AFA News

In April 2021, the AFA hosted targeted stakeholder engagement sessions to gather input and feedback that could be used to inform the AFA’s 2021-22 spending plan and potential arts sector relaunch communications following the pandemic. The AFA sought input from arts organizations, individual artists, and Indigenous artists and arts workers.

The AFA heard from 91 clients and stakeholders from across Alberta during seven virtual meetings held via Zoom. By seeking stakeholder input on the arts community’s challenges, needs, and expectations, the AFA sought to make funding decisions that both fulfil our mandate and are as responsive to the current situation as possible.

To increase transparency and to help fulfill the AFA’s commitment to evidence-based planning, we have published a summary of what the AFA heard from this engagement process.

What did the AFA hear?

The AFA heard several consistent overall themes during the engagement. Stakeholders highlighted their views and concerns related to:

• funding and support for grant writing
• relaunch and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic
• digital capacity
• communication and advocacy they would like to see from the AFA
• artistic practice supports and professional development opportunities

While we heard a variety of ideas, reflections, as well as concerns, related to these themes, there were four topics we heard repeated across all sessions and through many of these themes:

1. Uncertainty due to the pandemic: We heard about the many challenges that artists and arts organizations have had to endure during the COVID-19 pandemic. One challenge we heard that has been felt profoundly across the sector has been the uncertainty associated with the pandemic, both during the here-and-now and for the future during relaunch and recovery. This uncertainty impacts every aspect of the advice and input we received during engagement.
2. Stability of funding: While many stakeholders shared ideas for new programs that could be of value to the sector, a consistent message we heard across all sessions was the importance of maintaining current programs. Operational clients also stressed the importance of predictability and sustainability of funding levels from year-to-year. 
3. Flexibility for use of grant funding: Comments along this theme varied based on program, but we did hear a consistent desire among clients and grant recipients for fewer restrictions on eligible uses for funding. During discussions on this theme, we also heard some ideas for eligible uses of funding that the AFA already permits in many of its grant programs, such as support for professional development, research and development, costs related to cultural expenses (such as protocols and gift giving), and for child care costs. 
4. Advocacy: In all sessions, we heard many ideas about how the AFA could advocate on behalf of the arts community. We heard the importance not only of better outcomes that could be realized by the arts sector based on increased advocacy efforts, but the value artists and arts organizations see of the AFA advocating on their behalf. 

We encourage all artists, arts workers, other stakeholders and organizations that are connected to the AFA to read the full report. 

What happened next?

The AFA values the input provided during engagement sessions and has addressed some of the priorities raised in our 2021-22 spending plan. Our priorities were to maintain predictable and stable support for Alberta’s arts organizations, and to continue to provide project opportunities for individual artists.

We also considered ways to increase communication on supports available and other topics raised during the engagement sessions. We published frequently asked questions by new AFA applicants, based on feedback we heard during this engagement.

The AFA remains committed to ongoing engagement with our clients and stakeholders to ensure we are as responsive as possible to the community’s needs.

Questions? 

The AFA values input from all clients and stakeholders, and you may share your perspective or ask any additional questions by emailing afacontact@gov.ab.ca.

On September 29, 2022, we marked the 50th Anniversary of the AFA Art Collection. As part of the celebrations, we are sharing snippets from the history of the collection.

Learn more about the celebrations! 

By Erin McDonald, former Manager, Art Collections

2015 was dubbed Canada’s Year of Craft.  It was a year which saw a significant increase in craft creation and related activities. Alberta was abounding with artists and galleries that specialized in the creation, sales and collection of fine craft media. 

With a number of unique artworks available, the Alberta Foundation of the Arts (AFA) had made the acquisition of fine craft media a priority for the AFA Art Collection. 

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The AFA was contacted in the summer of 2015 about something that might be of interest to them—a significant collection of ceramic works by Albertan artists. 

Joan and Tom Chapman, located in Red Deer, were in possession of large cache of ceramics that they had collected over the years and were seeking a suitable storehouse for the works. 

About the Chapmans

The Chapmans owned and operated Chapman Galleries (1974 – 1984) and Four Corners Gallery and Framing (1988 – 1998) in Red Deer, Alberta.

From the Resource Centre files, an original invitation to a Chapman Galleries exhibition

For two decades, Joan and Tom were at the heart of the resurgence of studio and design potteries which combined distinctly modernist approaches to art, with traditional forms and techniques. 

A fine craft resurgence in Alberta

This resurgence ushered in an era of brilliant artists that inspired and explored Alberta’s burgeoning studio pottery world. These included:

• Noboru Kubo
• John Chalke 
• Jane van Alderwegen
• Harlan House
• Charles Wissinger
• and many other talented artists

John Chalke, BASECAMP, n.d., ceramic, AFA Art Collection

Fit to print

During this time, the AFA Art Collection had also released a series of publications that accompanied travelling exhibitions to highlight the evolution of the mid-century ceramics movement in Alberta. 

These exhibitions travelled throughout province, with stops in places like Red Deer, Lethbridge, Edmonton, Calgary and Grande Prairie. 

Studio Ceramics in Alberta 1947-1952 (1981)

Early Albertan works and artists were identified as part of the nascent clay tradition that began post-World War II in, Studio Ceramics in Alberta 1947-1952 (1981).

The publication featured an interview with Luke Lindoe, and early works by Greg Arnold, Walter Drohan, and Lindoe himself. 

