Alberta Community Art Clubs Association
Artist Categories and Art Specifications
Artwork Specifications for ACACA Sanctioned Events
- All artwork must be signed and gallery ready for installation/display purposes.
- Each work must be clearly and securely labeled on the back with the name of the artist, the title of the work, date of completion and the media employed.
- ACACA sanctioned exhibits will accept both artwork for exhibition only and artwork for sale.
- Any unique artwork that requires special care or has installation instructions must be clearly explained and labeled.
- All artwork must meet the appropriate art category criteria stated by the ACACA to be showcased and juried in an ACACA sanctioned event.
- Jury results are final; artists will not receive feedback or comments from the jury.
- Once an artwork is juried in an ACACA sanctioned show, it cannot be re-entered in any subsequent ACACA sanctioned event.
- No early withdrawals of artwork are permitted during the exhibition. It is expected that the work submitted by the artist to the exhibit will be displayed for duration of the Zone show and will be transported on to the AB Wide Show if juried in, thus being displayed for duration of that show.
- No substitutions will be accepted once a work of art has been juried in. This includes changes in the image, title, dimensions, etc.
- The ACACA or sanctioned host reserves the right not to display artwork that differs significantly from the accepted submitted images (Digital Categories) or does not present professionally (All Categories).
- At the close of a Zone show, all works not juried into the AB Wide Show must be picked up at the Zone host venue or arrangements made by the artist for alternative collection methods from the host club.
- The sanctioned Zone host club is responsible for delivering the art selected at the Zone level to the AB Wide Show host gallery.
- Juried artwork moving up from the Zone level, but sold at the Zone level, must be held over for AB Wide Show gallery display and a second jury process.
- It is up to that Zone host club to ensure sold paintings are returned to the purchaser.
- Winners of the regional Zone Shows and the AB Wide Show will be forwarded to the Best of the Best (Alberta Spirit Show) to be displayed in a public gallery for one month. The ACACA will contact artists to make arrangements for artwork to be picked up after that exhibit closes.
- The artist agrees that their accepted artworks may be used by the ACACA or sanctioned host for marketing and promotional usage, and record keeping; the artist agrees to provide copyright permission for the same.
Note: Host clubs may charge up to 20 per cent commission on the sale of an artist’s work at their Zone Show sanctioned event.
Guidelines for ACACA Talent Levels
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.
- Any artist must move up a talent level after the four (4) year limit in an art category.
- Any artist may be asked to move up a talent level prior to the four (4) year limit on Juror’s Recommendation at ACACA sanctioned event.
- An ACACA member who wins an award in the AB Wide Show is required to move up to the next talent level.
- Award winners may not move back to their former level.
ACACA Recognized Art Categories
Two-Dimensional Art Category
Paintings, etc.
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.
Size criteria: The exterior measurement of the finished artwork cannot exceed 1,280 square inches (3,251 cm sq).
Weight: If artwork weighs more than 15 lbs. (6.8kg), the selected artist must be present for installation.
Exhibit criteria: NO sawtooth or wall buddies are permitted.
Framed: For your work to be exhibited it must have D-rings and strong gauge wire attached correctly approximately 1/4 of the way from the top of the piece; lower or higher wire will not hang properly.
Framed under glass: Any artwork exceeding 24 inches (61 cm) x 36 inches (94.5 cm) that would normally be framed in glass, must be framed in plexiglass instead. Long pieces exceeding 24 inches (61 cm) should have plexiglass even if height is less than 18 inches (46 cm).
Unframed: Canvas edges must have a gallery wrap or painted out with a solid color to neaten it professionally.
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 20 inches (51cm) x 20 inches (51cm); maximum weight 26 pounds (11.8 Kg).
Exhibit Criteria: 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 labor 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.
Size criteria: The exterior measurement of the finished artwork cannot exceed 1,280 square inches (3,251 cm sq).; maximum weight 15 pounds (6.8 Kg).
Exhibit criteria:
Framed: For your work to be exhibited it must have a strong gauge wire attached correctly to the back of the framed piece with which to hang the artwork.
Frameless: For your work to be exhibited it must have a hanging sleeve (rod pocket), supplied rod to fit pocket of correct length; strong gauge wire attached to rod with which to hang artwork.
Digital Arts Categories
Digital arts are 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
- No manipulated stock imagery or purchased photos or art; it cannot belong to another person/company (copyright infringement).
- 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.
Size: The exterior measurement of the finished, output artwork cannot exceed 1,280 square inches (3,251 cm sq).
Exhibit Criteria:
- Hanging: For your work to be exhibited it must have a strong gauge wire attached correctly to the back of the piece with which to hang the artwork.
- Free-standing: If it is a free-standing piece, a secure stand must be supplied by the artist for display purposes.
Note: The ACACA currently does not recognize 3D digitized work or motion graphics (moving art made from digital assets and animated with motion).
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.
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