Community News

Calgary based artist Rita McKeough has been named to receive the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta 2025 Distinguished Artists Award. She is expected to receive the awards’ patron in a ceremony held by Her Honour Salma Lakhani, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta on October 4, 2025.

McKeough has 15 works held in the AFA Art Collection. You can view two these works, Manifesto of Mittenism and Urban Uprising in the AFA art house exhibition, New Views.

About the Artist

Rita McKeough’s interdisciplinary practice spans sound, installation, performance, video, and kinetic sculpture and has significantly shaped the contemporary art landscape in Alberta and beyond. For over five decades, her career has been marked by an unwavering commitment to experimentation, mentorship, and pushing the boundaries of contemporary art in Canada. McKeough has exhibited across Canada and the USA in numerous solo and group exhibitions. Recent works include: Remediation Room (Online, Calgary, 2022–ongoing); feel through deepness to see (Dunlop Art Gallery 2024); darkness is as deep as the darkness is (Walter Phillips Gallery, Banff Centre for the Arts, Banff, 2020); Veins (OBORO,Montreal, 2018), and Oh, Canada (MassMOCA, North Adams, 2015). In 2009 McKeough was awarded the Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts.

About the Award

The Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Distinguished Artist Award is Alberta’s most prestigious recognition of outstanding achievement in the arts.

About the AFA art house

The AFA art house, located in the heart of downtown Calgary, is a space to for Albertans to see, discover, and experience the unique stories the artists of Alberta have to share. The Gallery will showcase works from the AFA Art Collection as well as other works from Alberta artists. The AFA art house is free to access.

What makes a person a hero? Guppie searches for the answer across an eye-opening family road trip.

A Summer of Dragonflies, a new book written by award-winning Edmonton author Natasha Deen, will be officially released on September 13, 2025. 

A Summer of Dragonflies is a humorous, heart-filled, family-oriented book about a cross-continent road trip. Terminally shy Guppie decides to use the trip as an opportunity to reinvent herself into a courageous hero like the ones in her favorite books. At first, Guppie tries to prove that she’s a hero through helping others and being bold, but she comes to understand that true courage means owning up to one’s mistakes and making amends.

A Summer of Dragonflies will be available for purchase at retailers on September 13, 2025. The book is intended for readers aged 9-12. 

Natasha Deen and is a best-selling and award-winning Guyanese-Canadian author, with books for children, young adults, and adults. She is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal. Her novel In the Key of Nira Ghani won the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award. Her works have also been nominated for the OLA Forest of Reading Red Maple Award, R. Ross Annett Award, Sunburst Award, Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence, and Alberta Readers’ Choice Award. Natasha teaches in the Creative Writing Program with the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies and lives in Edmonton, Alberta.

For more information about A Summer of Dragonflies and Natasha Deen, visit natashadeen.com. 

The travelling exhibition ReconciliACTIONS will be on display at the Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre in Medicine Hat from September 6 - 27, 2025. 

This exhibition brings together work by 21 Indigenous artists. It is meant to remind us that reconciliation is an ongoing process, a chain of care and repair, not a one-and-done event. Decolonizing our relationships with one another and drawing new pathways of understanding based on mutual respect is empowering for all of us. Indigenous, settler, immigrant, and refugee alike all play an integral role in enacting reconciliation.

ReconciliACTIONS invites viewers to contemplate how they can show up with care both individually and collectively in actively carrying reconciliation forward. All persons have the agency to create ripples of change, and the Indigenous artists who are included in this exhibition are contributing to this change by educating the public and sharing their knowledge and experiences through visual forms. As you look at each artwork, consider its story, consider the artist, and consider how your own actions can be instruments of change in the ongoing process of reconciliation. 

This exhibition was curated by Ash Slemming, TREX Southwest and Diana Frost, Colouring it Forward. It is currently on a 3-year tour throughout Alberta with the Alberta Foundation for the Arts Travelling Exhibition program.

View the Exhibition Catalogue 

The Citadel Theatre invites submissions from visual artists based in Edmonton or the surrounding region to activate our new Light Wall, a striking 40-foot digital mural located in the lush, glass-enclosed Lee Pavilion in downtown Edmonton. This project is supported by the City of Edmonton’s Downtown Vibrancy Fund.

The artwork will be featured as part of Alberta Culture Days celebrations at Citadel Theatre from September 26 to 28, 2025, contributing to a nation-wide festival of arts and culture.

See full submission details on our website: https://citadeltheatre.com/artists/artist-programs-mentorship/call-for-visual-artists-digital-artwork-for-light-wall-activation/

PROJECT SCOPE

• Content Type: We are currently seeking existing digital still image artworks (not video or animation) from Edmonton-based artists that are suitable for display on a large-format digital screen.
• Programming: Images from multiple artists will be programmed to display periodically throughout the day during our 2025/26 Season, alternating with Citadel-branded content. We anticipate selecting 3–5 images, with the possibility of including additional works if budget allows.
• Viewing Context: The work will be visible from both the Lee Pavilion and the Maclab Theatre lobby. It should have strong visual impact from a distance while offering details that reward closer viewing.
• Atmosphere: Submissions should consider and complement the Pavilion’s architectural features, including glass, natural light, tropical plants, and steady public traffic. The work should provide visual interest without overwhelming the environment. Artists are encouraged to consider visual accessibility in their design. The Light Wall is visible from multiple angles and is located in an area with accessible pathways.
• Intention: The goal of this project is to activate the Pavilion with engaging, memorable visual art that connects with a wide range of visitors. This includes theatregoers, community members, and guests who may be visiting the space casually or for the first time. 

