AFA — Art Acquisitions by Application

• Artistic resume or CV
• Artwork submission list
• Images of the artworks
• Signed designation form for gallery/agent submissions
• Completed applicant agreement

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

• 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.

• Step 1: Obtain GATE Front Office CredentialsEmail registrationafa@gov.ab.ca at least five business days before the application deadline to request a GATE Front Office username and password.
• Include the contact name responsible for the application, legal name of the organization (if applicable), and the contact email address.
• Step 2: Prepare Application MaterialsDownload and review the GATE Front Office user guide specific to Art Acquisition by Application.
• Gather information including legal name and status confirmation, current contact information, applicant classification, and completed applicant agreement with e-signature.
• Prepare artwork submission list with artist name, artwork title, date, price, size, artistic statement, and exhibition history (if applicable).
• For new media or time-based media artworks, include a web link (e.g., Vimeo) to the complete work with access details.
• Prepare an artistic resume outlining relevant exhibitions, achievements, and education.
• Ensure images of artworks are correctly labelled as specified (refer to the user guide).
• Compile any required attachments, such as supplementary material (resume, image files, or hard copy materials if files are too large to upload).
• If applying via gallery/agent, include a signed Designation for Submission by a Commercial Gallery, Organization or Artist Agent form.
• Step 3: Submit Application OnlineLog in to GATE Front Office with your credentials.
• Fill out all required online forms and upload all necessary attachments as detailed in the guidelines.
• Submit your online application through GATE Front Office before 11:59 pm Mountain Time on the deadline date.
• If submitting supplementary material by mail (such as CD or USB), send it to the specified address with your name and project number, ensuring it is postmarked by the application deadline.
• Step 4: Application Review and NotificationYour application will be reviewed for completeness and eligibility. You may be contacted for additional information if required.
• The expert panel will assess eligible applications following the three-stage adjudication process.
• Artists whose works are shortlisted for Stage 2 will be contacted to deliver the artworks for in-person adjudication.
• Applicants will be notified in writing of the result within six months of the application deadline.
• Step 5: Finalize Acquisition (For Selected Applicants)Complete, sign, and upload a Reproduction/Exhibition Agreement, an Acquisition Data Sheet, and an invoice through GATE Front Office as directed by program staff.
• Provide specific digital files and media if submitting new media or time-based artwork, according to technical requirements.

• Applications are reviewed by an expert panel in a three-stage process.
• Shortlisted applicants are asked to deliver artworks for in-person adjudication.
• All expert panel recommendations are reviewed by the AFA Board.
• Applicants are notified in writing of the decision.
• All decisions are final.

• 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.