2025 Art Acquisitions by Application
Alberta Foundation for the Arts
Deadline for applications: April 1, 2025
This program provides support for individual Alberta artists or an ensemble of artists through the purchase of their artwork as a permanent part of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) Art Collection.
Who can apply
The AFA celebrates and supports diversity and is committed to creating equitable, inclusive, and accessible programs for all, free of barriers and discrimination. We recognize the unique contributions all artists make towards our community, and encourage applicants representing diverse communities including Indigenous peoples, racialized communities, women, people with disabilities and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
This program will only consider submitted artwork by Alberta artists who meet the three mandatory criteria for CORE artists as described in the AFA’s Collections Development Plan.
What does this funding support
Through this opportunity, you may apply to have your artworks purchased to become part of the AFA’s permanent Art Collection. View artwork currently included in the AFA Art Collection.
The AFA acquires artwork at fair market value. Fair market value is established by the record of sales of the artwork of the specific artist and comparable artwork by other artists who are peers working in similar media.
Artworks in one or more of the following categories are eligible for submission:
- Flaking or chipped paint, ceramics, or other materials
- Curling, faded, ripped or otherwise damaged artworks
- Artworks with surface scratches or abrasions
- Artworks containing unstable materials that are not archival quality and are known to deteriorate over time
- Artworks that are soiled and require surface cleaning
- Artworks with warped or unstable stretchers
Eligible artworks must be original works of art and physically available for viewing at the Capital Arts building in Edmonton, should the program expert panel request to see them. Exceptions for large works may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Artworks must be clean and in good physical condition.
Please note the expert panel process can take up to four months to complete following the deadline.
How to apply
We only accept applications through the Grant Administration Tracking and Evaluation (GATE) Front Office online application system. We must receive your online application through GATE Front Office no later than 11:59 pm Mountain Time on the deadline date, unless the deadline falls on a statutory holiday or a weekend when it will be extended until the next working day. Please give the system time to process your application so that the AFA receives notification of your submission before the deadline falls.
GATE username registration
First-time applicants will require a GATE Front Office username and password. Email us at registrationafa@gov.ab.ca to get your login information at least five business days prior to the application deadline.
Please include:
- The contact name of the individual responsible for preparing your application
- The legal name of your organization (for those who are submitting via the artist’s gallery/agent)
- The contact person’s email address
The username and password will be sent to the person at the email address provided.
What to include in your application
For detailed step-by-step instructions, please download the GATE Front Office user guide for this funding opportunity:
- Download an Art Aquisition by Application-specific GATE Front Office user guide
- Watch a short video that shows how to apply for this program
GATE Front Office online forms
- Legal name and confirmation of the applicant status (minor/Albertan)
- Contact information: current, complete contact information for the primary applicant (individual or gallery contact)
- Applicant contact information: street and mailing address for the primary applicant or gallery
- General information: confirmation of applicant classification (artist or gallery/agent)
- A completed applicant agreement including the e-signature of the primary applicant
- Artwork submission list including: artist name, artwork title, date, price, size and an artistic statement about the piece, and its exhibition history (if applicable)
- For new media or time-based media artworks, a Vimeo or other web link to the complete work (with password provided) should be included with the artist statement.
Attachments
The GATE Front Office attachment section indicates that not all attachments are required for submission. This is because they are only required for certain types of projects. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all attachments noted in the guidelines are submitted with their application. Wherever possible, support material should be uploaded as an attachment into GATE Front Office (up to 4 MB).
- An artistic resume of no more than four pages, with current mailing address which outlines any past exhibitions, achievements, teaching experience and/or formal education as applicable
- Resumes will be used to determine CORE artist eligibility.
- Galleries applying on behalf of an artist must ensure that the artist’s current address is included on the resume.
For full guidelines and to apply visit Art Acquisitions by Application | Alberta Foundation for the Arts.
