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The ACACA Video

A guide through what it means to be a member of the Alberta Community Art Clubs Association. It is a walk through the zone show process, which is a unique experience allowing artists of all talent levels and experience to grow and hone their craft.

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The ACACA Shows

The journey begins here for the Alberta wide show. Submitted art is juried and critiqued before those that are chosen move on. This is a celebration of art on all levels, from beginners to signature.

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2023 Zone Show Information Here

You can find all of our 2023 specific information for the zone show using the button below.

The 2023 Zone Shows

ACACA Zone Shows

Promoting Art and Culture Throughout Alberta

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Since 1980 the Alberta Community Art Clubs Association has annually sponsored for their members three Zone Art Shows and the Juried Alberta Wide Show. ACACA members and Hosting Club members continue to volunteer countless hours of hard work and are dedicated to ensure the success of these shows. We thank one and all for their efforts. We extend a special thank you to all the host clubs for their efforts and support on behalf of our members.

Three Zones

The Alberta Zone Shows Are Divided Into 3 Zones

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Northern Zone

This is made up of all of Alberta found in the area north of Highway 14. Recent hosts for the Northern Zone Show include Bonnyville and Barrhead.

Central

This is made up of all of Alberta found between Highway 14, Highway 9, and Highway 1 (Calgary to Banff). Recent hosts for the Central Zone Show include Lacombe and Leduc.

Southern

This is made up of all of Alberta found south of Highway 9 and Highway 1 (Calgary to Banff). Recent hosts for the Southern Zone Show include Brooks and Drumheller.

We have a wide range of art styles on display

The ACACA Zone Shows is one of the easiest and best ways to see a wide assortment of art styles, subjects, and mediums on display. You can expect to see a stone carving of a polar-bear sitting next to a collage of mixed media which is hanging next to am abstract water-colour painting; it is truly a sight to behold.

These are just some of the art styles you should expect to see at the shows.

Acrylic Art

Acrylic paint is a quick-drying, water-soluble kind of paint that artists often use instead of oil paint or watercolors.

Digital Art

Digital Art is an artistic work or practice that uses digital technology as an essential part of the creative or presentation process.

Oil Based

painting in oil colours, a medium consisting of pigments suspended in drying oils. The outstanding facility with which fusion of tones or colour is achieved makes it unique among fluid painting mediums.

Water Colour

Watercolors are usually translucent, and appear luminous because the pigments are laid down in a pure form with few fillers obscuring the pigment colors.

Sculpture

The branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable sculptural processes originally used carving (the removal of material) and modelling (the addition of material, as clay).

Benefits of Joining The ACACA

With accessible critiques, jurried shows, workshops, paint outs, and scholarships and bursaries, it’s never been a better time to join the ACACA!

Juried exhibitions and critiques | Workshops and paint outs | Scholarships and awards | Newsletter

More About Membership

Zone Show Categories

Artists Will Be Juried Based On These Categories of Art

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ACACA membership is not exclusive. It is open to all individuals and art clubs in Alberta who share the ideals of the organization. Artists are always invited to be a part of our organization. Membership at present is about 200 with 20 clubs registered as members. Membership is currently made up of the following Talent Levels:

Youth

Artists between fifteen (15) and eighteen (18) years-of-age; no formal art training necessary.

Beginners

Nineteen (19) years-of-age and older; no formal art training necessary.

Intermediate

May have up to one year of formal post-secondary art training or have worked for two years or more in any art medium; or, have won the Beginner’s Level Award at the ACACA Alberta Wide Show.

Advanced

Have been enrolled for more than one year in a post-secondary art program; or, have won the Intermediate Level Award at the ACACA Alberta Wide Show.

Master

Graduate of a post-secondary Art program; or, have received a BFA or MFA; or instructs formal classes in art; or have won an Advanced Level Award at the ACACA Alberta Wide Show. A Master level artist does not automatically move to the Signature level. The ACACA Board of Directors votes to move artist to the Signature Level.

