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 date.
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:
- Your full legal name (if you are applying as an individual).
- The common name of your business/organization and the legal entity name (if you are applying as a gallery or agent)
- Your email address.
The username and password will be sent to the person at the email address provided.
If you already have a GATE profile for another AFA funding program, you can use this profile to apply to the Art Acquisition by Application Program.
For detailed step-by-step instructions on how to make a GATE application, please download an Art Acquisition by Application-specific GATE Front Office user guide.
Making an Application
A strong application describes the specific artworks submitted and gives context to the artworks and the artists’ practice through the supporting documents.
- You may submit up to five artworks in a single application. All artworks must be included in the same application.
- Only one application per artist is allowed per annual intake.
If two applications are submitted for the same artist (for example, one from the artist and one from a gallery), only the first application received will be reviewed. The second will be considered ineligible for that intake. - You may submit multiple pieces that collectively form a single artwork—such as a diptych, triptych, or series—as one artwork, as long as:
- The components are not sold separately.
- The price listed is one total price for the entire set.
- Your application should include all the relevant information needed for adjudicators to assess the submission as a standalone item as the adjudicators may not be aware of your artistic practice outside of the materials submitted.
The following formlets are required in GATE:
- Accurate details about each piece (up to five artworks) submitted within the GATE Artwork Submission List.
This includes the artist’s name, title, date of work completion, if the work is framed, the edition number (if applicable), price, dimensions, category, medium, support and information on varnish/protective finish.
For photographs or print-based works, please ensure edition numbers and relevant details are included in the application.
You are not required to frame an artwork for the second stage viewing, however if the artwork is already framed and the materials are archival (acid free mats and frames), please submit the frame with the artwork and include the cost of the frame in the artwork price.
- An artistic statement about the piece in the Artwork Submission List.
The artist statement should be specific to the artworks submitted in the application and should place artworks in the context of your wider practice.
You should include any relevant information needed to help the review panel of adjudicators consider the works. If there are installation instructions or other relevant details that do not come across in the images and will help the adjudicator understand the work, please enter it into the “Artistic Statement about this piece” text box alongside your artistic statement.
- The exhibition history of the artworks submitted.
This information highlights where the artwork has been publicly displayed and helps adjudicators assess its potential role in AFA outreach programming.
If the artwork has not been exhibited before, please indicate by noting “has not been exhibited before.”
Attachments
The following attachments must be submitted within GATE:
NEW!
- A 300–500 word artist biography. An artist biography is now required and should be included as an attachment on the attachments page in GATE (attached as Image #28).
The artist biography is used to help understand an artist’s practice and background. If the artwork submitted is purchased by the AFA, the biography will be posted to the AFA website with the artist’s permission.
- A professional artistic resume (or CV/Curriculum Vitae).
The AFA understands that the term “professional” is subjective and may look different depending on cultural backgrounds and traditions.
For the purposes of the Art Acquisition by Application Program, artists are asked to demonstrate their professional status through their artistic resume/CV and by meeting at least one of the mandatory professional artist criteria outlined in the AFA’s Collections Development Plan:
- Specialized training:
This can include formal education, apprenticeships, or self-taught expertise (in a manner appropriate to their art tradition). - Peer recognition:
They are acknowledged by other artists within their field as skilled and professional. - Public presentation:
They have a history of exhibiting their work in public, professional contexts, such as galleries, exhibitions, or other public spaces. - Professional practice:
They engage in artistic activities with the intent of creating and selling their work, often as their primary or a significant source of income. - Commitment to their craft:
They dedicate significant time and effort to their artistic practice, treating it as a serious profession rather than a hobby.
An artistic resume/CV can include:
- Any formal or informal art education and training completed (art courses, workshops, or other instruction and any qualifications earned such as certificates, degrees, etc.).
- Your exhibition history (list the dates and locations of any public displays of your artwork, including exhibitions featuring artworks beyond those submitted in this application.
- Any formal or informal recognition from the visual art community you have received (list grants, awards, distinctions and any related art activities such as teaching, curating, critical writing, membership in art organizations).
- A list of any public, corporate or other collecting bodies that have acquired artwork from you for their collections.
- If your practice is less traditional or you have been active in other ways, a written explanation of your practice, experience and commitment to your art should be included as part of the artistic resume/CV.
- A signed Designation for Submission by a Commercial Gallery, Organization or Artist Agent form (if applying as a gallery, agent or ensemble of artists).
- Up to 20 Digital photographs of the artworks (4 MB maximum file size, jpgs, pdfs accepted).
Digital images help the adjudication panel evaluate the physical qualities of submitted artworks and determine which pieces will advance to the second stage, in-person art viewing at the AFA offices in Edmonton.
Digital photographs need to include clear, high-quality images of the artworks that convey the materials, and the techniques used in the artworks. Poor or unclear images can impede a proper assessment of your work.
Images should include all parts of the artwork (front and back and installation views) to accurately portray the artwork.
If you are submitting installation images where there are other artists’ artworks or artworks that are not being offered to the AFA being included in the image, please indicate this in your artistic statement about the piece to avoid the panel including these in their assessment.
Applicants may be asked for additional information about artworks as needed.
