The Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) opened its first-ever gallery in Calgary on September 10, 2025, called the AFA art house, located on the second floor of the Edison building. The space, previously used as a temporary gallery by the Glenbow Museum during its renovation, will host rotating exhibitions from the AFA’s 10,000-piece collection, including the opening show "New Views" featuring 50 works purchased in the last decade. The gallery also allows Alberta artists to display and sell their art, and will feature a solo exhibition by Samantha Williams-Chapelsky, the 2024-25 AFA Alberta Artist in Residence, beginning in October.
This opening matters because it gives the AFA a physical presence in Calgary for the first time, addressing a long-standing gap where most of the foundation’s collection was stored in Edmonton and rarely seen by the public. By partnering with the City of Calgary on downtown revitalization and offering free admission, the AFA art house aims to increase access to Alberta art, support local artists, and contribute to the city’s cultural landscape alongside institutions like the Glenbow Museum and the Werklund Centre.