Studio Ceramics in Alberta II, 1953-1963 (1982)

The second publication, Studio Ceramics in Alberta II, 1953-1963 (1982), explored the emergence of the ceramics department at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology & Art, and the emergence of the Edmonton Potters’ Guild in 1953. 

The publication showcased artists like Sibyl Laubental, Vivian Lindoe, and Katie Ohe, and highlighted the strength of female artists in the medium.

Alberta Clay Comes of Age: Studio Ceramics in Alberta III

In 1984, the last in the series, Alberta Clay Comes of Age: Studio Ceramics in Alberta III, 1964-1984 was released.

The exhibition and catalogue featured emerging artists like Ed Drahanchuk, Annemarie Schmid Esler, and Tony Bloom who would ultimately become synonymous with the ceramics movement in Alberta. 

Annemarie Schmid Esler, PLATE, ABSTRACT BLACK AND WHITE, n.d. ceramic, AFA Art Collection

Seeking a home for art

When Joan Chapman retired, she and Tom retained a number of their favourite artworks in their own personal collection. In 2015, the Chapmans were ready to downsize their personal collection and wanted a proper home for the art.

In particular, they sought a public collection that would ensure that the ceramic arts of Alberta would be shared broadly. At the same time, the AFA was seeking fine craft media to acquire and possessed the ability to store and care for the works. Perfect partners. 

Hidden gems

The significance of the Chapman’s personal collection was discovered during a studio visit to the Chapman home in August 2015. 

Significant pieces by Albertans were found in the holdings. Many created during periods previously unrepresented in the AFA Art Collection: an abundance of mid- to late-century modern Alberta ceramics. Hidden gems.

Flute

Tony Bloom’s Flute was an incredibly exciting find that was offered by the Chapmans after the studio visit. 

Tony Bloom, FLUTE, ca. 1970-2, ceramic, AFA Art Collection

Found in a drawer, Flute was one of Bloom’s earliest explorations of ceramics. Having later examples of Tony’s work in the collection, Flute was an incredible addition to the holdings for the purpose of curatorial research and documenting an artist’s career.

Narrow Neck Vase

Works such as Toru Hasegawa’s Narrow Neck Vase were discovered. Works such as this can be used as a reference point to note stylistic changes in an artist's practice over time. 

Hasegawa’s previous works are from the same period, but are in the medium of stoneware and represent his exploration of more sculptural forms. Meanwhile, this functional vase shows his delicate application of colour, mimicking brush strokes of traditional Japanese-style painting. 

Toru Hasegawa, NARROW NECK VASE, 1968, ceramic, AFA Art Collection

This work highlights Hasegawa’s formal training from Kyoto Sakuge University before he moved to Hinton, Alberta in 1967 to study in the studio of Frank Kiyooka.

A donation for all Albertans

In December 2015, the AFA Board approved a motion to accept the generous donation from the Chapmans. There were 33 artworks added to the AFA Art Collection's holdings, including 23 ceramics.

These works tell the story of the incredible evolution of studio ceramics in Alberta, the significance of one small central gallery, and its connection with the AFA Art Collection four decades later.

Generous donors, like Joan and Tom Chapman, help the AFA to acquire historic and contemporary artwork that increases the value of the art collection as a legacy for the people of Alberta. 

On September 29, 2022, we marked the 50th Anniversary of the AFA Art Collection. As part of the celebrations, we are sharing snippets from the history of the collection. 
Learn more about the celebrations! 

By Gail Lint, Arts Collections Consultant

In 2008 and 2009, the AFA supported a special curatorial initiative focused on building the holdings of the AFA Art Collection with contemporary Indigenous art. The initiative addressed the work of senior artists not properly represented in the collection, as well as a new generation of artists who are now making an impact.

For this initiative, artworks were acquired through a variety of sources. Curatorial assessment and recommendations by Indigenous artist Dr. Joane Cardinal-Schubert were an invaluable part of the process. Through Joane’s insight, wisdom and guidance, the artworks acquired have significantly enhanced the AFA's holdings.

Creating new relationships with Indigenous artists

Joane provided an avenue to acquire artworks by Indigenous artists unknown to the AFA Art Collection prior to 2008.

2008.085.001 Aaron Paquette, Aniti Anemos 2007, acrylic & gold leaf on canvas, AFA Art Collection

Through her mentoring and respected reputation in the art community she approached both established and emerging artists, conducting interviews and studio visits. She presented recommendations for curatorial acquisition into the AFA Art Collection.

Through the efforts of Joane, balanced by additional curatorial recommendations from the Collection’s Acquisition Working Group, the Indigenous curatorial initiative increased the AFA holdings by an incredible 73 artworks over a two-year period. 

2009.021.002 David Garneau, At the Fiddle Camp 2009, acrylic on canvas, AFA Art Collection

Narrative Quest exhibition

In celebration of Alberta Culture Days in September 2009, the AFA created an exhibtion of artworks by Indigenous artists entitled Narrative Quest. It was displayed in the gallery at the Capital Arts Building in Edmonton.

Curated by AFA Art Collections Consultant Gail Lint, Narrative Quest featured a selection of 60 artworks by 22 Indigenous artists from the AFA Art Collection, and included several of the artworks acquired through the Indigenous curatorial initiative.

