Indigenous arts

We only accept applications through the Grant Administration Tracking and Evaluation (GATE) Front Office online application system. We must receive your online application through GATE Front Office no later than 11:59 pm Mountain Time on the deadline date, unless the deadline falls on a statutory holiday or a weekend when it will be extended until the next working day. 

Please give the system time to process your application so that the AFA receives notification of your submission before the deadline date.

GATE username registration

First-time applicants will require a GATE Front Office username and password. Email us at registrationafa@gov.ab.ca to get your login information at least five business days prior to the application deadline. 

Please include:

1. Your full legal name (if you are applying as an individual).
2. The common name of your business/organization and the legal entity name (if you are applying as a gallery or agent)
3. Your email address.

The username and password will be sent to the person at the email address provided.

If you already have a GATE profile for another AFA funding program, you can use this profile to apply to the Art Acquisition by Application Program. 

For detailed step-by-step instructions on how to make a GATE application, please download an Art Acquisition by Application-specific GATE Front Office user guide.

• watch a short video that shows how to apply for this program.

Making an Application

A strong application describes the specific artworks submitted and gives context to the artworks and the artists’ practice through the supporting documents. 

• You may submit up to five artworks in a single application. All artworks must be included in the same application.
• Only one application per artist is allowed per annual intake.
  If two applications are submitted for the same artist (for example, one from the artist and one from a gallery), only the first application received will be reviewed. The second will be considered ineligible for that intake.
• You may submit multiple pieces that collectively form a single artwork—such as a diptych, triptych, or series—as one artwork, as long as:
  • The components are not sold separately.
  • The price listed is one total price for the entire set.
• Your application should include all the relevant information needed for adjudicators to assess the submission as a standalone item as the adjudicators may not be aware of your artistic practice outside of the materials submitted. 

The following formlets are required in GATE:

• Accurate details about each piece (up to five artworks) submitted within the GATE Artwork Submission List. 

This includes the artist’s name, title, date of work completion, if the work is framed, the edition number (if applicable), price, dimensions, category, medium, support and information on varnish/protective finish.

For photographs or print-based works, please ensure edition numbers and relevant details are included in the application. 

You are not required to frame an artwork for the second stage viewing, however if the artwork is already framed and the materials are archival (acid free mats and frames), please submit the frame with the artwork and include the cost of the frame in the artwork price. 

• An artistic statement about the piece in the Artwork Submission List. 

The artist statement should be specific to the artworks submitted in the application and should place artworks in the context of your wider practice. 

You should include any relevant information needed to help the review panel of adjudicators consider the works. If there are installation instructions or other relevant details that do not come across in the images and will help the adjudicator understand the work, please enter it into the “Artistic Statement about this piece” text box alongside your artistic statement. 

• The exhibition history of the artworks submitted. 

This information highlights where the artwork has been publicly displayed and helps adjudicators assess its potential role in AFA outreach programming.

If the artwork has not been exhibited before, please indicate by noting “has not been exhibited before.” 

Attachments

The following attachments must be submitted within GATE:

NEW! 

• A 300–500 word artist biography. An artist biography is now required and should be included as an attachment on the attachments page in GATE (attached as Image #28). 

The artist biography is used to help understand an artist’s practice and background. If the artwork submitted is purchased by the AFA, the biography will be posted to the AFA website with the artist’s permission.

• A professional artistic resume (or CV/Curriculum Vitae). 

The AFA understands that the term “professional” is subjective and may look different depending on cultural backgrounds and traditions.

For the purposes of the Art Acquisition by Application Program, artists are asked to demonstrate their professional status through their artistic resume/CV and by meeting at least one of the mandatory professional artist criteria outlined in the AFA’s Collections Development Plan: 

1. Specialized training:
   This can include formal education, apprenticeships, or self-taught expertise (in a manner appropriate to their art tradition).
2. Peer recognition:
   They are acknowledged by other artists within their field as skilled and professional.
3. Public presentation:
   They have a history of exhibiting their work in public, professional contexts, such as galleries, exhibitions, or other public spaces.
4. Professional practice:
   They engage in artistic activities with the intent of creating and selling their work, often as their primary or a significant source of income.
5. Commitment to their craft:
   They dedicate significant time and effort to their artistic practice, treating it as a serious profession rather than a hobby. 

