Visual arts & new media

The Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) is pleased to announce a series of free webinar workshops for those interested in applying to the Visual Arts and New Media Individual Project Grant or the Indigenous Arts Individual Project Grant funding streams taking place during the month of August 2025.

These funding opportunities are available to independent artists or collectives only. The deadline to apply for both of these programs is September 2, 2025.

Our consultant Kari McQueen will provide a free webinar for those interested in applying. She will be providing tips and other useful information to apply for all project types, helping applicants develop their funding application and increasing their chances of success.

Dates and times for these workshops are listed below. To register for these workshops, please click on the registration links for your preferred date below.

Workshops for the Visual Arts and New Media Individual Grant

Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at 6-7:30 pm
Thursday, August 14, 2025 at 6-7:30 pm

Workshops for the Indigenous Arts Individual Grant

Wednesday, August 13, 2025 at 6-7:30 pm
Monday, August 18, 2025 at 6-7:30 pm

Pre-deadline Q&A Informal Webinars

In addition to the workshops above, Kari McQueen will also be offering free informal webinars for both grant programs being held just prior to the September 2, 2025 deadline to answer specific questions that may arise as applicants are working on and finishing up their applications. 

Applicants can register for those workshops at the links below.

Visual Art and New Media Individual Project: Monday, August 25, 2025
Indigenous Arts Individual Project: Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Registrants of these workshops are encouraged to take a look at the funding guidelines for the Visual Arts and New Media Project Funding and the Indigenous Arts Individual Project Funding streams, respectively.

The Allied Arts Council of Pincher Creek is a non-profit community arts organization that makes our home in the beautiful historic Lebel Mansion in Southern Alberta.

Note: our deadline has been extended until Sunday, August 31, 2025.

We are currently accepting submissions for our 2026 season. We invite solo and group artists to apply for the 2026 exhibition season.

​Please visit our website for all the details, including an updated gallery submission information packet which will guide you through the process.

We strive to host thought-provoking exhibitions that appeal to a diverse audience in order to expand understanding of the visual arts in the community. Our art gallery exhibits working artists at all levels of their artistic careers and curates dynamic exhibitions that showcase strong, current Canadian art. We provide a yearly exhibition schedule balancing local artists and artists from throughout Canada working in all mediums.

The Allied Arts Council of Pincher Creek’s preference is for exhibitions that are for sale, however we will consider submissions that do not include works for sale. The AAC has a commission rate of 30% on all sales in addition to paying artist fees. All exhibitions will be curated and installed by the AAC's Executive Director, Kassandra Chancey and/or experienced volunteers in coordination with the artist or group.

If you are applying as a solo artist and we see potential for a group show collaboration amongst submissions will be in contact with you.

​The 2026 exhibitions run for 6-8 consecutive weeks and artists are paid $1000 for showcasing their work.

Deadline for submissions: Sunday, August 31, 2025 by 11:59 p.m.

Visit our website for all the details and submission package

Upside Downtown: Concerts + Art line-up for 2025! 

Join us every Thursday in July & August from 5-7pm on Rotary Square at Casa. FREE to attend. From local talent to Juno-nominated artists, Upside Downtown has rock, soul, folk, blues, funk, and country plus everything in between. 

JULY 3*
Veronica Raine
The Decadent Phase

JULY 10*
Makiisma

JULY 17
Joce Reyome

JULY 24
Joshua Beebe & The Forest Orchestra
Willy Big Bull & Wintercount

JULY 31
John Wort-Hannam

AUGUST 7
Nuela Charles

AUGUST 14
Bailey Kate Band

AUGUST 21
Richard Inman & The Western Canadian All-Stars

AUGUST 28 - POP UP, GET DOWN - Dance until 10 pm
Shaela Miller + Guests
ADEQUATE!
Hippodrome

Our final concert on August 28 will be the inaugural POP UP, GET DOWN – A summer dance party with three bands, an art market, and we’re closing 8 Street South! 

Throughout the summer, drop by The Gallery at Casa for Re:Turning the Stories, a community exhibition with over 40 local artists reflecting on their relationship to the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden and Nikkei cultural stories in southern Alberta. 

Follow the @AACLETH and @CASALETHBRIDGE on Facebook and Instagram to see which food trucks will be joining us each week. 

*PS - We will be joined for a pre-show on July 3 & July 10 at 4:45 pm with Chinook High School Battle of the Bands Winners. Supporting emerging talent in our community! 

Thank you to our sponsors for allowing us to provide FREE concerts to the community: FACTOR, Spectrum Ale Co., Westco Construction, Precon, Andrew Hilton, Anova Law Group, CIR Realty, Nectar Tattoo, Safeway, So Normal Print Co., Tourism Lethbridge, and Warwick Printing.

The Upside Downtown Concert Series is programmed by the Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge. For more information about this series and the AAC, visit artslethbridge.org/