Southern Alberta

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. 

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: 11:59 pm, Friday August 1, 2025 
 

Application Deadline July 9, 2025

Program Dates Jan 12, 2026 - Jan 30, 2026

Overview  

This residency provides individual musicians and bands/ensembles of all genres with space and dedicated time to research, create, and develop projects within Banff Centre’s exceptional campus and mountain setting. 

You will have the freedom to focus on your artistic process and structure your time according to your project’s needs. Additionally, you'll receive artistic inspiration and career advice from well-established faculty. The diverse range of artistic influences over the three weeks, combined with opportunities for peer interaction and collaboration, will foster new discoveries and transformative experiences. 

Description

This residency offers the unique opportunity for musicians at all career stages and all genres time and space to:

• Research, develop, and create their own projects, taking risks and experimenting with new ideas in a supportive environment to enhance creative practices.
• Focus on creative exploration and experimentation through peer and mentor-led group or one-on-one sessions.
• Be inspired by peers and collaborate with musicians across various genres.
• Explore new material and performance practices through public concerts that simulate professional working conditions and timelines.
• Learn to self-record in your own studio to independently document and disseminate your work.
• Gain insights into industry best practices for recording demos by collaborating with audio engineers, professional training participants, and mentors (if available).
• Join an expanded artistic community at Banff Centre for ongoing networking and support throughout your career.

A limited number of studio recording possibilities will be offered by the Professional Training Program: Audio Engineer: BMiR participants.  

Requirements

The program is ideal for individual musicians, ensembles, bands, composers, and music researchers who wish to:

• Spend focused time on a specific project
• Create new works
• Prepare for concerts, auditions, or competitions
• Explore and research innovative ideas

Participants should be comfortable working autonomously in an unstructured environment to fully benefit from the program. Musicians at all levels are encouraged to apply. Attendance for all three weeks of the residency is required.

Artistic Associate

Those seeking additional professional development can apply for the role of Artistic Associate, this unique opportunity is available to an individual of exceptional musical ability and maturity. In addition to the program elements the Artistic Associate will:

• Act as the liaison between faculty and musicians throughout the program.
• Be involved in the delivery and event curation of the Banff Musicians in Residence program.
• Facilitate communication between visiting artists, resident musicians, Music programming, and production staff.

The successful applicant for the Artistic Associate will receive a scholarship covering 100% of the program costs and a travel award that is subject to regional maximums, not to exceed $1500. 

• Standard scholarship: covers 100% of tuition fees, and 50% of meals and accommodation costs

Apply Now

Speculative Fictions 

Location: Banff Public Library (April 19 - May 14)

Featured artwork

Jacques Rioux
Witness, Red Rock Coulee, Alberta, 1993
silver gelatin, selenium toned on paper
Collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts

About the exhibition

In today's society, where divisions can overshadow community connections, imaginative storytelling offers a beacon of hope. The Speculative Fictions exhibition draws inspiration from the literary genre of the same name, presenting artworks that encourage viewers to contemplate the transformative potential of wonder, awe, and mystery as we envision our collective futures.  

This exhibition invites audiences to journey into the realm of imagination, where the boundaries of possibility fade, and multiple paths open into the speculative edges of our shared consciousness. Approaching each visual composition with curiosity can offer glimpses into alternate realities, technological abstractions, and primordial possibilities, prompting reflection on our origins and where we are headed.  

Speculative Fictions features a curated selection of nineteen artworks from the Collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, each encouraging the kind of regenerative curiosity needed in today's uncertain times. Viewers are invited to imagine each artist's vision and the potential stories behind mysterious landscapes, abstract forms, and playful compositions, many of which share aesthetic qualities with popular science fiction and fantasy worlds. 

Artists included in this exhibition are:

• Ernesto Bonato
• Janet Cardiff
• Wendy Ehlers
• Nathan Grimson
• Liz Ingram
• David Janzen
• Rodney Konopaki
• Calvin Kruk
• Amy Loewan
• James McDougall
• Leanne Olson
• Jacques Rioux
• Leonard Simpson
• Jim Westergard

About the artist

Calgary-based photographer Jacques Rioux has cultivated a distinguished career since graduating with a Diploma in Applied Photography in 1979. With experience spanning technical, commercial, and fine art photography, Rioux is best known for his thoughtful and extensive photographic series.

