Purchase Program Information

Funds permitting, the Art Bank purchases art works for its collection through an annual purchase program. The works are purchased based on recommendations by a peer assessment committee made up of artists, art administrators, and curators, from across the country.

The art works are selected based on the following criteria:  Artistic excellence; relevance of the art work in terms of current artistic practice; regional representation; cultural diversity; suitability of the works for lease in an office setting.

The art works must be current (created within the last five years); created by living Canadian artists or permanent residents of Canada; and submitted directly by the artist or the artist’s representative.

The next deadline for purchases will be April 15, 2011.  Artists should visit the New and Noteable section of the Art Bank home page starting on December 15, 2010 to download the purchase program guidelines and application form.

Click here to view images of some of the works purchased in the last purchase program (deadline was October 15, 2009).  From there, you can link to our news release where you can read the list of works purchased and the names of the peer assessment committee members.