2022 is here and so is the return of our seasonal free events blog! Keep reading for a list of in-person and online things to do in the Cultural District and beyond this winter.
The Return of the BNY Mellon Presents JazzLive series
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s BNY Mellon Presents JazzLive series has been a year-round live jazz series presented at the Backstage Bar and Katz Plaza for the past 17 years. Free and open to the public, this popular series has enabled the Trust to showcase hundreds of the region’s finest jazz musicians every Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the heart of the Cultural District. Although the series has been on hiatus, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust will be announcing the line-up for the 2022 series on January 17 at trustarts.org/jazzlive!
Looking for more free live music downtown? Check the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership’s website for a weekly listing of music happenings around the area.
Winter Gallery Crawl in the Cultural District
The first stand alone Gallery Crawl since the start of the pandemic returns on Friday, January 28, 2022, from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., featuring over 20 free events at 14 Crawl Stops located in Pittsburgh Cultural Trust galleries, and other various outdoor and indoor locations and public art places. A few highlights include a NFT Cocktail Bar by Creatives Drink, a Pop-up Artist Market, WPTS Radio (University of Pittsburgh’s Radio) Showcase, a brand new exhibit at 937 Gallery entitled The Border is a Weapon, a R&B and a soul showcase presented by BLKNVMBR. The Crawl will end with a ticketed Crawl After Dark event (from 10 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.), with a performance by Benji. at the Greer Cabaret Theater. For the full line-up of events visit trustarts.org/crawl.
Sips & Crafts by Hazelwood Local
Join Hazelwood Local at the OneValley Cafe for craft activities and brews on Thursday, January 27 from 6 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sip on Pittsburgh’s East End Brewing beverages while designing your own holographic CNC-routed stickers with Protohaven, creating a paper-cut lantern with SmallMall, or your own embroidery pin with Contemporary Craft.
Take a Public Art Walking Tour
Bundle up, put on your comfy walking shoes, and explore the endless public art available around downtown and throughout the Cultural District. In addition to our own self-guided walking tour, the Office of Public Art and Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council also offer free self-guided walking tours and a variety of publications detailing public art on display in and beyond Downtown. Be sure to also check out Intrude, available for viewing at the Trust Oasis and the 8th Street Parking lot with its last night being the winter Gallery Crawl in the Cultural District.
Free Concerts by the Carnegie Mellon University School of Music
Throughout February and March the Carnegie Mellon University School of Music is offering several free performances by the Carnegie Mellon chamber, wind ensemble, contemporary ensemble, guitar ensemble, and jazz orchestra and choir. All upcoming concerts and events can be found here.
Online Events:
Spirit Everlasting: A Tribute to Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Join DEMASKUS Theater Collective, special friends, and featured guest Calesta Day as they celebrate the life and legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Throughout the event Collective members will read portions from Howard Thurman’s novel Jesus and the Disinherited, rumored to have been carried by Dr. King everyday. Calesta and other local and national artists will collaborate to frame the presentation with beautiful music. The tribute will premiere at 1 p.m. on the August Wilson African American Cultural Center’s Facebook and YouTube on January 17 where it will remain for viewing at any time.
Several Events by City of Asylum
City of Asylum is a Northside based non-profit organization that offers a broad range of free literary, arts, and humanities programs in a community setting to build social equity through cultural exchange. They offer several free online and in person events including book launches, author talks, live music, storytelling, and much more. Visit their website for the full list of upcoming events and to register for free tickets.