2008.086.004 George Littlechild, Cross Cultural Examination #2 2007, ink jet print on paper,  AFA Art Collection

The exhibition combined a variety of traditional and contemporary styles in diverse media. The prevalent themes in these artworks are often based on storytelling.

These are stories that have been shared by the elders, stories of a search for understanding and meaning, stories of identity and belonging, and stories retold to preserve a threatened culture. They are stories immersed in the past, reflective of the present and hopeful for the future

The passing of Dr. Joane Cardinal-Schubert

On September 16, 2009 while installing the Narrative Quest exhibition in the Arts Branch gallery for the Alberta Culture Days celebration, word reached the staff that Joane Cardinal-Schubert had passed away.

2008.106.004 Joane Cardinal-Schubert, Flutterby (Birchbark Letter) 1998, mixed media on canvas, AFA Art Collection

Until that day, there had been no indication from Joane that she was ailing. She was determined to complete her curatorial contract and source artworks for the AFA Art Collection and, through her valiant commitment, she introduced new artists and assisted in building the representation of senior Indigenous artists.

The next day, during the official opening of the Narrative Quest exhibition, which was accompanied by a traditional smudge led by an Indigenous elder, there was a large raven sitting on top of the Capital Arts building above the location of the gallery. It was believed that Joane attended the ceremony in spirit.

The Narrative Quest exhibition was dedicated to the memory of Joane Cardinal-Schubert (1942 – 2009).

 “Let the next 
Generation 
be born 
with the knowledge 
of what has passed.”

(excerpt from the poem Keeper by Joane Cardinal-Schubert)

Narrative Quest on tour

Narrative Quest Exhibition (installation view) Capital Arts Gallery, Edmonton (Sept. 2009)

After the Culture Days exhibition at Capital Arts Building in 2009, Narrative Quest toured to:

• the Royal Alberta Museum in Edmonton
• the Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery (edited selection)
• the Museum of Contemporary Art in Calgary (edited selection)
• the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie

An edited selection of 32 artworks from the Narrative Quest exhibition then travelled to the Embassy of Canada, Prince Takamado Gallery in Tokyo, Japan (November 25, 2014 to February 27, 2015). It was met with critical acclaim.

Joane's ongoing legacy

In 2016, the National Gallery of Canada hosted a major retrospective exhibition featuring Alberta’s celebrated Indigenous artist from Cold Lake: Alex Janvier: Modern Indigenous Master (November 25, 2016 to April 17, 2017). 

Nine AFA artworks by Alex Janvier were included in the exhibition. Almost half of these artworks were acquired through recommendations by Dr. Joane Cardinal-Schubert.

2009.001.004 Alex Janvier, Untitled 2009, acrylic on canvas, AFA Art Collection

In 2017 the Nickle Galleries at the University of Calgary hosted a major retrospective of Dr. Joane Cardinal-Schubert: The Writing on the Wall. It was the first retrospective since her passing in 2009.

19 artworks from the AFA's holdings and an additional two artworks from the Government House collection were loaned for inclusion in the exhibition. An edited selection of these artworks toured to four other galleries across Canada until 2020.

1989.025.001 Joane Cardinal-Schubert, Moonlight Sonota: In the Beginning 1989, oil on canvas, AFA Art Collection

In part two of our look back at the tremendous impact Joane has had on the AFA Art Collection, we will take a look at the AFA's Fellowship for Indigenous Curators and the next generation of acquisitions by Indigenous artists. 

Building a Collection – Celebrating 50 Years of the AFA Art Collection

The Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) continues to celebrate 50 years of supporting Alberta arts and culture. 

Inspiring, insightful and nostalgic, Building a Collection shares the story of the AFA Art Collection, a time capsule of Albertan creativity. See how the Alberta Art Foundation, created to purchase Albertan art with a budget of $50, 000, transformed into a foundation that supports Alberta’s ever-growing art community with one of the strongest, most active provincial art collections in Canada.

Watch:

Collecting the first of many artworks in 1972, the AFA Art Collection is a unique representation of the history, development and achievements of our provincial visual arts community. Today, the AFA is proud to manage one of the strongest, most active provincial art collections in Canada. Holding over 9000 artworks made by over 1,700 creative Albertans.

^{Image credit: Dr. Joane Cardinal-Schubert. Photo by JustinJHCSchubert (own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (Open license)], via Wikimedia Commons.
Image cropped and combined with photo of Becca Taylor for this web page, and the AFA's 50th Anniversary branding has been added.
Photo of Becca Taylor is by Katy Whitt Photography}

On September 29, 2022, we marked the 50th Anniversary of the AFA Art Collection. As part of the celebrations, we are sharing snippets from the history of the collection.

Learn more about the celebrations!

In part two of our look back at the impact Dr. Joane Cardinal-Schubert has had on the AFA Art Collection, we look at the Fellowship for Indigenous Curators and the next generation of acquisitions by Indigenous artists. Read part one. 

AFA creates the Dr. Joane Cardinal-Schubert Fellowship for Indigenous Curators

In 2018, the AFA announced a one-time fellowship designed to support the growth and development of curatorial talent and enhance representation of Indigenous artists in the AFA Art Collection. 

The project’s intention was to bring a new perspective to art acquisition at the AFA and build on previous work undertaken by the late Dr. Joane Cardinal-Schubert, who provided curatorial consultation to the AFA in 2008 and 2009. The fellowship was named in her honour. 

