Call for Submissions

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 Mohkinstsis (Calgary) visual artists to display and sell their work, free from commission.

For this exhibit, we are looking for work that reflects the theme of Naturally Occurring: an appreciation of all the gifts given us by nature. Stunning natural processes, the silliness of animals, the intricacy of an ecosystem, etc. Submissions of any style, from realistic to abstract, and in any visual art medium will be considered, provided it meets all gallery requirements below.

The Pumphouse Theatre supports an inclusive and diverse community. We encourage any submissions of eligible visual artists from all communities including but not limited to the LGBTQ2+, BIPOC, and those with disabilities. Priority will be given to artists who are emerging or at the early stages of their career. 

Submissions must meet the following requirements:

• Artist must reside in Calgary and must be available for installation dates provided.
• Artwork must be delivered ready to hang (wall-space only) with the dimensions listed on the application form.

Installation Requirements: All art MUST 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.  

In the event of an in-person gallery, The Pumphouse Theatre will install the work on behalf of the artists. Artwork may be dropped off or picked up by either the artist or a representative during the hours of 12pm and 6pm on the installation and take down dates provided. Artist must reserve an installation and take down date via a provided form or by contacting the Programming Director. 

Timeline: 

• Submission Deadline: January 5th, 2026, 11:59pm
  • All artists who submit will be notified with a decision no later than 2-2 1/2 weeks after the deadline has passed.
• Installation: January 25th – 28th, 2026
• Exhibition: January  30th – April 4th, 2026
• Take Down: April 5th – 8th, 2026

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 fore mentioned 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 keep image formats to either PNG or JPEG. If you are unable to do so, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate. 

Applications or queries can be sent to:
Facilities and Programming Director
2140 Pumphouse Ave SW Calgary, AB T3C 3P5
prod@pumphousetheatre.ca  403-263-0079 ext. 100

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 is based on: suitability to the theme, technique, emotional response, creativity & innovation, and suitability for the Pumphouse Theatre gallery space and its patrons (ages 8-80 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 the Pumphouse Theatre, at any point.

BuckingJam Palace (BJP) Music Foundation is currently exploring what a purpose-built or renovated venue for small to mid-sized live/performing arts organizations might look like in Calgary. If you are a musician, collective, or small to mid-sized organization looking for space to create, produce, and present your work - we invite you to connect with us by filling out this survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfnMQIvMOEWnfDskkgPMnLfE0k893CX85Ol31KB3QGMMoDLVg/viewform?usp=share_link&ouid=110598892251061525209 

Since 2014, BJP has been hosting local, national, and international jazz artists in our historic home in Mount Royal where musicians spend time collaborating, recording, and performing for our small audiences of 50. More recently, we have also been hosting concerts at external venues within Calgary to meet the demand of our touring artists and growing audiences.

We know that we are outgrowing our house concerts, but we still want to maintain the spirit of our house concerts and offer space for our musicians to not only perform; but also to create, record, and collaborate with each other. As such, we are looking for alternative venues and what it might look like to collaborate with other artists, collectives, and small to mid-sized organizations.

We have prepared a survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfnMQIvMOEWnfDskkgPMnLfE0k893CX85Ol31KB3QGMMoDLVg/viewform?usp=share_link&ouid=110598892251061525209 to start the conversation and to have a better understanding of your needs. The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete and we ask you to fill it out by Monday, December 1, 2025. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Aimee-Jo Benoit, Executive Director at BJP Music Foundation at ed@buckingjampalace.com

For more information about BuckingJam Palace Music Foundation, please visit our website at https://buckingjampalace.com 
 

Strathcona County is seeking handmade or artist designed items that will be used to thank and recognize key contributors of the 2026 Alberta Summer Games. Each selected artist/artisan will be responsible for producing a single item type (with minor variations allowed) to ensure consistency across gifts.  

Submission deadline: Friday, January 16, 2026, at 8 am MST  

Production period: approximately 17 weeks 

Interested artists can apply today!

