Date: Dec 21, 2022
We invite you to explore the 2021-2022 AFA Annual Report, which includes our accomplishments during the last fiscal year, a summary of grants awarded, financial statements, and the AFA Board’s membership and responsibilities.
Key highlights from the report:
The AFA’s funding priorities in 2021-22 were to maintain predictable and stable support for Alberta’s arts organizations and provide opportunities for individual artists.
- The AFA maintained existing commitments and/or funding levels for most operating clients.
- The AFA maintained funding levels for opportunities for individual artists in 2021-22 and took the opportunity to support additional projects near the end of the fiscal year with reassigned funds.
- To assist with recovery and support COVID-19 relaunch in the arts sector, the AFA approved changes to the Organizations: Arts Projects grant stream, modifying its criteria to address persistent pandemic conditions.
Funding
Through its grant programs, the AFA administered $22.1 million to Alberta’s arts sector.
- The AFA provided 387 operating grants and 180 project grants to organizations totaling $19.3 million.
- The AFA provided 264 grants to artists working in a variety of artistic disciplines totaling $2.8 million.
Art collection
The AFA Art Collection acquired 80 new pieces: 43 purchases and 37 donations.
- Through the Art Acquisition by Application program, the AFA purchased 36 artworks by 24 artists, 15 of whom were not previously represented in the AFA Art Collection.
The AFA’s Travelling Exhibition (TREX) program visited 155 venues and saw 272,297 visitors.
Research and engagement
In April 2021, the AFA hosted targeted stakeholder engagement sessions to gather input and feedback that could be used to inform the 2021-22 spending plan and potential arts sector relaunch communications following the pandemic.
In May 2021, the AFA approved a Pluralism arts policy. In this policy, pluralism is considered as an overarching philosophy that encompasses issues of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.
To recognize its 30th anniversary in September 2021, the AFA conducted an online, social media-focused campaign to acknowledge the milestone, communicate the value of the arts, and encourage Albertans to return to in-person arts and culture events and activities.