TECHNICAL GUIDELINES

• Format: High-resolution JPEG or PNG
• Dimensions: Minimum 3840 x 2160 pixels (4k)
• Orientation: Landscape only
• File Size: Maximum 4 MB per image
• Colour Mode: RGB
• Content Type: No video, animation, or audio content will be accepted for this call.
• Artists may submit up to 1 image for consideration. 

Honorarium: $750 per selected image. This fee covers artist time, licensing for a 12-month exhibition term, and any preparation of deliverables.

PROJECT TIMELINE

• Submission Deadline: September 5, 2025, at 5:00 PM (MDT)
• Artists Notified: September 12, 2025
• Launch: Anticipated to be September 26, 2025 (exact date/time TBD) 

ELIGIBILITY

This opportunity is open to: 

• Individual artists residing in Edmonton or surrounding regions.
• Artists working in any visual discipline, including but not limited to photography, illustration, digital painting, generative design, or mixed digital media.
• Artists must be 18 years of age or older at the time of submission. 

Artists from equity-deserving communities are strongly encouraged to apply. 

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

All submissions must be submitted online via email to citadeltheatremarketing@gmail.com with “VisualArtSubmission2025_Artist Name” as the subject line.

Please note: This email is for submissions only. We are unable to respond to questions about eligibility, requirements, or selection.

Each proposal should include: 

• Artist Statement (max. 300 words). Briefly introduce your artistic practice and approach.
• 1 Digital Image File. Final artwork intended for submission. Include title, year, medium, and a description for each (how the submitted work responds to the site and audience)
• Resume or Bio (max. 2 pages) 

For larger files (over 1MB), please provide a secure file-sharing link (e.g., Dropbox, Google Drive, WeTransfer) with appropriate permissions so we can access and download your materials. Ensure shared links are accessible without requiring special permissions or login.  

Please note: No in-person drop-offs or physical pieces will be considered. A high-resolution digital image must be created and submitted to be considered for this opportunity. 

SELECTION PROCESS

Proposals will be reviewed by a selection panel made up of Citadel Theatre staff. Selections will be based on: 

• Alignment with the theme and artistic approach
• Suitability for large-scale digital presentation
• Resonance with the Pavilion’s setting and atmosphere
• Technical feasibility and clarity of presentation 

Shortlisted artists may be contacted for clarification or minor revisions.  

RIGHTS & LICENSE

• Artists retain full copyright of their submitted works.
• Citadel Theatre will receive a non-exclusive, time-limited license to exhibit the work(s) on the Light Wall for 12 months, as well as to use images for marketing and documentation (with credit). Artists will be credited on the graphic as part of the display.
• Citadel Theatre retains the right to remove any artwork from display at any time during the licensing period. The Theatre may also add or modify surrounding content, such as branding or promotional materials, to meet programming or operational needs.
• The Citadel reserves the right to decline any work that does not meet display requirements or align with our commitment to safe, inclusive public space.

Note: Due to limited capacity, we will confirm receipt of all submissions but will only contact artists whose work has been selected.

The City of Kelowna invites local, national, and international professional artists, artist-led teams, and cultural makers working in diverse artistic mediums to submit their Expressions of Interest for several public art commissions that are part of Building a Stronger Kelowna (BSK), a group of recreational projects that work together to build deeper community connections across the city.

Submission Deadline: Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 2 pm (PST) 

Building a Stronger Kelowna includes the redevelopment of Parkinson Recreation Centre, Mill Creek restoration, which is part of the Parkinson Recreation Centre site, and all-ages activity centres at Glenmore Rec Park, Rutland Lions Park, and Mission Rec Park. This suite of projects is a unique opportunity to develop a curatorial program of permanent and temporary artworks that will be original, inspired by Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley, and help tell the stories of this place.

Public art sites have not been determined yet and will evolve out of the integrated project delivery approach that is being used by the BSK team and this call for artists. Artists who apply to this call may be considered for public art commissions at any of the BSK locations. 

Indigenous, Métis, and Inuit artists and/or cultural makers with connections to the syilx Okanagan people’s territory are encouraged to apply.

Read the full Call to Artists at https://www.kelowna.ca/our-community/planning-projects/building-stronger-kelowna/building-stronger-kelowna-call-artists-0

City of Kelowna
1435 Water Street, Kelowna BC, V1Y 1J4
www.kelowna.ca
Artcalls@kelowna.ca 
250.469.8500

The 2025 Alberta Drama Festival Association (ADFA) Casino fundraiser runs Sunday September 14th & Monday September 15th and we are looking for volunteers. Proceeds earned from our casino are critical for our operations and the casino is one of our key fundraising events.  If you have any questions regarding your volunteer position or sign up, please feel free to email prod@pumphousetheatre.ca.