An artistic resume/CV can include: 

• Any formal or informal art education and training completed (art courses, workshops, or other instruction and any qualifications earned such as certificates, degrees, etc.).
• Your exhibition history (list the dates and locations of any public displays of your artwork, including exhibitions featuring artworks beyond those submitted in this application.
• Any formal or informal recognition from the visual art community you have received (list grants, awards, distinctions and any related art activities such as teaching, curating, critical writing, membership in art organizations).
• A list of any public, corporate or other collecting bodies that have acquired artwork from you for their collections.
• If your practice is less traditional or you have been active in other ways, a written explanation of your practice, experience and commitment to your art should be included as part of the artistic resume/CV.
• A signed Designation for Submission by a Commercial Gallery, Organization or Artist Agent form (if applying as a gallery, agent or ensemble of artists).
• Up to 20 Digital photographs of the artworks (4 MB maximum file size, jpgs, pdfs accepted). 

Digital images help the adjudication panel evaluate the physical qualities of submitted artworks and determine which pieces will advance to the second stage, in-person art viewing at the AFA offices in Edmonton.

Digital photographs need to include clear, high-quality images of the artworks that convey the materials, and the techniques used in the artworks. Poor or unclear images can impede a proper assessment of your work. 

Images should include all parts of the artwork (front and back and installation views) to accurately portray the artwork. 

If you are submitting installation images where there are other artists’ artworks or artworks that are not being offered to the AFA being included in the image, please indicate this in your artistic statement about the piece to avoid the panel including these in their assessment. 

Applicants may be asked for additional information about artworks as needed. 

We only accept applications through the Grant Administration Tracking and Evaluation (GATE) Front Office online application system. We must receive your online application through GATE Front Office no later than 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on the deadline date, unless the deadline falls on a statutory holiday or a weekend when it will be extended until the next working day. Please give the system time to process your application so that we receive notification of your submission before the deadline falls. 

• applicants may submit only one application to the AFA each deadline across all disciplines
• the AFA does not accept incomplete applications
• applications must be received prior to the commencement of the project
• projects involving more than one artist must be submitted by one individual on behalf of the ensemble or group

We do not accept separate applications for the same project.

GATE Front Office username registration

First-time applicants will require a GATE Front Office username and password. Email us at registrationafa@gov.ab.ca to get your login information at least five business days prior to the application deadline.

Please include:

1. your legal name
2. the funding opportunity to which you are applying
3. your email address.

Your username and password will be sent to the email address provided.

What to submit

For detailed step-by-step instructions, please download the GATE Front Office user guide.

GATE Front Office online formlets:

• applicant information: Legal name and Confirmation of the applicant status (minor/Albertan)
• if you are under the age of 18 years at the time of application, a parent or legal guardian must e-sign the Applicant Agreement as the designate for the funding, and be responsible for
  • the completeness and accuracy of the application in full
  • receipt and use of funding
  • reporting on the use of funds
  • serving as contact person for any inquiries relating to the grant
• contact information for primary applicant
  • ensembles must designate one contact person for all requirements of the grant as the primary applicant
  • this designated individual must e-sign the Applicant Agreement
• address: Street and mailing address for the primary applicant
• general information: Confirmation of the application category (art production, marketing, research, or training/career development) and applicant status (individual/ensemble)
• project description: A brief project description (20 words) and the project start and end dates
• project co-owners: A listing of the project co-owners involved in the project, their position or role, and confirmation of Alberta Residence
• individual applicant agreement: A declaration of agreement with the statement of conditions e-signed by the primary applicant or designate
• project expenses: A listing of project expenditures in Canadian dollars
• project revenue: A listing of non-AFA revenues in Canadian dollars
  • the difference between expenditures and revenues will comprise the grant request to the AFA with the funding not exceeding $18,000

Attachments:

The GATE Front Office attachment section indicates that not all attachments are required for submission. This is because they are only required for certain types of projects (e.g. marketing plan for a marketing project). It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all attachments noted in the guidelines are submitted with their application according to project type.

