AFA News

Inspire & Create: Networking Event and Arts Showcase + AFA funding information session

Are you an artist or creative looking to take your projects to the next level? Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to learn about funding programs available through the AFA and network with AFA representatives and other artists! This event is your chance to explore how you can access funding to support your creative endeavors and connect with other artists in the Wood Buffalo community.

Throughout the event, enjoy vibrant live creation as local artists showcase their talents in music, poetry, visual arts, and more. Enjoy live poetry writing, musical performances, and experience the innovation of visual art - all while gaining valuable insights into AFA funding opportunities.

February 15 at 12:30 p.m. at the Suncor Energy Centre for the Arts (230 Powder Drive, Fort McMurray)

Join the Facebook event. 

Learn more about Hanna Fridhed and the AFA Community Connectors.

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Join AFA staff in a unique networking event on February 15 at 12:30 p.m. at the Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts organized by our Community Connector, Hanna Fridhed.

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Caribbean Expressions: A Day of Music and Culture + AFA funding information session

Are you an artist, dancer, musician, poet, photographer, videographer, or cultural advocate passionate about Caribbean heritage? Join us for an engaging and informative session designed to empower you with tools and knowledge to bring your creative projects to life.

February 8 at 4 p.m. at CKUA (9804 Jasper Ave)

RSVP for free

Learn more about Danielle George and the AFA Community Connectors.

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Join AFA staff in a unique networking event on February 8 at 4 p.m. at CKUA organized by our Community Connector, Danielle George.

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News release: Millions in grant funding for Alberta’s art sector

Image: Calgary Opera performers Alessia Vitali (singer) and Jonathan Brandani (pianist) perform at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium.

On January 23, the Honourable Tanya Fir, Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women was joined by AFA Chair Cynthia P. Moore to announce how increased provincial arts funding this year is supporting Alberta artists and arts organizations. Watch:

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So far this fiscal year, Alberta’s government has provided $21.2 million in grant funding for 304 arts-based organizations and 422 individual artists, with more funding to be approved before the fiscal year is over. This represents a 40 per cent increase in the number of grants provided compared to this time in 2023.  

“Alberta is proud to be home to talented artists in every corner of the province, and the arts sector remains a significant contributor to Alberta’s economy and quality of life. Each year, the arts sector contributes more than $1.2 billion in GDP and keeps more than 17,000 Albertans employed. When the arts thrive, Alberta thrives.”   

Tanya Fir, Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women 

This additional funding commitment has already had an impact on how the AFA has been able to distribute dollars to local artists, with an increase to the maximum eligible grant amount for individual artists from $15,000 to $18,000. 

“The AFA is thrilled by the funding commitment made by Alberta’s government to increase support for the arts community. This has allowed us to support even more Alberta artists this year and providing important support for arts organizations across the province. The AFA will continue to prioritize and invest in artists, art, and cultural materials in line with our mandate and government’s priorities.” 

Cynthia Moore, board chair, Alberta Foundation for the Arts 

Read the full news release on Alberta.ca. 

Apply for a grant

Artists, the next deadline for Individual Project Grants is March 3, 2025. Find funding to support your next art project. 

AFA Individual Project Grants can provide funding through four broad categories:

  • art production (art creation)
  • research
  • marketing
  • training and career development

Explore our resources to help you develop you AFA grant application. 

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Calgary Opera performers  Alessia Vitali (singer) and Jonathan Brandani (pianist) perform before the announcement
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Watch the announcement of how Alberta’s government, through the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, is providing 726 artists and art organizations with over $20 million in funding.
Artists are encouraged to apply for an Individual Project Grant by March 3!

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Nominate a Distinguished Artist 2025

Who is a Distinguished Artist

Individuals or organizations may nominate an artist, artist collective, or arts builder and supporter for a Distinguished Artist Award. (Self-nominations, posthumous nominations, and nominations from family members, however, will not be considered.)

Nominations for the 2025 Distinguished Artist Award will be accepted between November 15, 2024 and March 31, 2025. 

To prepare for the nomination:

Dean - Victoria Conservatory of Music

The Organization

Located on the Lək̓ʷəŋən traditional territory, known today as the Songhees, Xwsepsum (Esquimalt), WSÁNEĆ (Tsartlip, Tseycum, and Tsawout) and Scia’new (Beecher Bay) Nations, the Victoria Conservatory of Music identifies equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and reconciliation among its guiding ideals, and encourages applications from candidates of all identities and backgrounds. 