After a competitive application process, the AFA was pleased to announce that Becca Taylor was awarded Dr. Joane Cardinal-Schubert Fellowship for Indigenous Curators.

About Becca

Becca Taylor is a curator and multi-disciplinary artist with Cree, Scottish and Irish descent. According to her application, her curatorial practice involves investigations of Indigenous community building, Indigenous feminisms, methodologies of gathering and ephemera of living actions.

She was awarded the Aboriginal curator-in-residence, from the Canada Council in 2015, a 12-month residency at Urban Shaman gallery in Winnipeg where she curated Traces (2016.) In 2016-17 she was the Indigenous Curatorial Research Practicum at the Banff Centre, curating A light left on (2016.)

Notably, Becca co-curated the 4th iteration of La Biennale d’art contemporain autochtone (BACA) with Niki Little, entitled níchiwamiskwém | nimidet | my sister | ma sœur (2018), co-led land-based residency, Common Opulence (2018), in Northern Alberta and curated Mothering Spaces (2019) at the Mitchell Art Gallery.

Becca is the Executive Director of Ociciwan Contemporary Art Collective in Edmonton.

The project

Becca’s final report, Kahkekwask / From Here to There was completed in June 2019. It provided the AFA with a variety of recommendations to broaden the AFA Art Collection to represent more Indigenous artists and artworks through all acquisition programs, as well as to offer greater support for Indigenous artists, including through building relationships and trust with Indigenous communities. 

Since the report was completed, the AFA has acquired nearly fifty artworks by Indigenous artists through curatorial purchase, donation, and the Art Acquisition by Application program. Some highlighted artists and artworks include...

MJ Belcourt

2022.032.001 MJ Belcourt, First Fruits, n.d., smoked moose hide, glass seed beads, thread, fabric

MJ Belcourt is a certified Native Art Instructor, curator, and Indigenous artist residing in Treaty 6 territory. Her mixed Métis ancestry is Mohawk, Cree, and French with family ties to the Michel Band and the community of Lac St. Anne. Through a desire to build a closer connection and understanding of her Métis bloodline, Belcourt has remained naturally drawn to the traditional Indigenous arts of her ancestors.

She works in a variety of Indigenous art forms including beadwork, porcupine quill, fish scale, moose and caribou hair, and the art of creating natural dyes.

2022.032.002 MJ Belcourt, Pass System, n.d., smoked moose hide, glass seed beads, tin cones, thread

In 2022-23, the AFA acquired two artworks from MJ Belcourt: First Fruits and Pass System. Both are native tanned smoked moose hide pouches embellished with beading and other traditional decorative elements.

Lauren Crazybull

2019.035.002 Lauren Crazybull, Self Portrait, 2018, acrylic on board

Lauren Crazybull is a Niitsítapi (Member of Kainai First Nation), Dené artist. Lauren won the 2020 Eldon & Anne Foote prize, 2020 Lieutenant Governors Emerging Artist Award and was shortlisted for the Kingston Portrait Prize in 2019. In 2019, they were selected as the first Alberta Artist in Residence/Arts Ambassador. Lauren currently resides in Vancouver, having recently completed her MFA at Emily Carr University of Art + Design. 

In her work, Lauren considers Indigenous presence and multiplicity through paintings, creating worlds where honest portrayals trespass onto romantic representations of Indigeneity. Working primarily in portraiture, a long-standing genre that is often embedded with an imbalance of power between the artist/viewer and sitter, Lauren seeks to examine the relationship between herself as an artist and the individuals she paints. 

The AFA has acquired two artworks by Lauren Crazybull as of 2023.

Kablusiak

2021.017.001 Kablusiak, Piliutiyara (Saltwater Taffy), 2020, photograph with backlit film in lightbox

Kablusiak is a multidisciplinary Inuvialuk artist and curator who uses Inuk ingenuity to create work in a variety of mediums including, but not limited to, lingerie, white flour, soapstone, permanent marker, bed sheets, felt, acrylic paint, and words. Kablusiak holds a BFA in Drawing from the Alberta University of the Arts in Mohkinstsis, where they are currently based.

Their work explores the dis/connections between existence in the Inuitdiaspora while maintaining family and community ties, the impacts of colonization on Inuit gender and sexuality expressions, as well as on health and wellbeing, and the everyday.

2021.017.001 Kablusiak, Piliutiyara (Saltwater Taffy), 2020, photograph with backlit film in lightbox (alternate view)

In 2021, Kablusiak was part of a team of four Inuit curators who curated the inaugural exhibition for Qaumajuq, entitled INUA. In all of their creative work Kablusiak seeks to demystify Inuit art and create the space for Inuit-led representation of the diverse aspects of Inuit cultures.  

The AFA Art Collection holds 26 artworks by Kablusiak in 2023.

Dwayne Martineau

2021.013.001 Dwayne Martineau, Strange Jury #2, 2021, photograph on backlit film

Dwayne Martineau is an Edmonton based visual artist and musician. He is a treaty member of Frog Lake First Nation, descended from Plains Cree, Métis, and early French and Scottish settlers.

He enjoys seeing the world like a child full of discovery. Also, he approaches the world with a critical mind, seeking both truth and wonder. His visual arts practice began with experimental landscape photography, and has evolved to include videography and immersive large-scale art installations.

