Songs From This and That Country Book Signing
Join us at Cafe Books for an exciting book signing of 'Songs From This and That Country' by Gail Sidonie-Sobat 12-4pm on Saturday 1st November.
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Literary arts
Songs From This and That Country
Songs From This and That Country Book Signing
Owl's Nest Books
November 2 | 1 - 3 PM
“A visceral depiction of the inhumanity of oppression, Songs from This and That Country is, at its core, an unforgettable story of the evocative resonance of one’s past.” — Don Aker, bestselling author of The First Stone
Songs From This and That Country
Sunday Oct 19th, 2025
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Audreys Books, 10702 Jasper Ave, Edmonton
Gail Sidonie Sobat is an award-winning writer and educator and a Serbian-Ukrainian Canadian who divides her time between Edmonton and BC. Join her to celebrate the release of 'Songs From This and That Country', a time-skipping tale that blends history and fairy tale to tell an inter-generational story that will have you gripped to the last page.
Voluntary Based Arts Organizations Operating Funding
Grant subtitle
Annual funding for arts-based organizations that foster community connections and primarily rely on volunteers to operate.
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Apply Now: Link to GATE
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Voluntary Based Arts Organizations Operating Funding
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Annual funding for arts-based organizations that foster community connections and primarily rely on volunteers to operate.
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Voluntary Based Arts Organizations Operating Funding
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Annual funding for arts-based organizations that foster community connections and primarily rely on volunteers to operate.
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Overview
This grant provides annual funding to arts-based organizations that foster community connections and primarily rely on volunteers to carry out their mission and mandates.
Who can apply
Eligible Applicants
To be eligible for Volunteer Based Arts Organizations operating funding, organizations must:
- have public programming and participation in the film and video, literary, visual arts, and/or performing arts (dance, music, theatre) as their primary purpose and principal mandate, as stated in their incorporation documents.
- be legally registered and operating in Alberta for a minimum of one full fiscal year, and in good standing, under one of the following Acts:
Provincial Legislation:
- Societies Act of Alberta
- Companies Act of Alberta, Part 9 (Nonprofit companies)
Federal Legislation:
- Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act and registered in Alberta under Part 21 of the Business Corporations Act
- Special Act of the Parliament of Canada
- Income Tax Act of Canada, operating in the Province of Alberta as a charity
Eligible organizations must also:
- have an Alberta-based address
- have 50% or more of their board members living in Alberta
- demonstrate good governance principles, effective administration practices, and a commitment to fiscal responsibility
- operate as a stand-alone arts organization, at arms-length from municipalities, commercial enterprises, or organizations and institutions receiving annual operating funding from other Government of Alberta sources or their affiliates
First-time applicants:
If this is your organization’s first application for AFA operating funding, you must contact the AFA at least three months before the deadline for a preliminary eligibility assessment and program fit.
As a first-time applicant, your organization must provide board-approved financial statements that demonstrate the organization has positive net assets immediately prior to application.
Ineligible Organizations:
The following applicants are not eligible for AFA operating funding:
- municipalities
- for-profit organizations
- funding agencies or other funders
- organizations not registered under one of the above-mentioned Acts
- organizations that primarily benefit those outside of Alberta
- organizations engaged primarily in competition-based activities or events
- organizations focused on the applied arts including, but not limited to, gaming, architecture, interior design, commercial photography, graphic arts, and fashion design
- organizations that are eligible for operating funding under another AFA funding opportunity
- organizations with overdue or incomplete accounting/reporting related to any grant previously awarded by the AFA or Alberta Arts, Culture and Status of Women
- individual and collectives
What does this funding support?
This program supports arts organizations that foster a strong sense of community in the arts through the engagement of the voluntary sector. Funding supports a broad range of artistic activities, including the production, presentation, and dissemination of artistic works and/or providing artists with support in alignment with an organization’s mission and mandate.
This funding supports organizations that rely primarily on volunteers to foster a strong sense of community participation and shared purpose with minimal or no paid staff.
Acceptable use of funds:
AFA operating funding supports expenses including, but not limited to:
- fees for artists, curators, and technicians
- cultural protocol, including honoraria, tobacco offering and fees for Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and Cultural Advisors
- production and programming
- marketing, communications, and promotion
- salaries and professional fees
- rent, utilities, and insurance
- maintenance of equipment, fixed assets, and costs for facility operations
- other expenses as required to fulfill your organization's mandate
Unacceptable use of funds:
AFA operating funding cannot be used for expenses including, but not limited to:
- scholarships, prizes, gratuities, and awards and payments for individual benefit
- endowment funds
- third-party funding to another organization, including donations, grants, scholarships, or prizes
- consignment fees
- capital costs for renovations or facility improvements, land or facility purchase, and major equipment and/or vehicle purchase
- bad debt or debt reduction
- other expenses deemed unreasonable by the AFA
How to apply
The AFA only accepts applications through Alberta’s Digital Grants Service (DGS). To access DGS and apply for funding, applicants must first register an Alberta.ca Account for Organizations, which enables you to conduct business with the Alberta government on behalf of your organization.
