
About the program
Each year, a jury of practicing artists and County residents recommend artworks to be purchased for the County’s art collection.
Guided by the Art Collection Advisory Committee, The Art Acquisition program takes place during "The Strathcona Salon"—a sweeping exhibition of the artists who help to shape the County’s artistic landscape. From this exhibition, eligible artworks are considered for County purchase.
“The Salon" also features artwork by ten promising youth artists. Winners of Art Society of Strathcona County’s annual youth exhibition are invited to loan their artwork to the County for one year following "The Salon".
General guidelines
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Artists residing within the municipal boundaries of Strathcona County who are 18 years of age or older.
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Artists living in Canada with a significant connection to Strathcona County who are 18 years of age or older.
Strathcona County is committed to equity in the arts. With the intention of building a permanent art collection that is representative of our diverse community, the Strathcona County Public Art team and the Art Collection Advisory Committee are committed to addressing bias and improving diversity within our collection efforts. We especially encourage and welcome submissions that represent the diversity of this community, including representation from artists who identify as Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, people of all sexual orientations and gender identities and people with disabilities. We recognize there may be barriers for some when applying. If you require accommodations please contact the Public Art team.
Note: Artists whose work was selected for County purchase in 2023 may participate in "The Strathcona Salon" exhibition but their artwork will not be eligible for purchase until 2025. -
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2. How do I participate as an artist living outside of Strathcona County?
Permanent link to How do I participate as an artist living outside of Strathcona County?Artists who do not live in Strathcona County but have a significant connection to the area are welcome to apply to participate. These participants are asked to provide a brief description of their relationship to the area within their application. Applications from non-Strathcona County Residents must be approved by the Art Collection Advisory Committee before the artist can participate.
The Art Collection Advisory Committee will review and evaluate responses with equal consideration given to:
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The overall impact of your contributions to Strathcona County:
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Have you ever worked or volunteered in Strathcona County? If so, for how many years?
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Have you made any artistic contributions to Strathcona County?
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Have you exhibited your artwork in Strathcona County?
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Does your artistic practice have a considerable focus on Strathcona County?
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The significance Strathcona County holds for you personally:
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Have you ever lived in Strathcona County? If so, how many years?
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Are you an active member of a community or faith-based organization in Strathcona County?
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Are you an Indigenous artist whose homelands overlaps with Strathcona County?
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Are you an Indigenous artist with ancestral, traditional, or ceremonial ties to the area?
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Artists are encouraged to contact the Public Art team prior to applying, especially if their connection to the County is not covered through the examples above.
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3. Where and when do I drop off my artwork?
Permanent link to Where and when do I drop off my artwork?Artists will deliver their artwork to Gallery@501 during one of the scheduled drop-off times.
Gallery@501
501 Festival Ave #120
Sherwood Park, AB
T8A 4X3Artwork Drop-off Dates TBD Spring 2024.
Artists may arrange to ship their artwork to Gallery@501, however, the artist is responsible for covering all shipping costs (including return shipping).
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4. Where and when do I pick up my artwork?
Permanent link to Where and when do I pick up my artwork?Artists pick up their artwork from Gallery@501 after the exhibit closes.
Gallery@501
501 Festival Ave #120
Sherwood Park, AB
T8A 4X3
Artwork pick-up dates TBD Spring 2024:
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5. Information for gallery representatives
Permanent link to Information for gallery representativesGallery representatives may apply on behalf of an artist. Sales inquiries may be directed to the artist’s representing gallery. For more information, contact Strathcona County Public Art.
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Contact Strathcona County Recreation, Parks and Culture for assistance:
780-467-2211
Artwork requirements
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Artists may submit two and three-dimensional artwork in any medium. Any artwork that is original, initiated by the artist, and completed within the last four years may be eligible.
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One artwork (e.g., one canvas, frame, or sculpture)
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Two artworks (e.g., two canvases, frames, or sculptures)
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One multi-part artwork or small series (e.g., a diptych, triptych, or a collection of related prints)
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3. What is considered a multipart artwork or series of works?
Permanent link to What is considered a multipart artwork or series of works?A multipart-artwork refers to dyptychs, triptychs, or other artworks comprised of separate parts. A series of works refers to artwork that is visually connected through a subject matter, pattern, medium, technique, palette, and size. Though separate, the components of a series or multi-part artwork should feel like one larger artwork when installed. The Jalopy Collection (2007) by Julie Witten Land is an example of a series.
All two-dimensional artworks in a series must be the same size and have matching frames. Three-dimensional artworks may vary in size and shape.
Artists must provide a diagram or instructions for installing multi-part artworks or series including their preferred arrangement and spacing between artworks.
