Art Acquisitions by Application

The Art Acquisitions by Application program supports Alberta's resident professional artists—individuals or ensembles—by purchasing their original artworks for the permanent AFA Art Collection. Acquired artworks are showcased through AFA's outreach initiatives, including the Exhibition Loan Programs, Travelling Exhibition Program (TREX), Art Placement Programs, and the AFA art house. The program uses a two-stage adjudication process where applications are first reviewed by an external three-person peer jury, followed by in-person viewing of shortlisted artworks at the AFA offices in Edmonton. Artists may submit up to five artworks in a single application, and all pieces must have been produced within the last five years. Eligibility requires that applicants be Alberta residents who have lived in the province for at least one year, are not enrolled in formal art-training programs, and meet professional artist standards including participation in at least one public showing and an ongoing artistic practice. The program particularly welcomes applications from diverse communities including Indigenous peoples, racialized communities, women, people with disabilities, and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.