Full details on how to create and manage your Alberta.ca account are available at Alberta.ca Account for Business Use. Once your account has been created, use your Alberta.ca log-in credentials to sign in directly to DGS and submit your application.
Applications must be received through DGS no later than 11:59 p.m. Mountain Standard Time on the deadline date. If the deadline falls on a statutory holiday or a weekend, it will be extended until the next working day. Late applications will not be accepted.
Applications will be ineligible for consideration if incomplete, or the applicant has overdue or incomplete accounting/reporting related to any grant previously awarded by the AFA or Alberta Arts, Culture and Status of Women.
What to include in your application:
- Contacts: Includes a primary contact for your application that will be the point of contact for any communications regarding your application or application status.
- Board of Directors: Includes a list of all board members for the applying organization, as well as their position titles, cities, term start dates, phone numbers and emails.
- People: Includes a tallied summary of staff and volunteers engaged by your organization. Does not include artists or artist groups paid for performances, presentations, exhibitions, workshops, etc.
- Artistic Programming: Includes a tallied summary of public programming and events, participating artists and artists fees paid, attendees and program participants, and event revenue (when applicable). Also includes samples of promotional material demonstrating AFA logo recognition requirements.
- Revenue and Expenditures:
- Includes a summary of revenues according to earned revenue, net investment income (when applicable), public funding, private sector/fundraising/donations, and other revenues. Revenues must match total revenues as reported on your included financial statements.
- Includes a summary of expenditures according to artistic programming, facilities, marketing and communications, fundraising, and administration expenses. Expenses must match total expenditures as reported on your included financial statements.
- Includes a summary of ineligible expenses that will be deducted from your total expenses used to determine your eligible grant request, as outlined in the How will my application be assessed section of the program guidelines.
- Your organization’s most recent, board-approved annual financial statements. See note below on Acceptable Financial Statements. - Diligence Questionnaire: Includes brief questions on successes, changes to finances, programming objectives, and changes to banking information (when applicable).
- Planned Activities: Includes a summary of upcoming artistic programming and activities
- Applicant Agreement: All sections of the application must be completed before the agreement can be signed. A user with signing authority for the applying organization must log into DGS to complete this task.
Acceptable financial statements:
For returning applicants, the level of financial statements required are determined by an organization’s prior year AFA grant. Financial statements must include a Balance Sheet, Statement of Revenues and Expenditures, and Statement of Cash Flows. If the prior year grant was:
- $25,000 or less include, at minimum, a financial statement approved and signed by the treasurer and two additional board members
- $25,001 to $50,000 include, at minimum, a Notice to Reader or Compilation Engagement financial statement provided by an independent, professionally designated accountant
- $50,000 to $100,000 include, at minimum, a Review Engagement financial statement provided by an independent, professionally designated accountant
- $100,001 or higher include a full Audited financial statement provided by an independent, professional designated accountant
For first-time applicants, board-approved financial statements should comprise a Balance Sheet, Statement of Revenues and Expenditures, and Statement of Cash Flows. The level of financial statement is determined by your organization, but future applications must meet the conditions outlined above.
How will my application be assessed?
Funding awarded through this program is determined based on an organization’s most recent, board-approved financial statements and according to:
- total eligible expenses to a maximum of 10 per cent
- organizations located outside the Calgary and Edmonton metropolitan regions may be eligible for an additional 2 per cent subject to available funds - equitable distribution of available funds to all eligible applicants
For the purposes of your grant request, total eligible expenses exclude any costs associated with:
- amortization or depreciation expenses
- capital expenses
- third-party funding
- consignment fees paid to artists
- public sector in-kind or non-cash contributions
Funding for Volunteer Based Arts Organizations is established by the AFA Board of Directors based upon the annual AFA budget allocated by the Government of Alberta. Department staff evaluate applications according to eligibility criteria and prepare recommendations to the board, which reviews and approves all funding.
All decisions are final and no appeals will be considered.
When will I hear?
Applicants will receive email notification upon AFA board approval, generally between four to six months from the application deadline.
Conditions
Organizations are only eligible to receive support from one AFA operating grant stream at any given time. Multiple applications to the Volunteer Based Arts Organizations program or to other AFA operating grant programs will not be accepted.