Note: Space at Gallery@501 is limited. Though every effort will be made to exhibit all eligible submissions, Gallery@501 may not have room to accommodate all artworks in a series. In this case, the artist will be contacted before the exhibit opening. Though staff will follow artists’ instructions whenever possible, the placement of artworks is up to the discretion of Gallery@501 staff. -
Artworks must weigh fifty pounds or less. Staff must be able to safely move the artwork without special equipment or the artist’s assistance.
Two-dimensional artwork (or any artwork intended to hand on a wall):
- Combined area up to 28 square-feet (height of tallest artwork x total width of all artworks)
Three-dimensional artwork:
- Maximum footprint of 2.25 square feet per artwork (width x depth)
- Maximum height of 8 feet
Two-dimensional series:
- up to 28 square feet including space between artworks (artists must provide instructions and/or a diagram for installation).
Three-dimensional series:
- Maximum footprint of 2.25 square feet per artwork (width x depth)
- Maximum combined footprint of 9 square feet with at least 0.5 feet between artworks
- Maximum height of 8 feet
- Maximum height of 8 feet
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5. How do I prepare my artwork for display at the Salon?
Permanent link to How do I prepare my artwork for display at the Salon?-
Photograph: If possible, take a quality photograph of the artwork prior to framing. Cell phone photography is acceptable.
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Labels: Label your artwork on the back or bottom with the title of the work, your name and phone number.
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Framing: Two-dimensional artworks on paper or similar substrates must be framed or include alternative hanging hardware (rare-earth magnets, clips, etc.). Professional, museum-standard framing is not mandatory.
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D-Rings: On conventional 2-dimensional artworks, such as framed artwork and canvases, D-rings are the preferred hardware. If you require assistance or further instruction for installing hanging hardware, contact Strathcona County Public Art.
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- Artwork that exceeds number, size, or weight limits, or artwork that cannot be spatially or technically accommodated by Gallery@501 is not eligible.
- Artwork that was previously submitted to “The Strathcona Salon” is not eligible.
- Artwork created prior to 2020 is not eligible for display (no exceptions).
- Any artwork that poses physical danger to staff or gallery visitors is not eligible.
- Artwork that depicts profanity, pornographic images, or graphic violence will not be permitted.
- Portraits created without consent of the individuals depicted are not permitted.
- Artwork that purposefully imitates another work of art is not permitted.
- Artwork that perpetuates harmful stereotypes, racism, or gendered violence is not permitted.
Artwork sales and donations
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1. Can I sell my artwork during the Salon exhibition?
Permanent link to Can I sell my artwork during the Salon exhibition?In addition to submitting work to the Art Acquisition Program, artists may list their work for sale during the exhibition. Pricing information for all artworks will be kept with reception at Gallery@501. With your consent, your contact information will be shared with interested buyers.
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Artwork submitted for donation to the collection is accepted at the discretion of the Jury. Although the County appreciates such offers, it is unable to accept all donations of artwork.
Jury and selection process
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1. How are artworks selected for acquisition?
Permanent link to How are artworks selected for acquisition?The Art Acquisition Selection Committee will consist of 3 professional practicing artists. New jurors are appointed each year. The professional backgrounds of the jurors may vary from year to year.
The jury recommends artwork for Strathcona County’s Permanent Collection based on the following Criteria:
- Presentation
- Aesthetic quality
- Technical excellence and craftsmanship
- Overall success and effect
- Quality of materials and future conservation or maintenance requirements
Recommendations for Strathcona County’s Permanent Art Collection will be made by the jury with the final recommendations being made by the Art Collection Advisory Committee and approved by Strathcona County Council. Artwork and artwork statements will be presented to the jurors anonymously.
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2. How many artworks are selected for purchase each year?
Permanent link to How many artworks are selected for purchase each year?The number of artworks purchased varies depending on the the selection jury's decision and the prices of artworks. With a typical budget of $10,000, the jury recommends approximately seven to ten artworks for purchase each year.
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3. What if my artwork is selected for acquisition?
Permanent link to What if my artwork is selected for acquisition?If your artwork is selected for acquisition, your artwork will be inducted into Strathcona County’s Permanent Art Collection. Acquisitions will be displayed in Strathcona County’s Artrium for up to one year immediately following the Salon Series Exhibition, then distributed throughout county buildings and offices. Your artwork will also be profiled online in the County’s Permanent Art Collection online gallery.
To finalize the purchase, you must sign an artwork purchase agreement and the artwork will remain with Strathcona County. You will be paid by cheque.
Artwork recommended for purchase will be announced at the Artists’ Reception in June TBD 2024. Selected artists will be contacted prior to the event.
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Visitors to the exhibit can vote on their favourite artwork. A “Peoples’ Choice Award” of $100.00 will be presented at the artists’ reception. Voting will be open from May 11 to June 16. Visitors may only vote once.
