Call for Submissions

Submissions are now open for 
The Quenten Doolittle Memorial Gallery Exhibit: LITTLE PLEASURES
September 25 – December 6th, 2025

The Pumphouse Theatre is a vibrant facility with historical significance. It supports and presents all art forms and creates opportunities for engagement, enrichment, cultural experience, learning and inspiration, while serving all Calgarians. To enable this, the Quenten Doolittle Memorial Gallery provides accessible wall display space for Mohkinstsis (Calgary) visual artists to display and sell their work, free from commission.

For this exhibit, we are looking for work that reflects the theme of Little Pleasures: the little things that give us big positive impact. Surprise pocket finds, work that’s already been done, etc. Submissions of any style, from realistic to abstract, and in any visual art medium will be considered, provided it meets all gallery requirements below. 

The Pumphouse Theatre supports an inclusive and diverse community. We encourage any submissions of eligible visual artists from all communities including but not limited to the LGBTQ2+, BIPOC, and those with disabilities. Priority will be given to artists who are emerging or at the early stages of their career. 

Submissions must meet the following requirements:

• Artist must reside in Calgary and must be available for installation dates provided.
• Artwork must be delivered ready to hang (wall-space only) with the dimensions listed on the application form.

Installation Requirements: All art MUST be equipped with picture hanging wire and D rings (a piece of metal hardware shaped like the letter D used on the back of frame or canvas as hooking device). Hanging cleats or flat metal hardware unfortunately will not be accepted.  

This gallery is intended to be available for in person and online viewing. Due to the uncertainty of COVID-19 pandemic, there is the possibility of this exhibit being online exclusively. All installation required are still necessary for this exhibit. 

In the event of an in-person gallery, The Pumphouse Theatre will install the work on behalf of the artists. Artwork may be dropped off or picked up by either the artist or a representative between the hours of 12 pm and 6 pm on the installation and take down dates provided. Artist must reserve an installation and take down date via a provided form or by contacting the Programming Director. 

Timeline: 

• Submission Deadline: September 1st, 2025, 11:59pm
  • All artists who submit will be notified with a decision no later than 2-2 1/2 weeks after the deadline has passed.
• Installation: September 21st – 23rd, 2025
• Exhibition: September 25th – December 6th, 2025
• Take Down: December 7th – 10th, 2025

To apply, please send the following information via email or mail:

• Completed Gallery Submission Form
• Artist Biography (250 words max)
  • A short description of who you are and your art background, training, passion, and/or any combination of the fore mentioned information
• Artwork: A minimum of 1 to a maximum of 5 pieces will be accepted
  • Images of artwork only; do not send original works with application
  • Please keep image formats to either PNG or JPEG. If you are unable to do so, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate. 

Applications or queries can be sent to:

Facilities and Programming Director
2140 Pumphouse Ave SW Calgary, AB T3C 3P5
prod@pumphousetheatre.ca  403-263-0079 ext. 100

Selection Process: Art pieces are selected by a committee of no less than 3 people and are a mix of artists and administrators. Selection criteria is based on: suitability to the theme, technique, emotional response, creativity & innovation, and suitability for the Pumphouse Theatre gallery space and its patrons (ages 8-80 representing various socio-economic and cultural backgrounds). Unfortunately, we are unable to accept works that feature nudity. 

Any artists who need assistance with their application, or have inquires and questions, are welcome to contact the Pumphouse Theatre, at any point.

The Allied Arts Council of Pincher Creek is a non-profit community arts organization that makes our home in the beautiful historic Lebel Mansion in Southern Alberta.

Note: our deadline has been extended until Sunday, August 31, 2025.

We are currently accepting submissions for our 2026 season. We invite solo and group artists to apply for the 2026 exhibition season.

​Please visit our website for all the details, including an updated gallery submission information packet which will guide you through the process.

We strive to host thought-provoking exhibitions that appeal to a diverse audience in order to expand understanding of the visual arts in the community. Our art gallery exhibits working artists at all levels of their artistic careers and curates dynamic exhibitions that showcase strong, current Canadian art. We provide a yearly exhibition schedule balancing local artists and artists from throughout Canada working in all mediums.