The AFA acquired Strange Jury #2 as part of the 2021 cycle of the Art Acquisition by Application program. This artwork is one of five artworks included in the Strange Jury Series. When installed in a gallery, five giant prints are hung in a circle off the ground to depict five characters of the forest with animistic faces.

Jessie Ray Short

2019.039.001 Jessie Ray Short, WAKE UP!, 2019, experimental film, 5:57 mins

Jessie Ray Short is an artist, filmmaker and independent curator of Métis, Ukranian and German descent whose cross-disciplinary practice involves memory, visual culture and Métis history.

She has shown her work nationally and internationally, including at the Banff Centre for the Arts, Agnes Etherington Art Centre in Kingston, at La Chambre Blanche in Québec City, Art Mûr Berlin (a satellite exhibition of the Contemporary Native Art Biennial/BACA) in Germany, and at the Wairoa Maori Film Festival in New Zealand.

As a curator, she has had the opportunity to work on various projects most notably Jade Carpenter: Mourn at City of Calgary Open Spaces Gallery and Mixed Berries: Amanda Strong and Bracken Hanuse Corlett at Gallery 2, Grand Forks, BC. She has worked for the Ociciwan Contemporary Art Collective, based in Edmonton, and for TRUCK Contemporary Art in Calgary.

WAKE UP! is an example of media artwork included in the AFA Art Collection. In the film, a Métis woman explores identity by transforming herself into one of the only widely known Métis icons, a man named Louis Riel, who lived over 100 years ago.

Read Becca Taylor's 2018 curatorial statement for the fellowship:

Alberta has an expansive and diverse Indigenous community living in and outside of it.  The changing landscapes within Alberta have different pieces of knowledge and teachings reflecting across the terrains; with different Indigenous groups living either in rural or urban settings, or both, whose lived experiences are reflected within their work. Some artists have formal institutional education, some with education from the land and our ancestors; but we all have an inherent perspective and embodied knowledge of what it means to be an Indigenous person living in Alberta.

For the next 6-months, my curatorial research will be based on my teachings of the medicine wheel. Looking at artists from the different quadrants of Alberta, as well as, a range of professional experience within each quadrant, from emerging to established artists; learning from and listening to the different perspectives and insights from different regions, nations, ages and experiences.

I view this research project to be as informed and diverse as possible to reflect the extraordinary past, present and future of Indigenous contemporary art in Alberta. Through conversation and travel, I anticipate meeting many more artists whom I do not know at this moment. Using my resources and community in Alberta to expand my knowledge of artists working here and those who have lived here and made an impact while doing so.

Continuing legacy

Through the foundational work provided by Dr. Joane Cardinal-Schubert, built upon by Becca Taylor, and through continuing engagement with Indigenous artists, Elders and communities of practice, the AFA is pleased to continue to increase representation of Indigenous art in the AFA Art Collection.

See our current holdings of Indigenous artworks through the AFA Virtual Museum. 

On September 29, 2022, we marked the 50th Anniversary of the AFA Art Collection. As part of the celebrations, we are sharing snippets from the history of the collection. Learn more about the celebrations! 

By Gail Lint and Kristin Stoesz, Art Collections Consultants

From High Level in the North, to the Milk River in the South, and virtually everywhere in between, the AFA's Travelling Exhibition Program (TREX) works to bring Albertan art to all corners of the province, one crate at a time.

False start?

In the early days of the program (1972), the Department of Youth, Culture, and Recreation offered travelling exhibitions to Albertan communities with the intent of developing the visual arts in Alberta. The program ended around the same time the Edmonton Art Gallery (now the Art Gallery of Alberta) began offering regional exhibitions.

The gallery initially circulated exhibitions to northern Alberta but later they expanded the program through the Southern Alberta Art Gallery (SAAG) to other parts of the province.  Facing budget cuts in the mid 1980s, the Edmonton Art Gallery terminated the travelling exhibition program in favour of its in-house programs.

Opportunity knocks

Image from 1985-1986 Alberta Art Foundation (AAF) Annual Report

Seeing an opportunity to resurrect the travelling exhibition program in 1980, the Alberta Art Foundation (AAF) developed a “Caravan Exhibition Program” to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the province.

• the AAF was one of three government foundations that were amalgamated to form the AFA in 1991

There were four exhibitions developed, one featuring works from the AAF's collection and three using works from other public and private collections. Exhibitions were showcased in refurbished truck trailer “galleries” and were circulated by the Glenbow Museum in Calgary. 

When the year of celebration finished, the AAF opted to continue circulating the exhibitions while developing new exhibitions using its art collection. 

Image from 1979-1980 AAF Annual Report

Rocky road

In 1987, due to budget and staff reductions, the AAF decided to contract the program out to galleries, allowing an expansion of the types of exhibitions offered to communities. 

The TREX Program format as it operates today started with the Edmonton Art Gallery creating exhibitions and coordinating the program, and the Prairie Art Gallery, the Muttart Gallery (later to become the Art Gallery of Calgary), and the Southern Alberta Art Gallery contracted to create exhibitions.

Unfortunately, the first attempts to coordinate were rocky. Extended periods between staff appointments, delays in exhibition development, and problems with the regional exchange of exhibitions left the program in limbo.

Image from 1987-1988 AAF Annual Report

Renewal

With the TREX contract up for renewal in 1995, the newly formed Alberta Foundation for the Arts revamped the program and took on the role of provincial coordinator.

