Special Events

As the Royal Alberta Museum recognizes Black History Month, we are excited to once again welcome Edmonton Historian Laureate Donna Coombs-Montrose. An artist, musician, and historian, she has spent the last 20 years detailing some of the stories of the people of the African diaspora in the greater Edmonton area and the province beyond.

Join us for "Everyone Has a Story", a songwriting workshop for Albertans of all backgrounds.

Led by singer songwriter John Wort Hannam, this two day workshop will guide you through the creative process of songwriting - from idea generation to song creation - culminating in an opportunity to share your original music with other participants.

This workshop is open to all participants aged 15+, at all experience levels. As the workshops last all day, participants are welcome to bring a lunch and snacks. Pencils and paper will be provided.

Jewellery made with real human hair was common in Queen Victoria's time, yet the skill has nearly vanished today. Join hairwork artist and Hair Anthropology founder Zen Hansen for a hands-on workshop introducing the foundations of table braiding. This historic technique uses long hair, weighted bobbins, and a specially designed braiding table to create intricate jewellery.

Using real human hair to create keepsakes for mourning may seem unusual to us now, but for centuries, it carried profound emotional and symbolic meaning. Although this art form reached its peak popularity in the Victorian era, its roots stretch back much farther. Join Zen Hansen, hairwork artist and founder of Hair Anthropology, as she explores the sentimental and mourning traditions that treated hair as a cherished material for preserving love and memory.