The Bows

The Bows Artist-run centre in Mohkinstsis/Calgary The Bows is an artist-run centre in Mohkínstsis/Calgary, Alberta, Treaty 7 Territory.

Our core goals are: to support the development, creation, and presentation of new work by early-career artists; to provide affordable studio space for local artists; and to broaden the reach and scope of contemporary art in Mohkínstsis/Calgary, with the ultimate, if ambitious, aim to expose Calgarians to artistic work that explores pressing contemporary issues. We work toward these goals with an a

rtist-centric approach that prioritizes the wholesale support of artists; creative and radical uses of spaces outside of the gallery; and a curatorial focus on projects and practices that dovetail with the specific socio-political, cultural, colonial, economic, and Indigenous histories and contexts of Treaty 7. Ultimately, The Bows strives to empower and support artists to imagine different futures and radical nows, and to invite those inside and outside of our community to be co-conspirators in realizing such realities.
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We gratefully acknowledge funding from the Canada Council for the Arts, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Calgary Arts Development, and the AGLC. Recent project funders include the Rozsa Foundation, the Calgary Foundation, Alberta Culture and Tourism, and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, and ongoing support from Resolve Photo. We are a grateful recipient of one of the inaugural Lacey Prizes.

The Bows is seeking new members for our 2026–2027 Board of Directors. As we enter a period of governance renewal and str...
03/06/2026

The Bows is seeking new members for our 2026–2027 Board of Directors.

As we enter a period of governance renewal and strategic growth, we’re looking for thoughtful, engaged people who want to help strengthen the organization and support artists in meaningful ways.

Board members contribute 4–6 volunteer hours per month, including a monthly meeting and committee work.
We welcome people with experience or interest in:

• arts and culture
• non-profit governance
• policy development
• finance or fundraising
• labour relations or HR

We especially encourage applications from Indigenous, Black, racialized, Disabled, 2SLGBTQI+, non-binary, and gender non-conforming people, and others underrepresented in arts leadership.

📅 Deadline: May 1, 2026
📧 Apply: [email protected]
Submit a statement of interest (max 750 words), a short audio/video (max 5 minutes), or a CV/resume.

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[Image descriptions:

Image 1: A light grey graphic with abstract wavy lines in rust, teal, cream, and brown. Centred text reads “The Bows – Call for Board Members.”

Image 2: A graphic titled “Why You Should Join the Board of Directors – 4 Key Reasons,” highlighting shaping the future of contemporary art in Mohkínstsis, gaining governance experience, strengthening community connections, and supporting artists through structural decisions.

End of Descriptions]

Eternal Gaze of ContemplationRobyn MahFebruary 13 - May 9, 2026Opening ReceptionFebruary 13, 6 - 9 pmSong dynasty schola...
01/30/2026

Eternal Gaze of Contemplation
Robyn Mah
February 13 - May 9, 2026

Opening Reception
February 13, 6 - 9 pm

Song dynasty scholar Mi Fu, after being appointed as a magistrate, was invited to a meeting with other high ranking officials. However, before bowing to the officials, he saw a rock that struck him so deeply that he bowed to the rock as he would to an older brother, as it was admirable for its long-standing existence through the hardship of natural weathering.

Rocks at one point were a part of a larger whole. Though broken off, they are still classified as the whole they were once a part of.
In-spite of the distance and transformations, these changes speak to the different environments the rocks have experienced. The construction and ambiguity of the origins of these rocks and traces of tangible cultural identity speak to the incompatibility with social expectations and the ways in which (de)construction of identity evokes loss, grief, and longing for inclusion based on wholeness.

What would you do if it didn’t matter in the end?

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Robyn Mah explores their Chinese-Canadian identity through a multidisciplinary, material-led practice that engages with the complexities and banality of authenticity. Finding contemplation and nothing in the interrogation of the real and detailed surfaces of rocks and symbols that act as fragmented self-portraiture.
Robyn makes rocks, paintings, and tattoos in Mohkinstsis.