Signature Member

The ACACA Board of Directors votes to move Master Level artist to the Signature Level; qualified artist is then invited to move to the Signature Level by the President on behalf of the ACACA.

ACACA Recognized Art Categories

Paintings

The ACACA recognizes that a piece of Two Dimensional Art is solely created to hang on a wall as fine artwork. It is dimensional and provides diversity through the methods and medium used, such as, but not limited to oils, acrylic, watercolor, pencil, graphite encaustic, mixed media.

NOTE

Edition prints/reproductions or photographs are not accepted as fine art under any ACACA art categories criteria.

Diptychs and triptychs must be submitted with a filed image (photograph or photocopy) accompanying the pieces showing how the pieces work together and must be individually labeled separately to avoid any confusion at handling/curating time.

Sculpture

Sculpting: additive or subtractive, in a 3-D format which includes many recognized classical and contemporary mediums, but not limited to: stone, wood, bronze, clay, bone, antlers, precious metals.

Must be free-standing. The types of materials must be solid in consistency.

Size criteria: Size of piece not to exceed height of 36 inches with a footprint of no more than 24 inches x 24 inches.

Exhibit Criteria: In order for your work to be exhibited it must be free-standing to be placed on a plinth or table. If it requires a secure stand, that must be supplied by the artist for display purposes and included in the transportation box with the artwork.

Fibre Arts

The ACACA recognizes that a fibre or textile art piece is solely created to hang on a wall as fine artwork. It is created to delight in its color, shape and composition.

Fibre arts focus on the materials chosen, and manual labour of the artist as part of the work’s significance. Fibre arts revolve around the use of natural fibres occurring in plants and animals, for example cotton, hair, fur, bark, silk, flax and wool. Natural textiles may be hand-woven, hand-dyed or hand-spun. Synthetic fibres may be used.

It prioritizes aesthetic value over utility. It cannot be functional.

Digital

Digital arts is custom, original illustrations or images done completely by the designer on any digital device (i.e. computer, tablet, digital camera) using digital software (programs, apps). The imagery must be original, created and completely owned by the artist. The completed digital artwork asset must be output to a fine art piece for exhibition.

Category DA-I: Illustration:

  • Designed completely by the artist using any digital device and software.
  • Must provide acceptable proof of process (i.e. screen shots, statistics, video) with entry.

Category DA-M: Photo Manipulation:

Manipulation of artist’s original photos (i.e. can be collages, abstracts, filters or other software tools applied to images); must provide acceptable proof of process (i.e. screen shots, statistics, video) with entry.

  1. ACACA encourages any artist to move up to the next talent level after 4 years in an art category.
  2. Any artist asked to move up a talent level by a jurors’ recommendation at an event must do so.
  3. An ACACA member who wins an award in the Alberta Wide Show must move up to the next talent level.
  4. Award winners may not move back to a former level.

Zone Show Resources

Want to Submit Works? Here's Everything You Need to Know

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Note: Memberships must be paid prior to February 28th to be eligible to enter in that years Zone Show.

2-Dimensional Art

For 2-Dimensional art such as paintings, digital art, and fibre art please download the following two files and submit them:

3-Dimensional Art

For 3-Dimensional art such as sculptures, please download the following two files and submit them:

Labels

For all art such as sculptures, digital art, and paintings, please download the following files and submit them:

About Us

Who we are, what we stand for, read more

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Who We Are

The Alberta Community Art Clubs Association aims at uniting, serving and networking with artists throughout the province. Our goals are to foster and maintain instruction in art and to develop an interest in the knowledge of art and culture in the communities throughout the province.

Exhibitions

ACACA fills a unique niche in promoting the arts in the province of Alberta by sponsoring three juried art shows annually, hosted by art clubs from different communities each year.

Find Us Online

ACACA can be found elsewhere online, in addition to our website.

Facebook: Profile Link