Learn more at asg2026.com

Strathcona County invites individual artists and artist teams to participate in a live mural jam coinciding with the 2026 Alberta Summer Games. Over four days (Thursday–Sunday), five selected artists/teams will create medium-scale indoor murals around the circumference of an elevated running track overlooking an indoor soccer field. The public will be able to safely observe progress from the track, creating a dynamic exchange between artists and audience.

This call seeks artists whose work celebrates movement, care, collaboration, and the spirit of youth. We welcome proposals across styles, from bold graphic abstraction to figurative storytelling, so long as the final artworks are family friendly, inclusive and responsive to the site.

Eligibility

• Open to professional artists and artist teams residing in Alberta.
• Artists 18+ are eligible; emerging artists are encouraged to apply.
• Priority may be given to artists with a demonstrated commitment to youth engagement, inclusive storytelling, ecological awareness, or live-paint settings.
• Strathcona County encourages applications from Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, disabled artists, and artists from rural and suburban communities.

Details

• Painting weekend: Thursday to Sunday, July 16 – 19, 2026
• Location: Indoor Soccer Field & Running Track Concourse, Millennium Place, Sherwood Park, Alberta
• Number of murals: 5
• Audience: All-ages public, athletes, coaches, families, and visitors during the 2026 Alberta Summer Games

Site and mural specifications

• Site: Interior perimeter walls adjacent to the running track that circles an indoor soccer field at Millennium Place. Spectators will view murals from the track and concourse.
• Bays: Five distinct paint areas (one per selected artist/team).
• Approx. dimensions: ~14 ft (h) × 25 ft (w) per bay (each wall varies slightly). Please be prepared to adapt the composition to minor size differences.
• Surface: Painted interior wall (existing coatings to be confirmed).
• Access: Step ladders and portable scaffolding permitted
• Environmental conditions: Climate controlled interior; steady public traffic on the track.
• Lighting: Overhead facility lighting.

Theme and community guidelines

• Themes: Inclusivity · Timeless design · Non‑representational form · Action · Movement · Youthful energy. Designs that explore rhythm, cadence, and flow.
• Content standards: All imagery must be appropriate for all ages.

Artist fee and supplies

• Artist Fee: $40 CAD / sq ft (+ GST if applicable) of completed mural area (inclusive of materials and travel).
• Wall 1: 13.33 ft (H) × 20.33 ft (W) = 271.00 sq ft ($10,840 fee)
• Wall 2: 13.50 ft (H) × 20.12 ft (W) = 271.62 sq ft ($10,865 fee)
• Wall 3: 14.20 ft (H) × 24.00 ft (W) = 340.80 sq ft ($13,632 fee)
• Wall 4: 13.50 ft (H) × 24.33 ft (W) = 328.46 sq ft ($13,138 fee)
• Wall 5: 13.50 ft (H) × 33.45 ft (W) = 451.58 sq ft ($18,063 fee)

Materials and equipment

• County provides wall prep (wash/prime), basic onsite tools (drop sheets, buckets, rollers, trays), step ladders, access to water, and facility coordination.
• Artist provides: all paint, brushes, specialty colours, detail tools, PPE, sealers/varnishes as preferred (costs covered within the per / sq ft fee).

Insurance

General liability coverage provided for public viewing areas. Artists who operate as a registered business (with GST#) must carry personal/professional liability insurance and WCB coverage where applicable (confirmed in artist agreements).

Schedule (subject to change)

• Call opens: October 27, 2025
• Deadline to apply: December 8, 2025
• Notifications: February 2026
• Site walkthrough: March 2026
• Designs for selected artists: April 2026
• Painting days: Thursday–Sunday, July 16–19, 2026 (games weekend)
• Clean up and documentation: Sunday evening, July 19, 2026

Selection criteria

Evaluated by internal selection committee

1. Artistic Quality (45%): strength of portfolio, originality, command of composition, colour, and scale.
2. Context (25%): alignment with themes (inclusivity, timeless design, action/movement, youthful energy).
3. Capacity & Feasibility (20%): demonstrated ability to complete work at the indicated scale and within a live-paint, four-day timeline.
4. Professionalism & Safety (10%): experience working in public venues; safe practices and collaboration with facility staff.

Shortlisted artists will receive a design brief and produce a concept for committee approval prior to painting.

For more information or to apply: Mural jam call for artists