Gallery Information

Presently, Harcourt has a semiannual call for submissions. Exhibitions are selected by an independent jury, administered by the Exhibition Chairperson. The program focus is visual art and includes all visual art practices. The exhibition program aims to expose the public to the diversity of work being produced in the visual arts community.

The gallery strives to meet the needs of visual artists by providing an open environment for the presentation and discussion of their work. Artists and organizations involved in exhibitions are responsible for both the selection and presentation of their work. Gallery staff and volunteers offer expertise and support to assist artists in presenting their work.

Harcourt supports artists through the payment of artist fees, according to the guidelines established by CARFAC.

Gallery Exhibition Policy

It is the responsibility of Harcourt House Gallery to offer the public approximately ten exhibitions in the main gallery space and between five and ten exhibitions in the Front Room space per year.

Exhibtion Programming

Our programming focus is to present challenging work from local, national and international artists. We offer the community at least 10 exhibitions per year in the main gallery and a maximum of 10 exhibitions in the Front Room by both emerging and established artists. A forum is created and provided through exhibitions, lectures, workshops and a community art enrichment program.

Harcourt House Gallery continues to maintain its nondiscriminatory exhibition policy, which includes linguistic, ethnic or cultural background, gender or sexual orientation. We actively promote work that does not conform to the restrictions inherent in both the commercial or public gallery systems. Artists are given the opportunity to exhibit their work regardless of its sociopolitical, conceptual or aesthetic focus.

Exhibiting artists and arts organizations are encouraged to actively participate in the presentation of their work, while Harcourt provides the technical assistance in an uncensored, non-coercive environment, thus supporting the integrity of the artists' aesthetic intent.

The WECAN Society goals are to provide exhibitions of quality to the citizens of Edmonton, to maintain its art education programs in keeping with its mandate to make available qualified instruction in the visual arts to our community at large and to continue to offer studio space for artists.

Methods of Programming the Front Room

The space is open to all WECAN members, local artists and organizations.

The Front Room is a space to showcase new work fresh out of the studio, experimental work in progress, timely projects, or to gain experience in mounting an exhibition.

Harcourt House accepts ongoing proposals for the Front Room. Due to the 'immediate', participatory, and educational nature of the space, there is no deadline for submission and the space is programmed on an ongoing basis.

Front Room proposals will be directed by the Exhibition Chair to the Board of Directors for approval.

Exhibitions are chosen by the Exhibition Chair to compliment the shows in the main gallery space.

Harcourt provides the same promotional benefits as for the main space; a poster, invitation, mailout, Public Service Announcements and an opening reception.

Submission requirements are the same as for the main room, according to the "Call for Submissions".

The Harcourt House Gallery pays artists' fees to artists exhibiting in the Front Room based on a schedule of $250 for a solo show.

Methods of programming the main gallery space

1. The program for the main gallery space is as follows:
   • 6 to 9 juried exhibitions,
   • A maximum of 3 curated exhibitions,
   • 1 membership exhibition.


2. Juried Exhibitions
   Every six months a jury will review submissions received through a "Call for Submissions" format. The jury selects the artists to be exhibited and arranges them for solo, group and/or theme exhibitions.


3. Curated Exhibitions
   The "Call for submissions" is open to proposals from arts organizations, institutions, clubs, groups and individual curators. These proposals will be directed by the Exhibition Chair to the Board of Directors for approval.


4. Membership Exhibition
   The membership of the WECAN Society is invited once a year to participate in the Members Exhibition. This exhibition is open to all members in good standing. Each member who submits is guaranteed at least one work in the Members Show. Due to space limitations a maximum of 3 works may be exhibited by any one member. Artwork for the Members Show must have been completed within a calendar year of the exhibition.

Call for Submissions

The Call for Submissions will be provided in writing to other arts organizations and institutions. Advertisement for the "Call for Submissions" will occur in various local and national arts publications. Members shall receive notification of "Call for Submissions" through the WECAN newsletter and exhibitions invitations. The "Call for Submissions" shall include a list of submission requirements.

Jury Process

A new jury is selected biannually. The jury consists of 3 to 5 individuals working in the visual arts, selected by the Exhibitions Chair and approved by the Board of Directors.

The instructions to the jury shall include the following:

• The jurors will review all the submissions and rank the artists.


• The artists may be grouped according to style, medium and subject matter by the jurors.


• An artist has the right to review the work of the artists he/she is grouped with and may withdraw his/her submission if he/she feels his/her work is not compatible.


• No information shall be given to any person regarding the jury results until all the selected artists have been reviewed and notified in writing by the Exhibitions Coordinator.


• WECAN reserves the right to publish the names of the jurors after the work has been juried.


• Each juror has the right to decline appointment after having read the guidelines.


• The Executive Board reserves the right to modify the number of shows selected by the jurors if there are time considerations or restraints. The jurors shall be informed and asked for guidance should this problem arise.


• An artist may submit work for jurying any number of times and may be selected for subsequent exhibitions as long as the work is current and has not been exhibited at Harcourt House Gallery previously.

Artist Fees

The Harcourt House Gallery pays artists' fees according to the schedule set out by the Canadian Artists' Representation/Federation des Artistes Canadiennes (CARFAC). FOR INFORMATION SEE CARFAC FEE SCHEDULE.

General - Rules, Regulations and Restrictions

• Artists cannot apply for one year after graduating from a formal institution and cannot exhibit student work.
• Artwork for exhibit must be completed within two years of the exhibition date.
• The Exhibition Chair will not be allowed to submit artwork for juried and/or curated exhibitions while in office.
• Employees may submit artwork for exhibition, however, he/she is then restricted from recruiting the jury and must refrain from conferring with the jury on programming.
• All complaints shall be addressed to the Exhibition Chair in writing.

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