The Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art is an artist-run centre located in Kelowna, BC Canada.

The Alternator presents year-round exhibitions in all media by emerging and mid-career Canadian and international artists, as well as artist talks, exchanges, panel discussions, fundraising events, publications, workshops and other events that promote an awareness of contemporary art practices.

Exhibitions and programs are selected in line with our mandate, which is available here.

Since launching in 2011, the Members’ Gallery has exhibited the work of over 500 artists, ranging in experience from novice artists exhibiting their work for the first time, to established professional artists using the space to experiment with new projects. 

The Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art is currently accepting programming submissions for our MEMBERS’ GALLERY.

The Alternator Members’ Gallery is a community programming space dedicated to supporting the professional development of local emerging artists and community groups. The program offers Members’ Gallery participants access to our highly visible Window Gallery that faces onto the Rotary Centre for the Arts corridor and attracts up to 200,000 visitors per year. This space is well-suited for artists and curators with prior experience that are seeking to advance their practices and experiment with the unique dimensions and visibility of the gallery. We encourage participants towards innovative installation approaches that engage visitors and align with the Alternator’s mandate.

Visit our archive to view past exhibitions.

You do not need to be a practicing artist to exhibit in the Members’ Gallery. Although the space is available exclusively to Alternator Members, individual developing artists, curators and community groups are all eligible to exhibit. If you are uncertain if your work would be a good fit for the Members’ Gallery, contact us, and we will be happy to have a chat with you about your project.

All disciplines of work are exhibited in the Members’ Gallery. The Alternator’s mandate is to exhibit work that is engaged, experimental and collaborative. If your work fits into any of these categories then it will likely be a good fit for the Members’ Gallery. 

Further, the Members’ Gallery space offers a unique hybrid between a traditional exhibition wall and a micro-installation site. We encourage artists to consider the opportunities of this specific space when selecting work for exhibition. To view examples of how the Member’s Gallery space has been activated by artists in the past, please see our archive. If you require additional information on displaying in this space, please contact us - we are more than happy to chat!

The Members’ Window Gallery is an un-juried space. The Alternator maintains a list of members that would like to exhibit in the space and will contact people in order to schedule exhibition dates. There are usually 12 members’ exhibitions per year, and it is scheduled quarterly (every four months).

As this is an un-juried exhibition space, the Alternator does not pay CAR/FAC fees for exhibitions in the Members’ Gallery.

Members’ Gallery exhibition dates and durations are coordinated with activities taking place in the Main Gallery and for this reason are not flexible.

You must be a member to exhibit in the Members’ Gallery. If you aren’t already, you can learn more and become an Alternator Member here.

Diversity and Equity
We welcome submissions from under-represented artists of all backgrounds including, but not limited to, Indigenous, Black, and racialized persons; refugee, newcomer and immigrant persons; two-spirit, LGBTQ+ and gender non-binary persons, persons with diverse abilities, and those on low-incomes or living in poverty. We are committed to ensuring equitable access to our submissions process. 

At the Alternator, a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace is one where everyone feels valued and respected. This relies on our ability to create an equitable and accessible arts organization for all of our stakeholders; staff, volunteers, exhibiting artists, members and visitors. Fulfilling our mandate as a welcoming site for art-making and community building is inextricably linked to the equity, respect and accessibility we foster in all of our relationships, and in the behaviour we exemplify to our regional, provincial and national community. We approach Diversity, Equity & Inclusion as we do all aspects of our organization - with a growth mindset and frequent critical self-reflection. The Alternator has the right to refuse work that violates this policy. Please refer to our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policy to learn more.

FAQs

What else is expected of me when exhibiting?

Exhibiting in the Members’ Gallery allows artists to develop their skills in standard exhibition practices and gain experience in putting together a submissions package. At the time of the exhibition, artists will need to provide an artist statement, exhibition summary, 2-4 high-resolution images for promotional purposes, exhibition title, label information, and are encouraged to participate in a community outreach initiative (opening reception, artist-on-site, etc.). Furthermore, artists are expected to be present for the installation and deinstallation of their exhibitions. If you require assistance with organizing these materials, such as writing an artist statement, please get in touch as we are happy to help.

The Alternator works with the artist to provide limited assistance and support for exhibitions. The Alternator does not provide transportation, insurance, or an exhibition budget.

Do you have a gallery floorplan?

Yes, please see below or download the PDF.

I still have more questions, who can I contact?

Any questions about the gallery or submission process can be sent to info@alternatorcentre.com.

Submit