Community News

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.

September is Month of the Artist in Alberta. Alberta is the first and remains the only province in Canada to dedicate a month to artists. It is an annual celebration of artists, and the value they bring to the province, both socially and economically.

Results from the Government of Alberta’s Survey of Albertans show that Albertans value the arts and that arts activities make an impact on their communities.

In 2022-23, 70.3% of Albertans attended arts and culture activities and 54% participated in arts activities.

The survey also indicates that 76.3% of Albertans feel that arts and culture that arts and culture activities make their community a better place to live.

Activity and Event Attendance:

• 70.3% of Albertans attended arts and culture activities or events in the past 12 months.
• 61.7% of Albertans attended a live performance, including musical performances (45.1%), theatrical performances (35.2%), and dance performances (14.1%).
• 34.9% of Albertans attended a visual arts event, including visiting art galleries and studios (25.8%).
• 33% of Albertans attended an arts and culture festival or fair, including cultural performances and events (21.1%) and community arts (16.7%).

Activity and Training Participation

• 54% of Albertans participated in arts activities or training in the past 12 months.
• 36.9% of Albertans participated in the visual arts, including painting (16.3%), crafting (14.7%), and photography (14.3%).
• 24.9% participating in the performing arts, including singing (12.9%), playing a musical instrument (12.6%), and dancing (10.6%).

The Survey of Albertans is an annual survey on Albertans’ perceptions of various topics, including arts and culture.

Read the full report on the Government of Alberta’s website.

Published on the AFA website (AFA News) September 21, 2023

In December 2023, Hill Strategies Research Inc. released data on the profile of professional artists in Alberta in their Statistical Insights on the Arts series.

Based on the 2021 census, the post examines the number and incomes of artists in Alberta. The post also provides a brief summary of the situation of cultural workers in Alberta.

How many artists are in Alberta?

There are 18,100 artists in Alberta, representing 9% of the 202,900 professional artists in Canada.

Artists in Alberta represent 0.7% of the 2.4 million workers in the province. One in every 134 Alberta workers is an artist!

Working conditions and education

The post provides three measures of artists’ incomes: employment income, personal income, and household income.

• Employment income shows work-related earnings of artists. In 2020 the median employment income of Alberta artists was $10,700, about a quarter of the median employment income of all Alberta workers ($45,200).
• Personal income includes all sources of income. In 2020, the median personal income of Alberta artists was $28,000, 47% below that of all Alberta workers ($53,200).
• Household income provides a measure of the family situation of artists. In 2020 the median household income of Alberta artists was $100,000, 21% lower than that of all Alberta workers ($126,000).

The median, or midpoint, of the data is used as it provides a better indication of the typical situation of professional artists than the average. It should be noted that income statistics in the 2021 census relate to the 2020 calendar year.

• 72% of Alberta artists are self-employed, nearly five times higher than the percentage of all Alberta workers (16%).
• 40% of Alberta artists have a bachelor’s degree or higher, above the percentage of all Alberta workers (30%).

Demographics

• 62% of Alberta artists are women, higher than the proportions of all Alberta workers (47%).
• 35% of Alberta artists have a child at home, lower than the percentage of all Alberta workers (42%).
• 26% of Alberta artists are 55 years of age or older, somewhat higher than the proportion of all Alberta workers (23%).
• 6% of Alberta artists are Indigenous, equal to the proportion of all Alberta workers (6%).
• 17% of Alberta artists are members of racialized groups, below the percentage of all Alberta workers (27%).
• 18% of Alberta artists are immigrants to Canada, lower than the percentages of all Alberta workers (27%).
• 3.4% are French speakers, similar to the percentage of all Alberta workers (2.9%).
• About two-thirds of Alberta artists (65%) reside in the cities of Edmonton and Calgary. While 11% of Alberta artists reside in rural areas, 11% reside in areas with populations between 30,000 and 100,000, and 9% reside in areas with populations under 30,000 (but which are not considered rural).