In 1997 a call for tenders was sent to all public and institutional galleries as well as all provincial visual arts organizations. The proposals were reviewed by the AFA’s Art Collections Committee with the assistance of an independent consultant. 

The Board approved four, three-year contracts to the Prairie Art Gallery in Zone 1, Harcourt House Art Centre in Zone 2, The Art Gallery of Calgary in Zone 3 and the Medicine Hat Museum and Art Gallery in Zone 4. 

Beginning in 1998, Metro Media (Metro Cinema) was contracted to offer a provincial touring program of Alberta media arts. This later developed into the Prairie Tales film series until the media arts program was transferred out of TREX in 2014.

Image from 1979-1980 AAF Annual Report

Modern TREX

In 2000, a call for tenders was again released to the public and the contract for TREX  Zone 1 was awarded to the Prairie Art Gallery (now the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie), Zone 2 was awarded to the Edmonton Art Gallery (now the Art Gallery of Alberta), Zone 3 to the Art Gallery of Calgary (now Contemporary Calgary), and Zone 4 to the Medicine Hat Museum and Art Gallery (now the Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre). 

In January of 2002, the Art Gallery of Calgary requested that they be released from the balance of their contract, as its board felt that the program no longer fit into their gallery’s mandate. Based on the jury recommendations from the last call for tenders, the AFA offered the Alberta Society of Artists the opportunity to take over the balance of the contract for Zone 3.

These four regional organizations continue to coordinate the program to this day:

• 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

2016 TREX Art Exhibit Opening: Dreaming With My 'Great Mother'... from Region 2, Art Gallery of Alberta

50th Anniversary exhibitions

The AFA is pleased to have worked with its Travelling Exhibitions (TREX) partners to support the curation of special 50th Anniversary themed exhibitions, which will tour across Alberta until 2025.

• TREX Southwest (Alberta Society of Artists) – “Montageries”
• TREX Southeast (Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre) – “Party On!”

Find out whether an AFA Travelling Exhibition is in your community by connecting with our regional TREX providers. 

Looking forward

Having toured the province for decades in its many incarnations, TREX has become an integral part of the culture of the province. The AFA  continues to facilitate growth and change in TREX to respond to the needs of our communities.

We have art and will travel, who knows where we will go next!

See how the AFA cares for an exquisite new acquisition by Métis Cree visual artist, Sharon Rose Kootenay, and the different steps we take to document, catalogue and preserve her work for the benefit of all Albertans.

The artworks in the AFA Art Collection mean so much to the artists, to the staff that work with them, and to the many, many Albertans who have an opportunity to view them through exhibitions, art placement programs, or even online in our Virtual Museum.

Watch:

50th Anniversary of the AFA Art Collection

Established in 1972, the AFA Art Collection is a unique representation of the history, development and achievements of Alberta's visual arts community. Today, the AFA is proud to manage one of the strongest, most active provincial art collections in Canada.

On September 29, 2022, the AFA began celebration for the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of the AFA Art Collection. Learn more about how we are celebrating throughout 2022 and 2023.

We are proud to diligently care and work with each of our more than 9,000 artworks in Alberta's public art collection. This is the second episode of a five-part series about the AFA Art Collection.

• Watch episode 1 of the series, Building a Collection, on YouTube

Videos produced by Hidden Story Productions.

We at the Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) are very saddened to learn of the passing of John “Jock” Osler.

Jock Osler always said, “Stick with your message,” and his message was clear: engage with your community, make a difference and have some fun along the way. Jock was a champion of the Arts. I would often see him at ATP (Alberta Theatre Projects) and hear him calling the curtain at Vertigo Theatre. Of course, thousands heard his voice as the announcer of the Calgary Stampede’s Grandstand show. Fittingly, in 2018, a studio at the TransAlta Performing Arts Studio on Stampede grounds was named in his honour.

Jock was Chair of the AFA from 1994 to 2001, a fact he quietly mentioned when he called to wish me well in the role. I easily remember his public advocacy for increased public funding of the Arts during those years and the changes he facilitated: under his leadership, the AFA introduced a new funding formula for public art galleries and a new grant program structure in order to increase stability of the sector.

So much more could be said about Jock’s many contributions in the political arena and beyond, but he liked succinct writing. We will all miss you Jock. On behalf of the AFA, I extend my deepest sympathies to your family and friends.

Mary Rozsa de Coquet
Chair
Alberta Foundation for the Arts (2020 - 2023)

We’re excited to announce recipients of the $2,500 Young Artist Prizes.

These artists were nominated by our the AFA Influential Alberta Artists as part of a one-time funding opportunity to commemorate the AFA's 25th Anniversary. Each of these emerging artists have already made an impact on their community and are well on their way to honing their craft to become the next generation of influential artists.

We look forward working with these talented individuals as we ring in the next 25 years of arts in Alberta.