One of his most notable projects is The Calgary Picture Project (late 1980s-1990s), a black and white exploration of Calgary's urban and natural environments. This series blends documentary observation with a subjective perspective, often subtly including Rioux's own presence through shadows and reflections, adding a layer of self-awareness to his portrait of the city. He has also created the Western Badlands series, capturing the mystical qualities of Alberta's unique landscapes in striking black and white. Rioux's work has earned him recognition in permanent collections across Canada and Europe, including at institutions like the Glenbow Museum in Calgary and the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa.

About TREX

The AFA's Travelling Exhibition (TREX) program strives to ensure every Albertan is provided with an opportunity to enjoy fully developed exhibitions in schools, libraries, health care centres and smaller rural institutions and galleries throughout the province.

The TREX program assists in making both the AFA's extensive art collection and the work of contemporary Alberta artists available to Albertans.

Four regional organizations now coordinate the program for the Foundation:

• The Art Gallery of Grande Prairie - Northwest Alberta
• Art Gallery of Alberta - Northeast and North Central Alberta
• Alberta Society of Artists - Southwest Alberta
• Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre - Southeast Alberta

These partners offer a wide range of exhibitions to communities from High Level in the north, to Milk River in the south, and virtually everywhere in between.

Athletic Aesthetics

Location: Gallery Foyer at the Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre(April 19 - June 14)

Featured artwork

Craig Pelzer
Javelin: Studies 1 & 2, 1978 
acrylic, graphite and ink on paper
Collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.

About the exhibition

Discover the surprising artistry within the world of sports! 

Athletic Aesthetics, a captivating exhibition featuring work from the AFA Art Collection, showcases 20 diverse artworks that beautifully blur the lines between art and athletics. Prepare to see iconic photographs from Edmonton's own 1978 Commonwealth Games by Don Mabie and Sylvain Voyer, offering a nostalgic glimpse into a significant local event. This exhibition uniquely explores the inherent grace and dedication found in both artistic expression and athletic endeavors.

Through a compelling collection of photography, video, prints, and paintings, Athletic Aesthetics showcases a wide range of activities, from familiar sports like football and cycling to the unexpected athleticism of ballet and bull riding. You'll gain a new appreciation for the shared skill, discipline, and even beauty that exists in these seemingly separate realms. Come and celebrate the power, elegance, and sheer joy of human movement, captured through the discerning eyes and hands of talented artists.

About the artist

Craig Pelzer was born in St. Francis, ON in 1952. Pelzer studied at the University of Saskatchewan (1970–72) before earning a BFA from the University of Alberta (1972–76). Pelzer also studied at the Banff School (now The Banff Centre) from 1976–77. Pelzer works primarily
in printmaking and painting. About his works on paper, he notes: “Paper provides me with a vehicle with which to research ideas and techniques for larger projects. Often they are within themselves finished pieces.”

About TREX

The AFA's Travelling Exhibition (TREX) program strives to ensure every Albertan is provided with an opportunity to enjoy fully developed exhibitions in schools, libraries, health care centres and smaller rural institutions and galleries throughout the province.

The TREX program assists in making both the AFA's extensive art collection and the work of contemporary Alberta artists available to Albertans.

Four regional organizations now coordinate the program for the Foundation:

• The Art Gallery of Grande Prairie - Northwest Alberta
• Art Gallery of Alberta - Northeast and North Central Alberta
• Alberta Society of Artists - Southwest Alberta
• Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre - Southeast Alberta

These partners offer a wide range of exhibitions to communities from High Level in the north, to Milk River in the south, and virtually everywhere in between.

ART/Work: That's a (Vinyl) Wrap – From Idea to Install

Curious about how public art vinyl wraps come to life? Join us for the next session in our ART/Work professional development series, That’s a (Vinyl) Wrap: From Idea to Install, on Wednesday, April 2, at 6:30 pm. 

Learn about the full journey of Lethbridge’s Public Art Vinyl Wrap projects—from concept development to installation. Our expert panel includes KT Wilde, Public Art Coordinator with the AAC, and Suzanne Griffin from Generation Design, plus representatives from Warwick Printing to answer your technical questions. 

This hybrid session will take place in-person at the Sisters’ Boardroom and online via Zoom. Space is limited for in-person attendance, so register today to take advantage of the best experience—networking with fellow artists and gaining insight into the process of transforming urban spaces with art. Attendance is FREE. 

Register here to attend! 

Learn more about programs & events Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge

For more information, please call 403-320-0555