Artists in Alberta by discipline

Of the 18,100 artists in Alberta, here is how they are broken down by discipline:

• Musicians and singers: 21%
• Photographers: 15%
• Artisans and craftspeople: 13%
• Painters, sculptors, and other visual artists: 12%
• Writers: 12%
• Producers, directors, choreographers, and related occupations: 10%
• Dancers: 8%
• Actors, comedians, and circus performers: 6%
• Other performers: 4%
• Conductors, composers, and arrangers: 1%

Cultural Workers in Alberta

There are 80,600 workers in arts, culture, and heritage occupations in Alberta, representing 3.3% of the province’s overall labour force. One in every 30 workers in Alberta has a cultural occupation.

In 2020, the median employment income of a cultural worker in Alberta was $37,600, 17% less than all Alberta workers ($45,200); the median personal income of a cultural worker in Alberta was $46,000, 14% less than all workers in the province ($53,200); and the median houseold income of a cultural worker in Alberta was $118,000, 6% less than all Alberta workers ($126,000).

The Alberta Foundation for the Arts is pleased to be a funding partner in this collaboration with Stone-Olafson and other community leaders to develop a long-term research investigation and evaluate how current conditions will reshape Albertans’ attitudes and behaviours towards social and group activities, across a variety of sectors. The purpose of this work is to give leaders of community sports, recreation, arts and culture, professional sports, active living, heritage, tourism or hospitality sectors relevant facts about local audiences that they will need to bring life back to our communities.

The initiative is being funded by: 

• ActiveCITY Collective
• Alberta Foundation for the Arts 
• Angus Reid
• ATB
• Calgary Arts Development 
• Calgary Foundation
• Edmonton Arts Council
• Edmonton Community Foundation
• Rozsa Foundation
• Stone-Olafson
• Travel Alberta

​This research is being conducted in six waves over the course of the next year. This is a community resource that is FREE to access and results from the second wave of research are now available. The second wave of research builds on the baseline established in May and June by delving into attitudes on comfort, spending, the impact of media, and audience expectations.

Findings and implications for Alberta organizations through Wave 2 results include:

• Support for the pace of re-opening grows but there are still lingering pockets of disagreement.
• Comfort levels are creating a new baseline of engagement.
• Increasing gaps are appearing between audience segments on the pandemic.
• As restrictions lift, Albertans are pulled by their social motivations and perceptions of safety outdoors.
• Engagement is (potentially) perishable.
• Staying connected will mean the development of innovative and hybrid experiences.
• In a crowded media space, audiences are still listening.
• Spending is obviously being impacted

The report makes the following recommendations for organizations:

• Comfort levels are not rebounding just because restrictions are lifting. Organizations need to temper expectations about reconnecting with audiences. You will not be reengaging them in the same you used to. It will take time and it will look different. Plan on it and prepare.
• Getting audiences comfortable enough to attend is vital. Some of this will rebound over time, and some will be addressed by government, but there are opportunities to build confidence in what you are doing to safeguard their health. Show the steps you are taking and the tools being employed to protect audiences. Building confidence with what you are doing will help increase comfort and, in turn, consideration.
• Audiences and markets are changing. There are new barriers to address and consider. Organizations will need to understand shifting mindsets of different target audiences in order to engage effectively. This could be a deep opportunity to engage for many organizations who can capitalize on their motivations and expectations.
• Find your voice. Audiences are listening closely for news around the pandemic and are eager for updates, information or promotions. They want to know when experiences will be available again and are receptive to traditional marketing messages again. In fact, they expect it.
• Adapting means developing new product and experiences to consume. Staying put or offering what you used to won’t necessarily work. Organizations that can move into hybrid offers (not simply digital alone or in-person alone) that still leverage intrinsic motivations will be well positioned to protect their revenue from competition.

Download the reports:

• Alberta Report
• Calgary Report
• Edmonton Report

You can subscribe to receive notifications when the new reports are available by visiting stone-olafson.com. 

This research is being conducted in six waves over the course of the next year. This is a community resource that is FREE to access and results from the fourth wave of research are now available. 

Findings for Alberta organizations from Wave 4 results include:

• Public perceptions reflect the low point of the pandemic at this time.
• Albertans are adapting to and following the rules.
• Change in habits during the pandemic appears to be additive, not alternative
• Contexts frame marketing in this environment - messages will need to be shifted, media strategies evaluated, and some types of voices changed.
• Engagement is on hold.
• Travel within the province is an option. 

What are the implications for Alberta organizations?