Please submit the following attachments:

• an artistic resume of no more than four pages
  • indigenous traditional artists may submit a description of their traditional Indigenous arts background and other relevant cultural history
  • resumes of all project co-owners involved in the project
• Detailed project description, including an outline of the objectives, planned activities, timelines, and expected results and impact on the applicant's artistic development
  • appropriate protocols and permission from the community to use traditional tribal knowledge must be addressed
  • in keeping with oral traditions, Indigenous project descriptions are welcome as oral submissions no longer than 3 minutes in length
  • for more information on how to submit oral project descriptions, contact the Arts Development Consultant for this program, prior to the application deadline, at the contact information below.
• commission applicants must submit a completed and signed contract with the commissioner and a plan for the exhibition, presentation, display, publication, screening or performance of the commissioned work
• official invitations, confirmations, or itineraries
• a detailed marketing plan
• applicants who have been accepted into a mentorship must provide a letter of agreement as proof of acceptance and support from the mentor, Elder or cultural resource person
• additional support materials that may assist in the assessment process
  • all support material should be scanned into a single file and attached to the online application

Applicants may be asked for additional information.

Format

• wherever possible, support material should be uploaded as an attachment into GATE (up to 4 MB)
• for files too large to include as attachments in GATE, they may be submitted via email to IndigenousAFA@gov.ab.ca as email attachments or downloadable links
  • please format your subject line: <your first initial, last name and project number>, eg. "H.Lee AIPG-56-172631"
  • please ensure link contains downloadable files (MP3 or MP4 preferred)
• alternatively, please mail a hard copy CD or USB to 10708 – 105 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T5H 0A1
  • please include your first initial, last name and project number on the CD or USB
  • support material must be submitted or postmarked no later than 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on the deadline date

We only accept applications through the Grant Administration Tracking and Evaluation (GATE) Front Office online application system.

We must receive your online application through GATE Front Office no later than 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on the deadline date, unless the deadline falls on a statutory holiday or a weekend when it will be extended until the next working day. Please give the system time to process your application so that we receive notification of your submission before the deadline falls. Applications received after 11:59 p.m. of the deadline date will be considered at the next deadline.

• applicants may submit only one application to the AFA each deadline
• the AFA does not accept incomplete applications
• projects involving more than one organization must be submitted by the primary applicant organization; separate organization applications will not be accepted for the same project

GATE Front Office username registration

First-time applicants will require a GATE Front Office username and password. Requests must be received at least five business days prior to the application deadline.

Please complete the GATE Front Office Registration form and email it as an attachment to registrationAFA@gov.ab.ca.

GATE Front Office usernames and passwords will be sent to the email addresses provide on the registration form.

What to include in your application

For detailed step-by-step instructions, please download the GATE Front Office user guide.

GATE Front Office online forms

• applicant contact information, including street and mailing address
• contact list, including primary and secondary contact persons and signing authority designate for the application
• the organization’s registration details, including organization’s registered name, Alberta Registration number and incorporation date
• an applicant agreement with e-signature of signing authority designate for the organization
• a completed Statistical Report
• a listing of all current board members include the names, positions, addresses, telephone numbers, fax numbers, and e-mail addresses
• total number of events, artists, artist fees paid from Arts Presenting worksheet

Attachments

The GATE Front Office attachment section indicates that not all attachments are required for submission. This is because they are only required for certain types of projects (e.g. marketing plan for a marketing project). It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all attachments noted in the guidelines are submitted with their application.

You’ll be required to complete and upload the following attachments:

• Arts Presenting calculation worksheet
• copies of all promotional materials related to the event, such as posters and programs, demonstrating compliance with AFA funding acknowledgement conditions (see "Conditions" below)
  • do not submit press clippings or videos
• the organization's most recent annual financial statement with Balance Sheet, Statement of Revenues and Expenditures, and Statement of Cash Flows
• a confirmation of filing of the organization's most recent annual return from Alberta Corporate Registry
• for presentations that include public screening of film and video media, please attach written evidence of compliance with film classification regulations as outlined in the Film and Video Classification Act
  • please review information and register with Alberta Film Classification on Alberta.ca
  • if you have questions, please email Alberta Film Classification or call them at 780-427-2006, toll-free by first dialing 310-0000 within Alberta

Applicants may be asked for additional information.

Format

• all video and audio files must be Windows compatible
• wherever possible, support material should be uploaded as an attachment into GATE Front Office (up to 4 MB)
• if your support material is too large to upload, please mail a hard copy to 10708 – 105 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T5H 0A1
  • please include your first name, last name and project number
  • support material sent by mail must be postmarked no later than 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on the deadline date