A special holiday greeting from the AFA

Dr. Joane Cardinal-Schubert
Crowsnest Mountain and the Seven Sisters, 1989
oil on paper
Collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts


The holiday season is a wonderful time to reflect with family and friends. At the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, we are forging a deeper understanding of our role and responsibilities as Alberta’s provincial arts funder and principal supporter. We are in a period of renewal as we look forward to new opportunities. Whether it is the performing arts, literary, visual, film or video, the AFA’s job is to help individual artists and organizations explore, practice, create and promote their exceptional work.

We have a profound sense of optimism for the years ahead that is buoyed by the Alberta government’s commitment to increase AFA funding to a record-level $39.1 million by 2027. 
We look forward to continuing our work with government for the betterment of Alberta’s arts sector.

Art and Alberta’s artists are at the heart of everything that we do. In that vein, I’m proud to continue the AFA’s tradition of highlighting an artwork from our collection. This year, I’m pleased to feature Crowsnest Mountain and the Seven Sisters by Dr. Joane Cardinal-Schubert. 
This beautiful Indigenous work is representative of the mountain landscape in Southern Alberta. Cardinal-Schubert’s use of color is so appropriate during the holiday season.

On behalf of the AFA Board of Directors and staff, please accept my best wishes for a safe and restful holiday season, Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.

 

Cynthia P. Moore, Chair

Alberta Foundation for the Arts

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A special holiday greeting from AFA Board Chair Cynthia P. Moore.

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A special holiday greeting from the AFA
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A special holiday greeting from AFA Board Chair Cynthia P. Moore.

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A special holiday greeting from the AFA
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A special holiday greeting from AFA Board Chair Cynthia P. Moore.

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Spotlight on Arts Audiences - Wave 3 Results

The AFA is supporting a two-year research project conducted by Stone-Olafson on current engagement of arts audiences in Alberta. We are pleased to share the third set of results ("Wave 3").

This work was developed for the arts sector exclusively and is designed to provide specific, relevant, and reliable facts to support the leaders in the arts sector as they seek to understand their audiences and grow attendance.

Key topic areas for Wave 3 include:

  • Assess interest and engagement with arts related education opportunities
  • Understand spending habits and how they’ve altered
  • Identify current barriers to last minute engagement
  • Understand ad hoc decision variables

Results

Watch the video of the results on YouTube.

Watch the team from Stone-Olafson report on the findings from the second wave of research in the Spotlight on Arts Audiences project.

Download the reports:

About the project

The AFA has partnered with the Rozsa Foundation (www.rozsafoundation.com), Calgary Arts Development(calgaryartsdevelopment.com), Calgary Foundation (calgaryfoundation.org), Edmonton Arts Council (www.edmontonarts.ca), and Edmonton Community Foundation(www.ecfoundation.org), to support the Spotlight on Arts Audiences research project. The work will survey arts-inclined audiences in Calgary, Edmonton, and across the province to provide data that is useful and timely for arts leaders and organizations three times per year over the next two years.

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Third set of results of a long-term study on understanding Alberta arts audiences. Watch a presentation of the report.

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Third set of results of a long-term study on understanding Alberta arts audiences. Watch a presentation of the report.

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Third set of results of a long-term study on understanding Alberta arts audiences. Watch a presentation of the report.

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All Influential Artists nominations

Hundreds of nominations poured in for the 25 Influential Alberta Artists. Here's the full list of all who were nominated.