Mah was The Bows 2025 BIPOC Artist in Residence.

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[lmage Description: An asymmetrical stone fills most of the frame, floating against a muted mauve-grey background. The stone’s surface appears matte and finely textured, with subtle variations in tone suggesting weathering and erosion over time. Its form tapers slightly at the bottom and bulges near the top, giving it an organic, almost bodily presence. In the lower right corner, two identical white Chinese characters appear side by side. End of description.]

GRAZESnack and Share IV ft. Kiko Cunningham ()        February 7, 1 - 5 pm At The Bows Sunalta~A dreamy afternoon shaped...
01/26/2026

GRAZE
Snack and Share IV ft. Kiko Cunningham ()        
February 7, 1 - 5 pm 
At The Bows Sunalta

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A dreamy afternoon shaped around grazing — small bites, shared plates, and the grace to wander back for more. Inspired by pastures and long tables, these eats by chef Kiko Cunningham are meant to be lingered over: finger foods that invite joy, touch, and conversation. 

☁️🌾

Sit, stand, drift
Eat at your own rhythm

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[Image Description: A pale blue poster with an oval-framed photograph at the center. Inside the oval, two horses—one dark brown and one light tan—stand side by side, heads lowered as they graze on hay in a mountainous landscape. Behind them, steep rocky mountains rise into misty clouds. Overlaid across the mountains in large, flowing script is the word “Graze,” with smaller text reading “Snack & Share IV.” At the top left, text reads “February 7, 1–5 PM,” and at the top right, “The Bows Sunalta.” At the bottom of the oval, a rounded white label reads “Ft. Kiko Cunningham.” End of Description.]

In ConversationLaura Grier, Ryley Williams & Mercedes (ma̱lidi) WebbJanuary 24, 1 - 3 pm mst The Bows Sunalta and Online...
01/12/2026

In Conversation
Laura Grier, Ryley Williams & Mercedes (ma̱lidi) Webb
January 24, 1 - 3 pm mst 
The Bows Sunalta and Online
RSVP at the link in bio

Join us for a discussion on Indigenous language revitalization featuring Laura Grier, Ryley Williams, and Mercedes Webb.

Presented alongside Grier’s current exhibition, Dene Aesthetics, the artists will discuss how their practices explore language as a living aesthetic force — challenging colonial logics, reactivating Indigenous epistemologies, and tracing deep relational ontologies through various media. 

The discussion will take place in person at The Bows and will be live-streamed, offering access to audiences locally and beyond.

Following the talk there will be a viewing event for the exhibition with the artist in attendance. Light refreshments and snacks will be provided.

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[Image Description: A vertically oriented promotional poster in soft blush and bright pink tones. At the top, dotted lettering reads “IN CONVERSATION,” followed by the names Laura Grier, Malidi Webb & Ryley Williams.

Below, smaller text states January 24, 1–3 pm MST.

The Bows logo appears in the upper right corner.

The central and lower portion of the poster is filled with a repeating, hand-printed floral and vine pattern in vivid pink ink on a pale background.

Along the left edge, vertically oriented dotted text repeats THE BOWS. End of Description.]

It’s your last week to catch ‘Dene Aesthetics’ before we close for the Holidays. The Bows will be closed from December 2...
12/17/2025

It’s your last week to catch ‘Dene Aesthetics’ before we close for the Holidays.

The Bows will be closed from December 20 - January 6.

We look forward to welcoming you in the New Year and for all the exciting programming ahead of us.

Happy Holidays!

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[Image Description: The image has a muted blue-grey background with The Bows logo repeated vertically along the left side. Centered in the image is white text that reads:

“Holiday Closure
The Bows
will be closed from
December 20 – January 6”

At the top center is “THE BOWS” written in a dotted typeface, with a small dotted wave-shaped graphic to the right. The overall design is clean, minimal, and calm. End of Description.]

Address

2001B 10th Avenue SW
Calgary, AB
T3C0K4

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