The Allied Arts Council of Pincher Creek’s preference is for exhibitions that are for sale, however we will consider submissions that do not include works for sale. The AAC has a commission rate of 30% on all sales in addition to paying artist fees. All exhibitions will be curated and installed by the AAC's Executive Director, Kassandra Chancey and/or experienced volunteers in coordination with the artist or group.

If you are applying as a solo artist and we see potential for a group show collaboration amongst submissions will be in contact with you.

​The 2026 exhibitions run for 6-8 consecutive weeks and artists are paid $1000 for showcasing their work.

Deadline for submissions: Sunday, August 31, 2025 by 11:59 p.m.

Visit our website for all the details and submission package

Momentum in Motion

Deadline: August 1, 2025 

Strathcona County is seeking artist proposals for a unique mural project that reflects the themes of momentum, movement and collective energy. This commission offers an opportunity to contribute vibrant, meaningful art to an indoor recreational space in Sherwood Park. We welcome submissions from Alberta-based artists or artist teams working in mural painting, visual storytelling, or community-engaged practice.  

Location: Interior Gym Walls, Millennium Place, 2000 Premier Way, Sherwood Park, AB, T8H 2G4 

Budget: $25,000 (inclusive of artist fees, materials, and supplies) 

Support: On-site scissor lift provided/after-hours access (when the building is closed to public) 

Timeline: Installation Fall 2025   

This large-scale interior mural will energize a bustling gymnasium used by youth and families. Thematic direction focuses on momentum, abstractly expressing movement, vitality, and transformation through bold, expressive visual language. 

The mural should include: 

• Bright, uplifting colours
• Flowing forms and gestural lines
• Non-literal depictions of physical and emotional motion
• A contemporary, playful, youth-oriented tone 

Read the full call here: www.strathcona.ca/recreation-events/arts-and-culture/public-art 

The Common Ground Festival returns and its groovier than ever!! We are looking for submissions to celebrate Calgary's most talented artists and the joy of bringing new works of all shapes and sizes to the stage! If you've got a thing we've got a stage

The Common Ground Festival is a place for emerging and small professional artists to present and develop the work that they are passionate about. Since our inception in 2014, we have been honoured to show Calgary the work of over 300 early career artists. In 2018 we partnered with the Pumphouse Theatres, a longtime supporter of emerging and small professional artists in Calgary, in order to provide the best stage for our artists

We are now growing again as a festival to expand from not only emerging artists, indie-theatre and new works, but also more artistic disciplines. For this year’s festival we want to provide an artistically diverse and unique experience for our audience!

This includes what you would expect from Common Ground as well as more dance, physical storytelling and non-traditional story telling by emerging and small professional artists.

What we are looking for from submissions:

•  Theatrical physical story tellers: Dancers, Clowns, Mimes, Puppetry, etc.
• New works
• Anything you’ve ever wanted to perform but haven’t had a chance to yet.
• Have an unfinished piece or just a very short show that you want to try in front of an audience? There may also be a cabaret for short versions of works either complete or in progress.
• We also have a focus on artists from Calgary, Alberta

The Common Ground Festival is (and always will be) looking for innovative, experimental or original works that showcases authentic and creatively embodied stories. if you've got a thing, we’ve got a stage for you.

Deadline for submissions: July 31, 2025
How to submit: Fill out this form: forms.gle 

The festival will be happening from November 12 to 15, 2025 

Deadline to apply - September 20

Join our Annual Fall Art Exhibition & Sale on October 18 & 19, 2025.

Be part of a juried art show featuring up to 50 exceptional artists. Held at the Bridgeland Riverside Community Association, our event offers a professional, welcoming space for artists to showcase and sell their work directly to an engaged and art-loving community. We’re looking for artists who are passionate about sharing their work and who value connection, visibility and a vibrant atmosphere.

We encourage all painters, sculptors, photographers, ceramic, glass, jewelry and textile artists to Apply Now! 

Please visit our website to review an application / contract, our fee structure and much more. 

Deadline to submit is September 20 however applications are reviewed on a first come, first served rolling basis and artists are notified of their participation within 1-6 weeks.

Thanks for your consideration and happy creating!