View artwork selected for purchase in 2023
Ten artworks were recommended for purchase in 2023. These artworks will be on display in the Community Centre through June 2023. Click on an image below to view the gallery.



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Emily Bishop
The Mosaic Mountain, 2023
Acrylic on board
Emily Bishop is a Canadian artist who resides in rural Strathcona County with her husband and three small boys. She is recognized for her vibrant cheerful acrylic paint representations of nature. Her work is inspired by trips to the mountains, walks through the river valley and the forest in her own backyard. She has been painting murals and commissions since 2005. Sharing her art with family and friends is very important to her. “Everyone should have something beautiful to look at on their walls” she says. As a hairstylist and busy mother, painting adds joy to her very full life and her kids have often added a few strokes to many of her pieces. They can be found painting right next to her in her studio room sharing paint at her feet. She wants to share and foster their love for art at a young age just as her mother did for her.
2023 Acquisition
Strathcona County Art Collection -
Annette Sicotte
Always Changing, 2022
Acrylic on canvas
Born and raised in Alberta, Annette has fished, hiked, camped and skied the back country of the Canadian Rockies and spent countless hours driving and photographing areas throughout western Canada. Annette studied at the University of Alberta, was awarded the Helen Moseson Scholarship and with an affinity for all things design, her education was filled with courses in the disciplines of theatre set design, textile design, costume design, and art history. The world of design, the spirit of collaboration and the raw natural beauty of the Canadian west combine to create her unique artistic focus. Annette has been creating and showing her art professionally since 2004 and her paintings have been included in group and solo exhibits in such venues as the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, Muttart Conservatory, Gallery@501, and the Art Gallery of Alberta. Her art is collected both locally and internationally and is included in private, corporate and public collections alike.
2023 Acquisition
Strathcona County Art Collection -
Geff Blenkinsopp
Speaker for Ravens, 2021
Copper and wood
I have lived in Sherwood Park since 1996 and worked for Strathcona County Library for close to twenty years. My work in metal began by taking silver smithing classes taught by professional silversmith Meghan Wagg, at Edmonton City Arts Centre over several years. I usually work in copper, because it can be treated and worked to give so many incredible textures and finishes. I have had a lifelong interest in natural history, and elements of this are apparent in the botanical impressions and wildlife images found in my work. Many are taken directly from the plants and trees that I grow and collect from my garden.
This piece was a fortuitous blending of two separate pieces. The raven I had cut already and when looking for wood one day, I found a piece with a beautiful grain and knot at a local wood merchant. After seeing how well the two pieces complimented each other, I came up with the arrangement shown. The position of the cracks and figure of the wood suggest that the raven is calling, hence the title. Once I had the two finished to my satisfaction, I mounted the raven onto balsa wood to give depth and then mounted that onto the wooden piece. As with all my work I do not use laser or precut blanks, everything is hand cut with a fine jeweler’s saw and then hammer-textured and heat-treated to give the desired finish.
2023 Acquisition
Strathcona County Art Collection -
Gerry Dotto
Self-Portrait with Taxi, 2022
Photograph (C-print on photopaper)
I am a visual artist based in Sherwood Park, AB. My work explores our interaction with everyday forms of visual communication and how people relate to their urban environment. I have been a practicing artist for over 40 years and work in a variety of techniques, including photography, printmaking, mixed media, collage using recycled materials, aluminum-based work, and sculpture. Since completing my studies at the Alberta College of Art, I have exhibited in solo, and group shows both nationally and internationally. Most recently I have shown in “The Alberta Biennial of Contemporary Art” at Walter Phillips Gallery in Banff and “The Fence” - an international touring public photography exhibit. This is my reflection in the front window of a downtown Vancouver business. The interior’s been gutted, and debris is piled in the middle of the room. The reflection is not clear at first, but the trail of debris leads your eye to the shadows and details slowly reveal themselves; a hand, a figure, a taxi emerging from the rubble.
When I shoot a self-portrait, I try to imbue it with a certain duality – that of my presence and my absence existing in the same space. I am revealing myself as the subject of the photo, but at the same time I am also trying to hide myself within the image.
2023 Acquisition
Strathcona County Art Collection -
Joyce Boyer
Reaching Out, 2022
Mixed Media
Born in 1963, Joyce Boyer has lived her life in Alberta. Her love of art started at a very young age. Boyer’s mother recognized her love for art at an early age and enrolled her in art classes. As a member of the Federation of Canadian Artists, Pastel Society of Canada, Art Society of Strathcona County, and ACACA she keeps very involved with the Art Community. She is now working on promoting the converted RV that is now a mobile Studio and Gallery.