SIGN UP LINK: www.signupgenius.com/go/20F094CACAF2EA1F58-55273839-adfa#/

Casino Location:
ACE Casino Airport
40 Aero Cres NE
Calgary, AB T2Z 6W5

If you don't have a car or ride to the casino - no problem - just grab a cab to the casino and we'll pay for your cab to the casino and back home again. Pay your driver, collect a receipt and send an e-mailed copy to us! Reimbursement forms will be made available.

Volunteer Worker and Casino Information

On the spot training is provided to all volunteers by our hired casino advisors who are on-site and accessible to volunteers at all times during their shift.
Please bring photo ID with you for when you check in for your shift.
Arriving on time is very important as we cannot operate the casino without all the volunteers in place.
Dress code for volunteers is casual.
Food and beverages are available for all volunteers.  Please wear your name badge (which you will get when you check in) and you will be able to charge your order to the ADFA account. Don't worry about tipping because a 15% gratuity is added onto our final bill. Outside food and beverages are not permitted.
Laptop computers are prohibited within the casino.
Parking is available at no charge.
The casino is an accessible facility with elevator access.
You can't drink liquor or gamble at the casino.  There will be designated smoking areas.

Volunteer Roles

General Manager: Responsible for the overall continuity of the casino. Some data entry experience is required.
Banker: In control of the cash and chip inventories. This position is mostly data entry.
Cashier: Redeems player’s chips for cash. Little data entry required.
Chip Runner: Delivers chips from the Banker to the game tables as required; will count chips with the gaming floor staff as required. A fair amount of data entry is required.
Count Room: Will sort and use money counting machines to count money. Some data entry required.

Your contact during our two day casino is Troy Coulliard, Calgary Regional Representive and Casino Chair for ADFA. You can contact him at prod@pumphousetheatre.ca OR 403.809.6452.  In the event you are running late or if you have to cancel at the last minute please contact us as soon as possible.

We really appreciate you taking time out of your very busy schedules to help us and thanks to all your efforts you will make our 2025 casino fund raiser a successful event.

About the program

The Cultivating Indigenous Talent in the Arts (CITA) program will host a series of one-week mentorships from September 2025 to August 2026, providing 10 emerging Indigenous artists from remote Alberta communities with personalized guidance and professional development to help them build confidence in their craft while developing the necessary tools to grow their careers. The program will take place in Fort McMurray, Alberta, where each artist will receive direct mentorship from Arts Council Wood Buffalo’s experienced staff and will conclude with the delivery of a workshop, sharing their artistic skills with the local community.

Eligibility criteria

• Artist must reside in Alberta, preference to those living in remote regions.
• Artist must identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit, or Non-Status)
• Artist should be considered “emerging”, meaning they are in the early stages of their artistic career.
• Must be of age to travel and live alone for the duration of the program.

About the program

• Each artist will participate in a personalized one-week mentorship, where they will receive tailored mentorship from Arts Council Wood Buffalo’s experienced staff.
• Mentorship is focused on Portfolio Development, Artist Statement & Bio Writing, Marketing & Self-Promotion, Community engagement, Applying for Grants and Opportunities, Networking, and Workshop facilitation.
• At the end of each mentorship, the artist will host a public workshop to showcase their work and engage with the local community.
• ACWB will cover the cost of travel, accommodation, and per diem allowance for the selected artists.

Workshop media

The selected artists will host a community art workshop and must be able to teach and engage students in an artform or technique that they feel comfortable in. Artforms may include, but are not limited to:

• Painting/Drawing
• Ceramics
• Dance/Music (includes Drumming and traditional dances)
• Photography
• New Media Arts
• Traditional Indigenous Crafts (ie. beading, weaving, wood/hide burning etc.)
• Textiles
• Theatre/Acting
• Sculpture
• Woodworking
• Storytelling/Writing

Submitting a proposal

All submissions must be submitted through our online Opportunities Portal. Create an account, login and then click on the purple “Start Entry” button. You may begin drafting your proposal by selecting “Cultivating Indigenous Talent in the Arts (CITA)” as your category. Artists may be invited to a brief interview, as a part of the selection process. 

Submission deadline

Submissions must be submitted by Monday, August 4, 2025 at 11:59 pm.

Selection process

The artists will be selected for an interview on the strength and content of their applications. Only applicants who identify as Indigenous will be considered for this mentorship program and must be willing to travel to Fort McMurray, Alberta for the duration of a week.

Please note that only artists(s) who are successful will be notified.

Selections will be made by Arts Council Wood Buffalo staff. All successful artists will be notified by August 8, 2025 for an interview and selected artists to continue into the program will be notified within 5 business days of their interview.

Questions and more information

For questions or more information on this opportunity please contact our Rural Arts Support Program Coordinator, Michelle Foran at michelle@artscouncilwb.ca or (587) 674-1625 x.106

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