Art Acquisitions by Application
No fixed amount
Accelerator
Description:
Art Acquisition by Application (AAA) is an annual program, which 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 Collection.
Comments on Funding:
The AFA does not help artists determine the pricing of their work. Artwork should be priced according to fair market value established through a record of past sales of artworks, and/or comparable artworks by other artists who are peers working in similar media.
If a record of recent sales is not available to verify fair market value, and the price of the artwork is in question, the AFA may undertake an appraisal made in writing by an independent qualified appraiser. The appraiser must not be in a position to realize any financial gain resulting from the purchase of the artwork. Artwork values may also be determined by examining commission contracts and insurance values for exhibiting the work.
April 1, 2025
Eligibility:
Applicants must:
For Individual:
1. Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or Protected Person with an open work or study permit from inside Canada.
2. Have had your primary residence in Alberta for at least one full year before applying.
3. Not currently enrolled in a formal art-training program. This means a minimum of one full calendar year must pass between graduation from any formal art-training study and application to the program.
4. Be self-directed and do not have a formal art-training component for Artits Residencies and PHD program.
For Galleries/Agents:
1. Meet all eligibility requirements and has signed a Designation for Submission by a Commercial Gallery, Organization or Artist Agent form.
–Incorporated production companies are not eligible to apply
–Sole proprietorships must apply as an gallery/agent classification and the sole owner must complete the Designation form.
–Current applicants to AFA grant programs and recipients of past AFA grants and awards.
Applicants may be asked for additional information to determine eligibility, or any other program requirements when applicable.
Application Steps:
Applicants must apply through the Grant Administration Tracking and Evaluation (GATE) Front Office online application system 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.
Documentation Needed:
Applicants must submit:
1. GATE Application form
2. 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
a. resumes will be used to determine CORE artist eligibility
b. galleries applying on behalf of an artist must ensure that the artist’s current address is included on the resume
Other Things to Note:
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:
–drawing
–painting
–sculpture
–printmaking (excluding reproductions)
–fibre art
–ceramics
–photography
–glass
–mixed media
–new media (time-based media, electronic arts, audiovisual art)
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.
About the author
Maurice