• When conditions permit, recognize you will be reconnecting with a weary population who are more anxious than before. Messages and offers will need to adjust to reflect this reality.
• As Albertans accept and get used to the restrictions, they expect others to follow them too. A large percentage of those surveyed indicate others not following protocols will dissuade them from attending events/participating in activities. The same applies for not seeing sufficient safeguards in place.
• As restrictions start to lift, Albertans are likely to start figuring out how to balance a new set of activities they enjoy with their usual activities they want to get back to. And for organizations, that means breaking through a larger competitive set to capture the attention of their audiences. For those that offer registered or directed experiences this may be an even bigger challenge now that people are also adding in more self-directed experiences.
• Organizations are likely going to need a multi-layered media strategy that can reach influencers who can help propel the message. To be clear, an influencer strategy doesn’t mean a pure social media strategy. It means a strategy of messages and media that are repeatable to others.
• Organizations have to be prepared to re-engage in stages. When current restrictions lift there will be some appetite to explore and potential opportunities to meet them online or outdoors. In a post-pandemic environment, audiences are very likely to get active again.
• Focusing on broad messages that reflect a drive to escape everyday stresses and deliver on social motivations will work well to help motivate intra-provincial travel. Reinforcing these main messages with reassurances about flexibility in booking and safety will also be helpful to finalize a decision.

Download the reports:

• Alberta Report
• Calgary Report 
• Edmonton Report

You can subscribe to receive notifications when the new reports are available by visiting stone-olafson.com. 

About the project

The Alberta Foundation for the Arts is pleased to be a funding partner in this collaboration with Stone-Olafson and other community leaders to develop a long-term research investigation and evaluate how current conditions will reshape Albertans’ attitudes and behaviours towards social and group activities, across a variety of sectors. The purpose of this work is to give leaders of community sports, recreation, arts and culture, professional sports, active living, heritage, tourism or hospitality sectors relevant facts about local audiences that they will need to bring life back to our communities.

The initiative is being funded by: 

• ActiveCITY Collective
• Alberta Foundation for the Arts 
• Angus Reid
• ATB
• Calgary Arts Development 
• Calgary Foundation
• Edmonton Arts Council
• Edmonton Community Foundation
• Rozsa Foundation
• Stone-Olafson
• Travel Alberta

With the passing of Bob McPhee, Canada has lost a remarkable arts leader. Bob possessed the rare combination of artistic ability and business acumen. Amongst many achievements, he masterminded the building of the Winspear Centre complete with a $5-million endowment fund, and developed Calgary as a centre of operatic growth with the creation of one of three emerging artist programs in Canada and the commissioning of many new works.

He served as a clinician, adjudicator, assessor, and participated on boards, arts advocacy and policy task forces provincially, nationally and internationally. For this he received an Order of Canada in (2013), an Opera Canada (Ruby) Lifetime Achievement Award (2015), and an Honorary Degree, Doctor of Laws from the University of Calgary (2016). He was the inaugural recipient of the Rozsa Award for Excellence in Arts Management. As a mentor and coach, he inspired excellence, and developed life-long relationships with his staff, board members and peers. But most pf all he was a friend and a dedicated son. He loved to laugh and lived life with a full cup. It was a privilege to have known him: he will be truly missed.

 - Mary Rozsa de Coquet, Chair, Alberta Foundation for the Arts Board

Photo above: Minister Miranda and Alberta’s first Artist in Residence, Lauren Crazybull, in her studio.

Lauren Crazybull is a Blackfoot Dene painter, illustrator and documentarian. Recently, her focus has been working with youth through art. Lauren's work is informed by several years of justice- and Indigenous-related advocacy.

“Congratulations to Lauren on being selected as Alberta’s first Artist in Residence. Lauren is an excellent choice to act as representative and advocate for Alberta’s artists this year. I am very excited to see the results of her work, both in the studio and in Alberta’s communities.”

Ricardo Miranda, Minister of Culture and Tourism

Over the next year, Lauren will:

• travel to communities across Alberta to promote the importance of artists and the arts;
• attend cultural events like Alberta Culture Days and the Lieutenant Governor’s Art Awards; and
• create a painted collage of Alberta using portraits and Indigenous languages to highlight Indigenous stories across the province,

“My practice is heavily informed by volunteering in community radio for years and working with youth in Edmonton’s inner city. I look forward to beginning this residency and meeting artists across Alberta to paint a portrait that threads stories and history together. Being given the opportunity to further pursue and broaden my practice in this way is a great honour and I can’t wait to share the journey and process with everyone.”