Funding is intended for the activities planned for your organization’s current or next fiscal year, based on information provided in your application, and in accordance with the acceptable use of funds.
The AFA or its authorized representatives may examine your financial and other records to ensure funding is used for its intended purpose:
- Recipients must return unused portions of the grant to the AFA
The AFA Fair Notice Policy applies to this grant program. The AFA may cancel, suspend, reduce, or demand repayment of the grant in circumstances where the AFA is concerned with the viability of the organization.
Funding Acknowledgement:
Organizations that receive operating funding must credit the AFA for financial support in any publicity prepared in relation to their activities, including in electronic, print, or visual materials.
- If your organization fails to satisfy AFA recognition requirements, it may be subject to a 10 per cent funding reduction in subsequent grant applications.
- Continued failure to meet recognition requirements may result in ineligibility to apply for future AFA funding.
Reporting
Reporting is not required for Volunteer Based Arts Organizations funding.
Helpful resources
Visit the Help and Resources section of our website to find additional resources for organizations.
Deadline information
LitFest: The Poetry of Public Art
Join Edmonton Arts Council on October 19 at Boa & Hare (#127, 10520 97 Street) for a celebration of public art and poetry, as we mark 30 years of the Edmonton Arts Council and the addition of the 300th public artwork to the City of Edmonton Public Art Collection with a month of 300@30 activities and events!
Mary Burlie was a force of compassion, devoting her life to lifting up others. Known lovingly as the “Black Angel of Boyle Street”, she served on the front lines of inner-city Edmonton, offering food, shelter, support, and above all, dignity to those most in need.
As part of the City of Edmonton’s revitalization project of Mary Burlie Park in downtown Edmonton, the Edmonton Arts Council has selected three local poets to create poetry that will be incorporated into the park design. In advance of the park opening in 2026, join Edmonton Arts Council, the family of Mary Burlie, and poets Titilope Sonuga, Naomi McIlwraith, and Cui Jinzhe for a morning of stories and spellbinding poetry.
This event is free to attend, but please pre-register to reserve your spot.
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Join Edmonton Arts Council on Sunday, October 19 at Boa & Hare, 127 – 10520 97 St NW, located in Pacific Mall for The Poetry of Public Art, presented with LitFest.
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LitFest: The Poetry of Public Art
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Join Edmonton Arts Council on Sunday, October 19 at Boa & Hare, 127 – 10520 97 St NW, located in Pacific Mall for The Poetry of Public Art, presented with LitFest.
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LitFest: The Poetry of Public Art
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Join Edmonton Arts Council on Sunday, October 19 at Boa & Hare, 127 – 10520 97 St NW, located in Pacific Mall for The Poetry of Public Art, presented with LitFest.
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Apply Now | Leighton Artist Studio Residency: Solo 26/27
Self-Directed Residencies for individual artists in the Leighton Studios
Application DeadlineOctober 29, 2025
Program Dates Apr 06, 2026 - Mar 26, 2027
Arrive Apr 05, 2026
Depart Mar 27, 2027
Program Duration: Minimum 2 weeks, maximum 6 weeks.
Proposed dates must start on a Monday and end on a Friday, with arrival on the Sunday before and departure on the Saturday after.
Heather Edwards Theatre Space Available
At Contemporary Calgary, we believe that art sparks conversation, inspires critical thinking, and invites the exploration of new ideas. Guided by this vision, we strive to be a resource for our community while also welcoming new voices and expanding our reach.
Thanks to the generous support of Heather Edwards, we are proud to offer our space at an accessible rate—supporting the presentation of work that is relevant, meaningful, and thought-provoking.
Are you an arts and culture organization, collective, or individual hoping to bring your work to the stage? Do you want to realize your projects with all the equipment of a modern theatre? Contemporary Calgary is seeking community partners to bring engaging cultural experiences to the Heather Edwards Theatre as well as to contribute to the development of Calgary’s performing arts community.
We invite you to share your ideas for this space as we continue to build bridges across communities through shared experiences of contemporary art. If you have an idea and are interested in developing a partnership with us, please visit us at our website at https://www.contemporarycalgary.com/heather-edwards-theatre
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Are you an arts and culture organization, collective, or individual hoping to bring your work to the stage? Do you want to realize your projects with all the equipment of a modern theatre? Contemporary Calgary is seeking community partners to bring engaging cultural experiences to the Heather Edwards Theatre as well as to contribute to the development of Calgary’s performing arts community.
