Call for Submissions: Quenten Doolittle Memorial Art Gallery: Slow Down and Smell The Roses

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

SLOW DOWN AND SMELL THE ROSES is a gallery that celebrates the small things that slow us down and appreciate the lovely things around us! The world wants us to be fast and hooked on convenience. Show us the things that give you space to breathe, make you stop and think and most off all: enjoy the world! This gallery will not feature any artwork that was generated by AI. 

Submissions must meet the following requirements:

• Artist must reside in Calgary/Alberta and must be available for installation dates provided.
• Artwork must be delivered ready to hang (wall-space only)

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

If your piece is hung unconventionally or can be a little tricky, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us to see if we can accommodate your piece.

Timeline: 

• Submission Deadline: December 4, 2026 at 11:59 pm
  • All artists who submit will be notified with a decision no later than 2.5 weeks after the deadline has passed.
  • Late submissions will not be accepted
• Installation: January 3 to 7, 2027
• Exhibition: January 8 to March 13, 2027
• Take Down: March 14th- 18th, 2027

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

• Completed Gallery Submission Form 
• Artist Biography (250 words max)
  • A short description of who you are and your art background, training, passion, and/or any combination of the aforementioned information
• Artwork: A minimum of 1 to a maximum of 5 pieces will be accepted
  • Images of artwork only; do not send original works with application
  • Please send images as JPG, JPEG or PNG files.

All of these elements are required for a complete application. If we are missing them from the application we will follow up and if we do not have all elements by the submission deadline, your work may not be accepted.   

All applications may be directed to:

Troy Couillard

Facilities and Programming Director
prod@pumphousetheatre.ca – 403-263-0079 ext. 101

2140 Pumphouse Avenue SW, Calgary, AB T3C 3P5

Selection Process: Art pieces are selected by a committee of no less than 3 people and are a mix of artists and administrators. Selection criteria are based on suitability to the theme, technique, emotional response, creativity & innovation, and suitability to the Pumphouse Theatre gallery space and its patrons (ages 5 and up, representing various socio-economic and cultural backgrounds). Unfortunately, we are unable to accept works that feature nudity. 

Any artists who need assistance with their application, or have inquires and questions, are welcome to contact PHTS at any point at prod@pumphousetheatre.ca