Submissions are now open for
The Quenten Doolittle Memorial Gallery Exhibit: Emerging Artists!
in association with the IGNITE! Festival for Emerging Artists
April 17th– June 28th, 2025.
The Pumphouse Theatre is a vibrant facility with historical significance. It supports and presents all art forms and creates op portunities for engagement, enrichment, cultural experience, learning and inspiration, while serving all Calgarians. To enable this, the Quenten Doolittle Memorial Gallery provides accessible wall display space for Mohkinstsis (Calgary) visual artists to display and sell their work, free from commission.
IGNITE! is a festival dedicated to supporting, mentoring, and presenting emerging artists of all disciplines. IGNITE! allows artists to embrace risks in a supportive environment while providing resources, a bridge to the professional arts community, and meaningful opportunities for collaboration and community building with their peers.
For this exhibit, we are looking for work that is created by emerging artists. This includes artists with less than 5 years of pro fessional experience creating or exhibiting their work. Submissions of any style, from realistic to abstract, and in any visual art medium will be considered, provided it meets all gallery requirements below.
The Pumphouse Theatre supports an inclusive and diverse community. We encourage any submissions of eligible visual artists from all communities including but not limited to the LGBTQ2+, BIPOC, and those with disabilities.
Submissions must meet the following requirements:
- Artist resides in Calgary and must be available for installation.
- Artist must identify as Emerging (less than 5 years of experience)
- Artwork must be delivered ready to hang (wall-space only)
- Artists will be given a choice to opt into allowing their work to be adjudicated to become the official art piece of IGNITE! 2025. All submissions will be displayed from April 17th– June 28th, 2025. If selected to be the official art piece of IGNITE! 2025, the artist will receive an artist festival pass and an honorarium for the use of their image in marketing material.
This gallery is intended to be available for in person and online viewing. Due to the uncertainty of COVID-19 pandemic, there is the possibility of this exhibit being online exclusively. All installation requirements are still necessary for this exhibit at this time.
In the event of an in-person gallery, The Pumphouse Theatre will install the work on behalf of the artists. Artwork may be dropped off or picked up by either the artist or a representative during the hours of 12pm and 6pm on the installation and take down dates provided. Artist must reserve an installation and take down date via a provided form or by contacting the Programming Director.
Timeline:
Submission Deadline: March 22nd, 2025 4pm
All artists who submit will be notified with a decision no later than 2-2 1/2 weeks after the deadline. Installation: April 13th– April 15th, 2025
Exhibition: April 17th– June 28th, 2025
In the event of a virtual gallery only, this exhibition end date may be extended into the summer Take Down: June 29th– July 2nd, 2025
To apply, please send the following information via email:
Completed Gallery Submission Form: QDMG Spring 2025 Submission Package Updated
Artist Biography (250 words max)
A short description of who you are and your art background, training, passion, and/or any combination of the fore mentioned information
Artwork: Photos, maximum of 5, do not send original works.
Images of artwork only; do not send original works with application
Applications or queries are sent to:
Programming Director
2140 Pumphouse Ave SW Calgary, AB T3C 3P5
prod@pumphousetheatre.ca 403-263-0079 ext. 100
Selection Process: Art pieces are selected by a committee of no less than 3 people and are a mix of artists and administra tors. Selection criteria is based on: suitability to the theme, technique, emotional response, creativity & innovation, and suit ability for the Pumphouse Theatre gallery space and its patrons (ages 8-80 representing various socio-economic and cultural backgrounds). Unfortunately, we are unable to accept works that feature nudity.
Any artists who need assistance with their application, or have inquires and questions, are welcome to contact The Pumhouse Theatre.