Visual arts & new media

This research is being conducted in six waves over the course of the next year. This is a community resource that is FREE to access and results from the fourth wave of research are now available. 

Findings for Alberta organizations from Wave 4 results include:

• Public perceptions reflect the low point of the pandemic at this time.
• Albertans are adapting to and following the rules.
• Change in habits during the pandemic appears to be additive, not alternative
• Contexts frame marketing in this environment - messages will need to be shifted, media strategies evaluated, and some types of voices changed.
• Engagement is on hold.
• Travel within the province is an option. 

What are the implications for Alberta organizations?

• When conditions permit, recognize you will be reconnecting with a weary population who are more anxious than before. Messages and offers will need to adjust to reflect this reality.
• As Albertans accept and get used to the restrictions, they expect others to follow them too. A large percentage of those surveyed indicate others not following protocols will dissuade them from attending events/participating in activities. The same applies for not seeing sufficient safeguards in place.
• As restrictions start to lift, Albertans are likely to start figuring out how to balance a new set of activities they enjoy with their usual activities they want to get back to. And for organizations, that means breaking through a larger competitive set to capture the attention of their audiences. For those that offer registered or directed experiences this may be an even bigger challenge now that people are also adding in more self-directed experiences.
• Organizations are likely going to need a multi-layered media strategy that can reach influencers who can help propel the message. To be clear, an influencer strategy doesn’t mean a pure social media strategy. It means a strategy of messages and media that are repeatable to others.
• Organizations have to be prepared to re-engage in stages. When current restrictions lift there will be some appetite to explore and potential opportunities to meet them online or outdoors. In a post-pandemic environment, audiences are very likely to get active again.
• Focusing on broad messages that reflect a drive to escape everyday stresses and deliver on social motivations will work well to help motivate intra-provincial travel. Reinforcing these main messages with reassurances about flexibility in booking and safety will also be helpful to finalize a decision.

Download the reports:

• Alberta Report
• Calgary Report 
• Edmonton Report

You can subscribe to receive notifications when the new reports are available by visiting stone-olafson.com. 

About the project

The Alberta Foundation for the Arts is pleased to be a funding partner in this collaboration with Stone-Olafson and other community leaders to develop a long-term research investigation and evaluate how current conditions will reshape Albertans’ attitudes and behaviours towards social and group activities, across a variety of sectors. The purpose of this work is to give leaders of community sports, recreation, arts and culture, professional sports, active living, heritage, tourism or hospitality sectors relevant facts about local audiences that they will need to bring life back to our communities.

The initiative is being funded by: 

• ActiveCITY Collective
• Alberta Foundation for the Arts 
• Angus Reid
• ATB
• Calgary Arts Development 
• Calgary Foundation
• Edmonton Arts Council
• Edmonton Community Foundation
• Rozsa Foundation
• Stone-Olafson
• Travel Alberta

Since its inception in 1981, the Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) Travelling Exhibition (TREX) program strives to ensure every Albertan is provided with the opportunity to enjoy art exhibitions in their own communities in one of four TREX regions across the province.

The Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA)  is seeking proposals from proponents such as non-commercial public art galleries and/or arts organizations with experience with public programming, art exhibition development/circulation of Alberta visual arts to manage the Travelling Exhibition Program (TREX) for the next five year contract term of April 1, 2025-March 31, 2030.  

Detailed information on the Request for Proposal (RFP), the Service Requirements and the Contract can be found on the Alberta Purchasing Connection website.

You will need to create a “Supplier” Profile on the Alberta Purchasing Connection website to view the opportunity and to ask questions. The Alberta Purchasing Connection Suppliers Registration portal can be found here:

APC Suppliers - Purchasing Connection

General Information on the Management of the Travelling Exhibition (TREX) Program Request for Proposal opportunity can be found here:

AB-2024-09293 - Posting - Purchasing Connection

Please note: All questions must be submitted through the Alberta Purchasing Connection Portal and will be posted publicly.

Please access and read the full Request for Proposals (“RFP”) Number RFP-AFA2024TR001, Management of the Travelling Exhibition (TREX) Program document before submitting questions.

We look forward to receiving your submissions. 

SYNC Sound and Image Conference: Elevate Your Creative Journey

Join us from November 8 - 10  at the National Music Centre for the SYNC Sound and Image Conference, a premier event for electronic music and visual arts enthusiasts.

This three-day conference offers a unique blend of workshops, live performances, and networking opportunities designed to inspire and connect artists and creators.