Learn more about each of the artists below:

	Young Artist	Influential Artist Nominator	Bio
	Alanna Blackrider-Onespot	Nominated by the Making Treaty 7 Cultural Society on behalf of Michael Green & Narcisse Blood	Alanna is an indigenous writer, a poet, and a performing artist who uses her creativity to empower youth and express herself. She has travelled to multiple countries and communities to share her spoken word poetry, and facilitates art workshops in her community to share the healing benefits of art with youth.
	Alex Smith	Michelle Minke	Alex is what the performing world calls a triple-threat: he can sing, dance, and act at an exceptional level. He has performed nationally and internationally, including performing for more than 10,000 people a night at the MUNY in St. Louis.
	Angel Berry	Nominated by Connie Edwards on behalf of Gil Cardinal	Angel is an award-winning actress, producer, and spoken word artist. She is also the author of three children’s books, and has over 21 film and TV credits at age 14.
	Anna Semenoff	Chris Cran	Anna is currently in her third year at the Alberta College of Art and Design, majoring in sculpture. She is primarily interested in working with video art in a sculptural format, creating artworks unlike anything seen before.
	Cassia Hardy	Lorrie Matheson	Cassia Hardy is a musician and songwriter. Since starting her musical project Wares in 2013, Cassia has gained national prominence for her distinctive style of songcraft, mixing classic folk sensibilities with grimy, hair raising punk rock.
	Celia Taylor	Marty Chan	Celia founded her theatre company, Empress of Blandings Productions in 2015 with the goal of reviving old or forgotten works and bringing them to life for new audiences, in new and unexpected ways.
	Charlotte Cranston	Alice Major	Poet, performer and organizer Charlotte Cranston was named Edmonton's first ever Youth Poet Laureate in 2015, during which role she founded YEP--Young Edmonton Poets--a safe, compassionate, regularly-running writing circle for Edmonton-based teens and pre-teens.
	Erin Vance	Aritha van Herk	Erin Vance is an MA student in English Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Calgary. She has already published over 60 poems and 50 non-fiction articles in various magazines, journals, and anthologies, with more on the way.
	Gillian McKercher	Sharon Stevens	Gillian McKercher is a Calgary-based filmmaker. Her work explores the differences between what individuals want and what they receive. Specifically, Gillian is interested in how circumstance affects our actions. Gillian most notably directed The Calgary Collection web-series, which profiles Calgary’s folk music community.
	Griffin Cork	Trevor Anderson	Griffin Cork has been working professionally in the theatre, film, and voice-over industry for over ten years. Griffin was deemed an Arts Champion of Calgary in 2012 by Calgary Arts Development Association and His Worship, Naheed Nenshi, and won the Duval Lang Theatre for Young Audience Emerging Leader Award at Calgary's Betty Mitchell Awards.
	Jade Carpenter	Nominate by Mike Schubert on behalf of Dr. Joane Cardinal-Schubert	Jade Nasogaluak-Carpenter is an Inuk artist based in Calgary, born in Yellowknife and raised in Edmonton. Jade uses art and humour as a coping mechanism to subtly address diaspora, and to openly address mental illness. Her work aims to counter the stigmatism surrounding mental health.
	Jake Tkaczyk	Lynda Adams	Jake is an Edmonton-based theatre artist in his final year of the BFA Acting Program at the University of Alberta. Also a graduate of Red Deer College’s Theatre Performance and Creation program, Jake has worked as an actor, director, creator and teacher in Edmonton and around central Alberta.
	Kaitlyn Purcell	Rudy Wiebe	Kaitlyn Purcell is a Dene writer, artist, student, and storyteller. Kaitlyn plays with syntax and style, integrating poetry into prose to illustrate the chaos that comes with addiction, mental illness, and rehabilitation.
	Kevin Dong	Gary Burns	Kevin Dong is a Calgary-based filmmaker whose work engages with the material, temporal, and experiential qualities of film and video, articulated primarily through the process of editing. Currently, Kevin is working on a project that explores the routines and rituals of suburban life.
	Mallory Chipman	Tommy Banks	Mallory Chipman is taking the jazz scene by storm with her thoughtful compositions, fearless improvisation, and unforgettable performances. Highlights from her career include playing sold out shows in jazz festivals; touring abroad to London, Amsterdam, and Dublin; and singing back-up for the legendary rock group, Heart.
	Nick Samoil	Darrin Hagen	Nick Samoil is a singer-songwriter, composer and pianist who works in all musical disciplines including theatre performance and sound design, film scoring, recording and performing. His folk, rock and R&B influenced original songs are born of a need to communicate his feelings about personal interaction with the people and world around him.
	Rebecca Sadowski	Gerry Morita	Rebecca has trained in dance, acting, and voice from a very young age. Currently, Rebecca is working on choreographing a dance inspired by her Métis heritage and continues to learn Metis styles of dance and craftwork.
	Sabrina Comanescu	Vicki Adams Willis	Sabrina “Naz” Comanescu is a dance instructor, performer, and choreographer. Sabrina is also the current major force behind The Diversity Performing Arts Club of Calgary and created Casa De Naz in 2012, a collective with a mission to “excite and educate art hubs across Canada about the thriving Caribbean community in Calgary and the arts of the Caribbean as a whole through film, fashion and dance”
	Sympa Cesar	France Levasseur-Ouimet	Sympa plays a range of different instruments including the piano, guitar, bass, drums and ukulele. He hopes to release a bilingual EP soon, and already begun recording some of his original works in hopes of getting his name out into the musical communities of Alberta.
	Tamara Cardinal	Katie Ohe	Tamara Lee-Anne Cardinal is a multi-media artist, community activist, oskâpêwis, storyteller and life-long learner. In the studio, Tamara is currently exploring notions around death, rebirth and revitalization in her work.
	Teryn Evans-Tennant	Bob Baker	Teryn began his acting career in 2015 through the Young Acting Company program at the Foote Theatre School. Since then, his passion for acting has grown, and he has passionately thrown himself into several roles and continues to seek out opportunities to hone his craft.
	Tia Jim-Wood	Northern Cree	Tia sings Indigenous, round-dance, peyote, pow-wow, R&B, Blues, Country, Alternative and pop. Tia is also a pianist, drummer and dancer, and has been asked to represent the Gathering of Nation’s Pow-wow 2017, in the capacity of, ”Head Young Lady Dancer of the Gathering of Nations.”
	Tishynah Buffalo	Dallas Arcand	Tishynah Buffalo is a Cree Fashion Designer from Alexander First Nation Alberta. Her designs are Traditional Native prints with a mix of modernized fabrics, she adds her Cree floral beadwork to incorporate her Cree culture. Her most memorable fashion show was New York Couture Fashion Week.