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Heather Edwards Theatre Space Available
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Are you an arts and culture organization, collective, or individual hoping to bring your work to the stage? Do you want to realize your projects with all the equipment of a modern theatre? Contemporary Calgary is seeking community partners to bring engaging cultural experiences to the Heather Edwards Theatre as well as to contribute to the development of Calgary’s performing arts community.
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Heather Edwards Theatre Space Available
Twitter description
Are you an arts and culture organization, collective, or individual hoping to bring your work to the stage? Do you want to realize your projects with all the equipment of a modern theatre? Contemporary Calgary is seeking community partners to bring engaging cultural experiences to the Heather Edwards Theatre as well as to contribute to the development of Calgary’s performing arts community.
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LitFest: Edmonton Heritage Stories Stories Anthology
When: Sunday, October 19, 2025 @ 3 to 4:30 pm
Where: Citadel Theatre (Zeidler Hall), 9828 - 101A Ave, Edmonton
Tickets: $5 (student/low income), $15 (regular)
“A city is not alive without its people. Where there are people, there are stories and art. Where there are stories and art, there are opportunities to learn from each other, and expand our knowledge and experiences.”
LitFest is thrilled to bring you a selection of readings from Edmonton Heritage Stories: A collection of stories on crossings, courage, and community, which pulls together heritage stories from the perspectives of people who acknowledge or identify with the the following heritage: China, Germany, Japan, Nepal, Philippines, Poland and Ukraine.
Featuring: Ryan Lacanilao, Oliver Rossier, Roxanne Reimer (with musical accompaniment by Emry – Bejing Opera), Paul Fujishige, Rabbits Three c/o Carley Okamura (Japanese Drums), William Wang, Ying (Cathy) Shi (with accompaniment from the Chinese Seniors Band/Edmonton Small Band for Seniors), Mila Bonco-Philipzig (with accompaniment from Kulintang traditional drums)
Host: Ryan Lacanilao
For more information please visit: https://litfestalberta.org/events/
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LitFest is thrilled to bring you a selection of readings from Edmonton Heritage Stories: A collection of stories on crossings, courage, and community.
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LitFest: Edmonton Heritage Stories Stories Anthology
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LitFest is thrilled to bring you a selection of readings from Edmonton Heritage Stories: A collection of stories on crossings, courage, and community.
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LitFest: Edmonton Heritage Stories Stories Antholo
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LitFest is thrilled to bring you a selection of readings from Edmonton Heritage Stories: A collection of stories on crossings, courage, and community.
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LitFest: Memoir Hour—What an amazing story!
This year’s memoir hour panel features three stories of incredible journeys.
When: Sunday, October 19, 2025 @ 1 to 2:30 pm
Where: Citadel Theatre (Zeidler Hall), 9828 - 101A Ave, Edmonton
Tickets: $5 (student/low income), $15 (regular)
Featuring:
Meltdown: The Making and Breaking of a Field Scientist by Sarah Boon
The Migrant Rain Falls in Reverse: A Memoir by Vinh Nguyen
Water Borne: A 1,200-Mile Paddleboarding Pilgrimage by Dan Rubenstein
For more information please visit: https://litfestalberta.org/events/
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This year’s memoir hour panel features three stories of incredible journeys.
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LitFest: Memoir Hour—What an amazing story!
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This year’s memoir hour panel features three stories of incredible journeys.
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LitFest: Memoir Hour—What an amazing story!
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This year’s memoir hour panel features three stories of incredible journeys.
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LitFest: My Weird Life with Amber Dawn: a workshop of weird approaches to personal narrative writing
When: Sunday, October 19, 2025 @ 12 to 2 pm
Where: Location TBD
Tickets: $15
Invite experimentation and spontaneity into your writing practice with My Weird Life. This writing workshop is designed for memoir, narrative poetry and autofiction writers, though it can be adapted to any form of personally-rooted writing. Writers in all stages of their practice are welcome.
The workshop structure includes generative freewriting prompts, short sample readings from Amber Dawn’s body-of-work, craft mini-lectures and discussion. Space is limited to 20 writers and registration is mandatory. Come with a notebook, laptop or other writing device and be ready to do some outside-of-the box writing.
For more information please visit: https://litfestalberta.org/events/
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This writing workshop is designed for memoir, narrative poetry and autofiction writers, though it can be adapted to any form of personally-rooted writing.
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LitFest: My Weird Life with Amber Dawn: a workshop of weird approaches to personal narrative writing
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This writing workshop is designed for memoir, narrative poetry and autofiction writers, though it can be adapted to any form of personally-rooted writing.
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LitFest: My Weird Life with Amber Dawn: a workshop
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This writing workshop is designed for memoir, narrative poetry and autofiction writers, though it can be adapted to any form of personally-rooted writing.
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