Event Schedule:

Friday, November 8

Festival Hall:

Artist Mixer:

• 5 pm – 7 pm

Sound Performances:

• 8 pm – Lokey
• 9 pm – Idlefon
• 10 pm – Sean Beaver
• 11 pm – Quantum Monastery
• 12 am – Daedelus

Image Presentations:

• 7 pm – Film Screening
• 8 pm – Evvie Lightpirate
• 10 pm – VJ Nicetrip

Flow Performance:

• 11 pm – 1 am – aGoGo (Soliel & ShanShan)

Saturday, November 9th (Daytime)

National Music Centre (King Eddy Side):

Sound Workshops:

• 12 pm – Robert Alexander: End of Chain for Live Application
• 1 pm – Ebb and Flow: Organic Techno with Yoyu
• 2 pm – ZOV Presents Modular Systems, Gear Technique, Workflow & Creating/Managing a Live Act
• 3 pm – Daedelus: Organizing the Artist – From Studio to Stage
• 4 pm – Playing Live Panel with Daedelus, Yoyu, ZOV, & Lokey
• 5 pm – Saytek Live: Marketing Your Live Act

Image Workshops:

• 12 pm – MapperzYYC: Projection of the People
• 1 pm – Lightpirates: Visuals – From Lofi to AI
• 2 pm – Dylon Klemen-Hurell: Creating Visual Music
• 3 pm – Sandi Somers: Movies That Predicted the Future
• 4 pm– Granular Adventures: Intro to Touch Designer
• 5 pm – The Indie MBA: SYNC Your Sound and Brand – Electronic Press Kits (EPKs) Made Easy!

Festival Hall:

Flow Workshops:

• 12 pm – Kylee Conscious Dance
• 2 pm – Joy of Poi with Robin Fiametta from aGoGo
• 3:30 pm – Inside Outside Hula Hoop Flow with Kelly Hoolala from aGoGo
• 4 pm – Nadia Zeal: Stage Design

Saturday, November 9th (Evening)

Festival Hall:

Sound Performances:

• 8 pm – YoYu
• 9 pm – Zander & Overland
• 10 pm– Robert Alexander
• 11 pm– Saytek Live

Image Presentations:

• 7 pm– Screening
• 8 pm– Nova Sarfi
• 10 pm– Granular Adventures

Flow Performance:

• 10 pm – aGoGo Performance (Britt Elise & Colleenicorn)

Sunday, November 10th

Festival Hall:

Sound Activities:

• 12 pm – Synth Petting Zoo
• 1 pm – 2 pm – Oscill8 Orchestra

National Music Centre:

Grant Application Workshop:

• 12 pm – 1 pm – SHE-Q

Cold Garden

YYC Jazzfest-SYNC Collaboration:

• 3 pm – 5pm – YYC Jazzfest at Cold Garden

Secure Your Passes at Showpass: www.showpass.com/sync-sound-and-image-conference-2024

Don't miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in a dynamic fusion of sound and visual arts. Purchase your passes now to gain full access to all workshops, performances, and networking events.

For more details and to buy tickets, visit Oscill8's official website: www.oscill8.ca

Elevate your creative journey at SYNC.

Join us for A Blush of Memories featuring Filipino-Canadian artists Noel Rile, Daisy Ann Ramos, and Oliver R. Rabara.

This exhibit showcases vibrant abstraction, elegant art nouveau, and layered cubism.

Learn more!

A Blush of Memories will be on display from November 5 - November 30, 2024. 

November 13, 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Allard Hall 4th Floor Room 11-451

Refreshments & Door prize featuring prints from local artists

Emily Chu and Jan Xu were chosen as mentor and mentee, respectively, for Macewan Sustainability's "Take Back the Streets" Chalk Art Event on September 4th - a street-takeover celebration that coincided with the Capital Boulevard Block Party. The goal of this mentorship program is to connect an early-career artist with an established artist – both with an interest in street art, public art, or public intervention and social practice art.

The artists paired up in August and chose a topic of interest to research and focus on. On November 13th they will present an artist talk sharing their experience, their practice, and their research with the broader community. Artist talks are a great way for the public to become familiar with an artist's work and how it impacts them.

This event is for art & design students, emerging and professional artists, and anyone interested in the local arts scene. Folks should attend to gain insights into sustaining a creative practice as an emerging or professional artist.

Bios:

Jan Xu

I draw creative inspiration from daily life—the fleeting moments, mundane objects seen too often, and the whimsical imaginations of children—all provide material and impetus for my creations. Additionally, my works often reflect influences from both Eastern and Western cultural backgrounds, as well as my reverence for great artists and nature.

Last year, I had the opportunity to delve into chalk art. Through various experiences in designing and creating chalk art, I have developed an understanding of its forms and techniques. This exploration has allowed me to refine my style and deepen my interest in chalk art. I particularly appreciate its vibrant colors, striking effects, and the ability to create large-scale artworks outdoors.  Since last year, my artworks have been exhibited in EPL galleries, coffee shops, and festivals, garnering considerable attention.

Emily Chu:

I am a Chinese multi-disciplinary artist based on Treaty 6, Edmonton. My artistic practice work flows between commercial illustration, visual arts, and public art/murals. I am also an arts-
community organizer, with over 10+ years organizing art markets, a co-organizer of Chinatown Greetings, a project that amplifies local artists' voices and calls for care in Chinatown, and I am also the founder and lead organizer of Togather Chinatown Art Fair - A Lunar New Year art market featuring Edmonton’s community-minded artists, food businesses, and cultural organizations.