  • aAron munson
  • Alex Janvier
  • Alexis Marie Chute
  • Alice Major
  • Amber Borotsik
  • Annette Loiselle
  • Aritha van Herk
  • ASANI
  • Benjamin (Ben) Gorodetsky
  • Blair Brennan
  • Bob Baker
  • Brian Webb
  • Bridget Ryan
  • Caitlind r.c. Brown and Wayne Garrett
  • Cam White
  • Captain Tractor
  • Carl White
  • Carmen Haakstad
  • Charles Lewton Brain
  • Chris Cran
  • Christina Ignacio-Deines
  • Christine Sokaymoh Frederick
  • Cora Taylor
  • Corps Bara Dance Theatre
  • Curt Young
  • Curtis Cutshaw
  • Dallas Arcand
  • Dale Auger
  • Danelle Marie Tucker
  • Darrin Hagen
  • Dave Morgan
  • David Glowasky
  • David Hoffos
  • David Liu
  • Delia Cross Child
  • Derek Beaulieu
  • Derek Besant
  • Dianne Bos
  • Don & Shirley Begg
  • Donovan Waskahat
  • Dorothy J. Harris
  • Doug McKeag
  • Doug Swinton
  • Dr. Jeremy Brown
  • Dr. Joane Cardinal-Schubert
  • Elaine Quilichini - Calgary Girls Choir
  • Elsa Robinson
  • Emilio De Mercato
  • Enok Ripley
  • Eric Moschopedis and Mia Rushton
  • Faye Heavy Shield
  • Fil Fraser
  • Fiona Malena
  • Foothills Art Club - Cochrane
  • France Levasseur-Ouimet
  • Gary Burns
  • Gary James Joynes
  • George Littlechild
  • George Webber
  • Gerry Morita
  • Gil Cardinal
  • Gord Bamford
  • Grant Berg
  • Greg Payce
  • IllFX Education
  • Isla Burns
  • Jan Henderson
  • Jane Ash Poitras
  • Jay Bigam
  • Jeffrey Spalding
  • Jessica Kluthe
  • Jim Norton
  • Jim Stokes
  • Joal Kamps
  • John Chalke
  • John Estacio
  • John Hudson
  • Jonathan Christenson
  • JP Thibodeau
  • Julia Reimer
  • Karen Cantine
  • Katie Ohe
  • Keith Johnstone
  • Kevin Mason & Meghan Schritt
  • Kylee Hart
  • Lindsay McIntyre
  • Lisa Brawn
  • Loose Moose Theatre Company
  • Lorrie Matheson
  • Lynda Adams
  • Lyndal Osborne
  • Maria Campbell
  • Marty Chan
  • Maria Pace-Winters
  • Marie Gynane-Willis
  • Marjorie Taylor
  • Mark Bellamy
  • Marni Strome
  • Melissa Jo Belcourt Moses
  • Melissa McKinnon
  • Michael Green
  • Michael Hamm
  • Michael Massey
  • Micheline Maylor
  • Michelle Minke
  • Mykola Kanevets
  • Myrna Kostash
  • Narcisse Blood
  • Nasra Adem
  • Nik Kozub
  • Northern Cree Singers
  • Patricia Coulter
  • Paul Freeman
  • Peter Hide
  • Rae Waters (Watterworth)
  • Rebecca Northan
  • Richard Lee
  • Robert Sinclair
  • Robert Walsh
  • Robin Peck
  • Ron Walker
  • Ronald Benjamin Moppett
  • Rosebud Theatre
  • Royden Mills
  • Rudy Wiebe
  • Ryan McCourt
  • San Façon
  • Sandi Somers
  • Sandra Bromley
  • Sandro Dominelli
  • Sean Caulfield
  • Sharanpal Ruprai
  • Sharon Stevens
  • Sheiny Satanove
  • Shelby Wolfe
  • Sheri-D Wilson
  • Shona Rae
  • Steve Mill
  • Steve Pirot
  • Stewart Lemoine
  • Svetlana Kanyo
  • Sylvain Voyer
  • Tanya Harnett
  • Tara Szhott
  • Terrance Houle
  • Terry Gunvordahl
  • The Calgary Civic Symphony
  • Tim Folkmann
  • Tim Williams
  • Timothy Shantz
  • Tommy Banks
  • Trevor Anderson
  • Trina Moyles
  • Ukrainian Shumka Dancers
  • Vera Gartley
  • Vicki Adams Willis
  • W.B. (Bob) McPhee
  • Walter Jule
  • William Laing
  • Wojciech Mochniej
  • Yvonne Jobin


 

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Hundreds of nominations poured in for the 25 Influential Alberta Artists. Here's the full list of all who were nominated.

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All Influential Artists nominations
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Hundreds of nominations poured in for the 25 Influential Alberta Artists. Here's the full list of all who were nominated.

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All Influential Artists nominations
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Hundreds of nominations poured in for the 25 Influential Alberta Artists. Here's the full list of all who were nominated.

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