch of Kensington Love.

Kensington Love welcomes a number of outdoor activations to the area, including the initiation of the Kensington Art Walk, firepit warming stations in front of the Plaza Theatre, and numerous art pop-ups. These art instalments are free to the public to help spread love to locals and visitors throughout the neighbourhood.

 

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Snap some photos of art pieces curated by local culture organization PARK, which are set up alongside the firepits, as well as an activation in front of Ridley’s Cycle at 223 10 Street NW.

The new Kensington Art Walk encourages you to get cultured, locally. Explore and discover new art pieces with the downloadable map, showcasing the dozens of temporary and permanent public art projects scattered throughout the neighbourhood. If you prefer to check out the map once you’re in Kensington, it can also be accessed via a QR code at the PARK art activation in front of the Plaza Theatre, launching Thursday, February 4.

Running each weekend from Friday, February 12 to Friday, March 5, the City of Calgary will provide three physically distanced firepit warming stations on the Kensington Plaza (1133 Kensington Road NW). Fires will be burning from 4 pm to 8 pm on Fridays and 11 am to 4 pm on Saturday and Sunday, so you can take a break from touring all of the amazing art and spend a moment warming up.

Along with Kensington Love, the Kensington BIA is also launching its Art Grant Program, with the aim to continue growing public art in the community. Kensington will be awarding microgrants of $200 to a different artist each month for the duration of 2021 to create a new art installation in the area.

 

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Kensington Love is presented as a part of Chinook Blast, Calgary’s newest mid-winter roundup that celebrates the season and shows the world that we’re not afraid of a little cold.

“We’ve worked hard to ensure the streets of Kensington are robust with locally curated artwork,” says Annie McInnis, executive director of the Kensington BRZ. “We’re thrilled to be a part of Chinook Blast and have an opportunity to share our community’s artistic nature with the entire city.”

So grab your significant other, a family member, or friend from your immediate household, bundle up, and head to Kensington to experience some love this February.

Elle McLeanElle McLean

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