Lauren Crazybull, Alberta’s artist in residence

Nearly 100 applications were received in 2018 for the first Artist in Residence position.

The Artist in Residence program is a Canadian first. It was created in response to stakeholder engagement on how the government can support artists.

The position is open to all artists who live in Alberta. Each year, a new artist will be selected through a competitive process.

The position comes with a grant of $45,000 and up to $30,000 in additional funding to help cover travel and material costs. The Artist in Residence term runs from January to the end of December.

This announcement marks the official end of Alberta’s first-ever Month of the Artist, which began January 1. The month recognizes the significant cultural and economic contribution that Alberta artists make to this province.

Related information

• Alberta’s Artist in Residence
• Month of the Artist
• Lauren Crazybull

All the World’s a Stage is a documentary portrait and homage to revolutionary theatre artists Joyce Doolittle, Grant Reddick and John Murrell. These trailblazers, who have laid the foundation for the renowned eclectic theatre scene that thrives in Alberta today, look back on how their experiences have shaped their lives.

Through interviews, high-resolution projection and intricate camera work, the filmmakers Sandi Somers and Corey Lee present a textured portrait of these artists, to peek behind the curtain to catch a glimpse into their soul and their creative process and touch the bricks that have laid the foundation for their legacy in theatre. This project was supported by an AFA 25th Anniversary Commemorative Art Project grant.

The short film received three nominations for the 2018 Alberta Media Production Industry Association (AMPIA) awards:

• Best Non-fiction Short - Corey Lee and Sandi Somers
• Best Director, Non-fiction under 30 mins - Sandi Somers and Corey Lee
• Best Original Musical Score, Non-fiction under 30 mins - Alec Harrison

Pumphouse Theatre's Winter Drama Classes Ages 6-11: registration now open!

Looking for a creative outlet for your young artist?

The Pumphouse Theatre is back with a brand new set of drama classes for the 2024-2025 year, now moving into our Winter semester from January to March.

From preschool to teenagers, we have a class that is suited for everyone!

Register today at www.pumphousetheatre.ca.

Playful Drama

Who: Gr 1-2 (6-8yrs)
What: This course is a great introduction to the drama basics, and covers a variety of topics including: story-telling, character, sharing, movement, and theatre games. This is a wonderful way to help your child explore their imagination, learn new skills, and have fun! No experience is required!
When: Saturday January 11 – Saturday March 22, 2025 | 10:30am-11:30am | @ The Pumphouse Theatre
How much: $125.00

Theatre Arts Exploration

Who: Gr 3-5 (8-11yrs)
What: This course is an all-inclusive exploration of the theatre arts. Students will be encouraged to discover a variety of dramatic techniques such as character creation, improvisation, movement, scene study, and more. Have a blast creating and performing an original final presentation for friends and family. No previous experience is required!
When: Saturday January 11 – Saturday March 22, 2025 | 10:00am-12:00pm | @ The Pumphouse Theatre
How much: $300.00

Acting Fun-dementals

Who: Gr 3-5 (8-11yrs)
What: This course is designed to get students feeling confident and comfortable being on stage while learning the fundamentals of acting and collaborating with others. Focus will be on exploring scripted work that students will either choose or be given, rehearse and workshop, and then perform in a final showcase. No previous experience is required!
When: Sunday January 12 – Sunday March 23, 2025 | 10:00am-12:00pm | @ The Pumphouse Theatre
How much: $300.00

There are no classes scheduled over the Family Day Long weekend. 

If you are registering more than 30 days prior to the first day of classes, receive $25.00 off the registration fee. 

If you are registering more than one immediate family member, receive $25.00 off the registration fee.

If you do not see a homeschool program that works for you, contact us about our Customizable Cohort Classroom option. We will work with you to create a program that meets your and your children’s needs.

All courses will adhere to all COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

All classes, with the exception of our customized programs, are 10 weeks in length.

All in-person course will take place at the Pumphouse Theatre (2140 Pumphouse Ave SW)

If you have questions or concerns about any of our programs, contact kelly@pumphousetheatre.ca or 403.263.0079 ext 100

Thank you very much! We look forward to seeing you at the theatre!