Art House Opening Night © David Kotsibie
Across Alberta, creativity is everywhere—shaping communities, strengthening identity, and enriching the everyday lives of Albertans. At the centre of this vibrant cultural landscape is the Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA), the province’s public arts funder dedicated to supporting, sustaining and celebrating the arts.
As a public agency of Alberta’s government and the provincial arts funder, the AFA invests directly in artists, arts organizations, and community groups. From large companies, like Calgary Opera and the Citadel Theatre, to small community-based groups like pottery guilds, choirs, and folk festivals, the AFA’s impact can be felt in every corner of the province.
The AFA is also the steward of a remarkable cultural treasure: the AFA Art Collection, the world’s largest collection of artworks by Albertan artists. Nearly 10,000 pieces tell the story of the province’s imagination, history, and creative evolution.
“Alberta’s artists and arts organisations reflect the spirit of our province. The AFA is proud to support their work and ensure creativity continues to thrive in every community, ” said Chair of the AFA Cynthia P. Moore.
Why Alberta’s Arts Sector Matters
The arts are far more than performances, exhibitions or creative workshops. They play a powerful role in shaping Alberta’s identity, contributing to economic growth and improving the quality of life.
Every year, the visual and applied arts and live performance industries contribute approximately $1.3 billion to Alberta’s GDP and support more than 18,000 jobs. These numbers reflect what Albertans already know: a thriving arts sector is essential to a thriving province.
The arts preserve cultural heritage, amplify diverse voices and invite communities to gather, imagine, and grow together. Whether through a local theatre production, a gallery opening or a youth arts program, Albertans experience creativity in ways that inspire pride, belonging, and connection.
AFA’s Impact: Strengthening Communities Through the Arts
To better understand the impact of its investments, the AFA recently released Arts Impact Alberta 2025: Ripple Effects from the Arts Sector, a study examining its operating grant programs. The results underscore just how transformative the arts truly are.
Between 2018 and 2023, the AFA supported 488 arts organisations across 102 communities, helping produce an average of 20,245 arts events each year. These events brought people together, fostered local talent, and enriched neighbourhoods large and small.
The economic ripple effect was just as striking. For every $1 invested by the AFA, the study found an economic return of $1.76. Even more remarkably, each dollar spent by AFA-funded organisations generated an average return of $22.53 within the broader economy.
Community spirit also played a significant role. An average of 38,619 volunteers dedicated their time annually to supporting
Alberta’s arts organisations, proving that the arts are a shared endeavour powered by passion, creativity and collective goodwill.
“The arts help us understand one another, strengthen our communities and celebrate what makes Alberta unique. Investing in the arts is really an investment in the people who call this province home,” Moore said.
A New Home for Art: The AFA art house
In September 2025, the AFA expanded its reach by opening the AFA art house, a new gallery space in downtown Calgary dedicated to showcasing Alberta artists. Located on the second floor of The Edison—right across from the Calgary Tower—the space highlights both emerging voices and renowned artists like Chris Cran, Rita McKeough, and the late Alex Janvier.
Open Tuesday through Friday from noon to 4 p.m. (or by appointment), the AFA art house invites visitors to explore Alberta’s artistic legacy in an intimate, contemporary setting. It is a place to look, to see, to discover, and ultimately to experience the depth of Alberta’s creative spirit.
Learn more about how the AFA supports and celebrates Alberta arts—and explore what’s on at the AFA art house at affta.ab.ca
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The Alberta Foundation for the Arts is a public agency and a provincial corporation of the Government of Alberta with a mandate to support and contribute to the development of the arts in Alberta. We provide grant funding to artists and art organizations to encourage the growth and development of the arts sector. We also promote the arts and manage an extensive provincial art collection featuring work from artists all over the province.