RSVP forms.gle/113f2GebQrLvFqQX9

Dates

Application Deadline: January 29, 2025
Program Dates: June 2 – July 4, 2025

Overview  

Visual Arts Residency – Kapishkum: Métis Gathering is a five-week program designed for Métis visual artists, creative makers, and curators. 
In Michif, kapishkum means “to transcend”, and this residency comes at a pivotal point. As Indigenous creative production from Northern Turtle Island increasingly attracts local, national, and global interest, individual Métis artists remain underrepresented and contemporary Métis culture is little known. More importantly, Métis, while in solidarity with all Indigenous peoples, are looking to bolster Métis-specific art, creative forms, methodologies, and unique ways of being, knowing, and doing.
Participants will join celebrated Métis faculty mentors to produce a nurturing, collaborative, critical, and productive environment. In addition to access to world-class facilities and technical support, participants can build community with their artistic peers within the spectacular natural landscape of Banff National Park, Minihrpa, Treaty 7 territory.

Description

This residency fosters the exchange of ideas and knowledge among artists, encouraging them to produce work that embodies the diverse and complex nature of Métis culture while addressing contemporary Métis-specific issues. 
Participants in this residency will be supported with:

• lectures.
• workshops.
• feedback from celebrated faculty members Jason Baerg, Marjorie Beaucage, Daphne Boyer, Liz Barron, and David Garneau, who will be available for both group and one-on-one consultations.

Artists are provided with a studio, as well as targeted access to our extensive facilities. This includes:

• access to personal studio spaces equipped for creative work, available 24/7, providing a dedicated environment for artistic expression.
• targeted access to shared production facilities and knowledgeable staff who are available to provide technical assistance and support.

Requirements 

The program is designed to cater to Métis artists at all stages of their careers who have completed formal training in fine arts at the post-secondary level or who have equivalent experience and recognition from their peers acquired through traditional knowledge and practices, including:

• multi-generational artists. 
• visual artists.
• curators.
• arts professionals.
• creative makers.
• collaborative groups of no more than two.

Participants will benefit most if they are comfortable working autonomously in an unstructured environment. The program suits those focused on:

• working on a specific project.
• creating new works.
• exploring and researching innovative ideas.

This program is designed for participation over the entire program period. Variable dates will not be considered.

For more information and to apply.

Dates

Application Deadline: February 26, 2025
Program Dates: July 22 – August 21, 2025

Overview  

Early Career Banff Artist in Residence (BAiR) Summer 2025 is an immersive program of studio practice, creative exploration, critical feedback, and mentorship for visual artists and curators in the early stages of their careers. 
Open to visual artists and curators working in all visual arts mediums, this program combines the artistic freedom of a self-directed residency with the benefits of technical and faculty support. As well as having the space to create, research, and experiment, participants are part of a community of emerging artists committed to developing and expanding their practice.

Description

Participants in this residency will be supported with:

• lectures.
• workshops.
• feedback from experienced faculty members who will be available for both group and one-on-one consultations.

Artists are provided with a studio, as well as targeted access to our extensive facilities. This includes:

• access to personal studio spaces equipped for creative work, available 24/7, providing a dedicated environment for artistic expression.
• targeted access to shared production facilities and knowledgeable staff who are available to provide technical assistance and support.

Requirements

This residency is for individual artists and collaborative groups (of no more than two) who have

• completed formal training in visual arts at the post-secondary level, or 
• equivalent experience and recognition from their peers acquired through traditional knowledge and practices. 

The program is designed to cater to visual artists at the early stage of their artistic careers, providing them with tailored opportunities for professional development and creative growth, including:

• ceramicists.
• curators.
• painters.
• paper artists.
• photographers.
• print-makers.
• sculptors.

Participants will benefit most if they are comfortable working autonomously in an unstructured environment. The program suits those focused on:

• working on a specific project.
• creating new works.

Priority will be given to artists who have completed relevant training within five years and who have not previously attended a Visual Arts residency at Banff Centre.
For more information and to apply.

Are you looking for affordable studio space in Edmonton?

The Basement Studio is looking for 1-2 artist renters to join this fall. We are located in the basement of the Blue Quill Community League in Edmonton, and we share a bright, open 1,200 square foot space with 5-6 artists each year. 

The move in date is Oct. 1, 2024. 

Renters get 24/7 access with your own key. There is free parking, bike racks and a 10-min walk from Century Park Station. The rent is split evenly between tenant artists, usually around $200 per month.

There are sinks and bathrooms on the main floor.

Unfortunately, the space is only accessible via stairs. 

The Blue Quill Community League is located at 11304 25 Ave NW, Edmonton AB.

If you're interested, please email megan.klak@gmail.com for more information and to see the space.