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AFA — Art Acquisitions by Application
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
AFA purchases artworks for permanent collection from Alberta artists
Grant and Funding
Overview
The Art Acquisition by Application program supports Alberta artists by purchasing artworks for inclusion in the Alberta Foundation for the Arts' permanent collection. Eligible activities include submissions of artworks such as drawings, paintings, sculptures, and new media, with acquisitions made at fair market value.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increasing community impact
- Raise awareness and mobilize the public
Eligible Funding
- No Condition
Timeline
- Closing date : April 1, 2026
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
Location
- Edmonton
- Alberta
Legal structures
- Sole proprietorship
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Other Racialized Persons
- 2SLGBTQI+
- Women
Activities funded
- The sale of original artworks for acquisition into the AFA Art Collection.
- The submission of new media and time-based media art for potential purchase as part of the permanent collection.
- The proposal of artworks including drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, fibre art, ceramics, photography, glass, mixed media, and audiovisual works for collection consideration.
Eligibility
- Applicant must be an individual Alberta artist or an ensemble comprised of members who each meet the individual criteria.
- Applicant must be a resident of Alberta, holding Canadian citizenship, permanent residence, or Protected Person status with an open work/study permit from inside Canada, with primary residence in Alberta for at least one year prior to applying.
- The applicant must not be currently enrolled in a formal art-training program (minimum one year must pass post-graduation before applying).
- Artworks submitted must be original, completed within the last five years, and in good physical condition.
- Submission through a gallery or agent is allowed only if the artist meets all eligibility requirements and has completed the required designation form.
Who is eligible?
- Individual Alberta artists
- Ensembles of Alberta artists (all members must meet individual eligibility requirements)
- Commercial galleries or artist agents submitting on behalf of eligible Alberta artists (with proper designation form)
Who is not eligible
- Incorporated production companies.
- Applied arts businesses such as those focused on gaming, architecture, interior design, commercial photography, graphic arts and design, or fashion design.
Eligible expenses
- Purchase of original artworks at their fair market value for inclusion in the Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) Art Collection.
Eligible geographic areas
- Alberta
Selection criteria
- Strength of elements of principles and design in the artwork.
- Originality and strength of idea or concept.
- Excellence in technique and craftsmanship.
- Representation of a cutting-edge, new, or emerging medium, practice, or concept that challenges and extends the medium.
- Importance of the artwork within the artist’s overall exhibition record and career achievement.
How to apply
1
GATE Front Office Registration
- Email registrationafa@gov.ab.ca to obtain your GATE Front Office username and password at least five business days before the application deadline.
- Provide the contact name of the individual responsible for the application, legal name of the organization (if applicable), and contact email address.
2
Prepare Application Materials
- Gather and prepare all required application materials, including the completed application form, artist statement, artwork submission details, and necessary attachments.
- Prepare an artistic resume (maximum four pages) with your current mailing address.
- Ensure all artworks are correctly labelled as per specified format.
- Convert any supplementary material that exceeds the upload size limits into hardcopy format for mailing if necessary.
3
Complete and Submit Online Application
- Log into the GATE Front Office system with your credentials.
- Fill out the online application forms completely, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
- Upload all required attachments following the provided guidelines.
- Submit your application through GATE Front Office before 11:59 pm Mountain Time on the deadline date.
4
Mail Supplementary Materials (if necessary)
- Mail any supplementary materials that cannot be uploaded to the stated address, ensuring they are postmarked by the deadline.
- Label all mailed materials with your name and project number.
5
Application Review Process
- The expert panel will review submissions based on the provided criteria and notify artists if they progress to Stage 2 of the adjudication.
- Arrange for delivery of artwork to designated depot if required for Stage 2 review.
6
Notification and Agreement Completion
- Receive notification about the result of your application within six months of the deadline.
- If successful, complete the Reproduction/Exhibition Agreement, Acquisition Data Sheet, and invoice.
Additional information
- Artists whose artworks are not advanced to Stage 2 will be notified within three months of the application deadline.
- All applicants receive written notification of the grant decision within six months of the deadline.
- General comments from the expert panel are shared publicly, but no individualized feedback is provided to applicants.
- No final report is required after the acquisition process is complete.
Contacts
AFA.artacquisition@gov.ab.ca
780-638-2850