On June 20, 2017, we announced the Young Artists at an event at the Alberta Federal Building in Edmonton, which was streamed live through the AFA Facebook page. Watch the video on Facebook.

Know an exceptional young artist? Consider applying for one of the AFA's scholarships.

To celebrate 25 years of the AFA, we’re taking a look back at how we came to be, favourite milestones, and some of the amazing artists we’ve encountered along the way. 

By Allison Pfeifer, Industry Research and Policy Consultant with the Alberta Media Fund (and former AFA Arts Development Consultant)

As we prepare to celebrate the 150^th anniversary of Canada’s confederation in 2017, we recognize how our diverse cultural heritage has bound us together as communities and joined us together as a country. Our culture takes many forms, but it is always a sensory experience filled with sounds, and sights, tastes and smells, and the touch of our common humanity.

And where there is a cultural celebration, artists that have been supported by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts are there.

In 2014, along with our artists from sister provinces and territories, several Alberta artists spent the summer in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island to celebrate the 150^th anniversary of the Fathers of Confederation. From July 14 to 20, Alberta showcased some of our best and brightest talent.

Here are ten highlights from Alberta Week at PEI 2014:

1)      Cheering on, as three-time World Champion Hoop Dancer Dallas Arcand, gets a standing ovation for his powerful and moving performance.

2)      Enjoying award-winning Alberta author Marty Chan’s stories and appreciating his creative answers as he takes part in an interactive distance learning quiz with Royal Tyrrell Museum.

3)      Watching in astonishment as Sheldon Casavant turns a $5 bill into a $20 bill in his street magic.

Photo of Sheldon Casavant, ©2014 

4)      Toe-tapping to the rhythmic music of Hot Club Edmonton.

Photo of Hot Club Edmonton, ©2014  Jim Takenaka

5)      Hearing awesome music all throughout Alberta week and feeling pumped up as past AFA grant recipients and award winning musicians, including Indigenous artists Asani, blues artist Kat Danser, folk musician John Wort Hannam, opera singer Jacques Arsenault, and folk musician Maria Dunn perform.

Photo of Kat Danser, ©2014  Jim Takenaka

6)      Witnessing the competitive spirit of families as they battle it out in the calf roping competition for Alberta prizes such as Alberta Rangeland’s Bison Bites and Alberta Quick Cooking Barley.

Photo of calf roping, ©2014  Lois Nickerson

7)      Experiencing the incredible creativity of visitors designing their own Ukrainian eggs and dream catchers.

Photo of dream catcher, ©2014  Jim Takenaka

8)      Seeing the amazement of children as they look at fossils and learn about Dromaeosaurus, Pachyrhinosaurus, Tyrannosaurus Rex and Albertosaurus from the Royal Tyrrell Museum.

Photo of Tyrannosaurus Rex skull “Black Beauty”, ©2014 

9)      Laughing so hard as Atomic Improv is being moved around by two audience members during an improv skit.

Photo of Atomic Improv, ©2014  Jim Takenaka

10)   Dancing enthusiastically to previous AFA grant recipient and country recording artist, Bobby Wills, as he opens up for Paul Brandt.

During Alberta Week, those that stopped by the celebration zone also got to test their skills on Alberta history. Did you know that?

• The Royal Tyrrell Museum, located in Drumheller, is home to more than 130,000 fossils.
• The Wetaskiwin-based Reynolds-Alberta Museum, which interprets technological change in transportation, aviation, agriculture and industry, holds the second-largest collection of aircraft in Canada.
• The Frank Slide, Canada’s deadliest rockslide, lasted only 90 seconds.
• CBC’s longest running family drama, Heartland, is filmed in High River, Alberta. Other television series filmed in Alberta include Hell on Wheels and Fargo.
• Famous director Christopher Nolan has filmed two blockbuster films, Inception and Interstellar in Alberta.

Finally, regional foods and award-winning wines, spirits and ales from PEI and other parts of Canada were showcased. Delicious and nutritious Alberta barley was offered at Fathers Pub & Oyster Bar, the go to restaurant on the Celebration Site. People that sampled these tasty treats definitely agreed that Alberta food products are among the highest quality and tastiest around the world.

Needless to say, the organizers of PEI 2014 were truly impressed at the exceptional talent, variety and diversity of what Alberta has to offer.  

As we head into Canada’s sesquicentennial next year in 2017, Alberta culture will be there to join in the celebration. How will you celebrate Canada 150 and be a part of history?