This morning was filled with anticipation to take a hike with my daughter to get to this location. It was a cool morning and raining lightly but nothing was going to dampen our day. We chatted about things that were close to our hearts and came across this marvelous tree just reaching out. It was well aged with outstretched limbs that showed us the vast beauty around us even though the weather was not exactly as we had planned. The scene around us could not have been more beautiful. It reminded us that although things might not be perfect, they are what they should be. This painting shows us the mood and emotion that might not be bright and cheerful but rather reflective is just as beautiful in its' own way
2023 Acquisition
Strathcona County Art Collection -
Ken Hawtin
Surprises in Wood, 2022
Box Elder and Maple
I grew up in a farming community called Cadogan in eastern Alberta.
My career path began at NAIT where I studied carpentry. There I completed the 4-year apprenticeship course and received my provincial Ticket and interprovincial Red Seal certification. Before retiring, I was a site superintendent for most of my career.
I started woodturning in 2008 by teaching myself and learning all I could. I found it to be very addictive and enjoyable as a hobby. I have created and sold pieces that are both artistic and functional all over the world. After 15 years of woodturning, I still enjoy creating unique pieces of art in my shop.
2023 Acquisition
Strathcona County Art Collection -
Lisa Matthias
Red-eyed Vireo Nest, 2023
Woodcut print
Lisa Matthias is an artist and ecologist who has lived in the Edmonton area since 2003. She has a Master of Fine Arts in printmaking (University of Alberta), a Master of Science in plant ecology (University of Manitoba), and a Bachelor of Science in biology (University of Guelph). Her interdisciplinary work reflects her lifelong passion for nature. After working for over a decade as an ecologist, she completed her MFA and switched careers to become a full-time artist in 2013. Focused on woodblock printmaking, her work references elements of the living world like birds, insects, plants, and microscopic organisms. Her experimental and multidisciplinary creative practice involves field sound recording, stop-motion animation, nature writing, and other forms of printmaking and works on paper. Her work has been widely exhibited in Canada, the US, and internationally.
2023 Acquisition
Strathcona County Art Collection -
Richard Borowski
I'll Take the Late Train, 2023
Linocut
Richard Borowski was born in Edmonton, grew up in Mundare, Alberta and in 1970 moved back to Edmonton to attend the University of Alberta. After completing a B.Ed. degree in 1974 he was employed as a teacher with Edmonton Catholic Schools until 1978. In 1979. Borowski returned to the University of Alberta in the Faculty of Arts. After two years of study, as a printmaking major, he returned to the classroom to spend thirty-two years with the Elk Island Catholic School Board as an art educator with students from grades seven to twelve. Since his retirement from teaching in 2006, he has maintained a full-time home-based studio practice.
Besides drawing and painting, most of his efforts have gone into creating Linocut and woodcut prints at SNAP in Edmonton. Borowski's work is held in numerous private collections.
2023 Acquisition
Strathcona County Art Collection -
Vincent Roper
Primavera, 2021
Oil on canvas
Vincent was born in Winnipeg. The son of a commercial artist, he grew up in an environment that treasured art and music and was enchanted from an early age by the artworks and art books around him and the occasional visits from artists themselves. But actually, much of his childhood was spent on his aunt’s farm near Minnedosa, Manitoba where through solitary explorations of the countryside, Vincent encountered the vastness and raw beauty of the Manitoba prairie, and life on a farm where the drama of birth and death is a constant - themes that are reflected in his landscape paintings.
In university Vincent immersed himself deeply into the history of art and graduated with an honours BA in Art history and Archaeology. Painting was a passion, but only a weekend pursuit until retirement from a lengthy professional career as a clinical psychologist. In 2017 after several years of part time study, Vincent received the Fine Arts Certificate with Distinction from the University of Alberta Faculty of Extension. Vincent’s landscapes are most often interpretations of the countryside near his home and studio in Sherwood Park.
2023 Acquisition
Strathcona County Art Collection -
Wayne Olsen
Time to Soar, 2021
Wood and acrylic paint
I have lived in Sherwood Park since 1972. I started carving about 25 years ago to fulfill my retirement time. Working with wood started in my youth in rural Alberta. I enjoy creating birds, ducks and mammals using wood, which is slowly becoming a lost art. As a member of the Alberta Wildlife Carving Association (AWCA), I have taken courses to improve my skills and this past year became an instructor at our club.
2023 Acquisition
Strathcona County Art Collection
Direct questions and concerns to Strathcona County Recreation, Parks and Culture:
Phone: 780-467-2211
Email: artacquisition@strathcona.ca
Receive timely updates on artist calls, exhibition opportunities, and Gallery@501 programs
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Last updated: Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Page ID: 38811