The mission of the FCA is to advance the knowledge and appreciation of art and culture to all Canadians, offering education, exhibition and communication in the Visual Arts, and to support and promote emerging to professional member artists.
The Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA) is a registered charity founded in 1941 by professional Canadian working artists including Group of Seven luminaries Lawren Harris, Arthur Lismer, and A.Y. Jackson. The first National Executive Council was led by Andre Bieler, and Lawren Harris was the BC region’s first Chairman. Other notable founding members included Emily Carr and the Honorable Mark Kearley.
The FCA continues to operate as a registered charity with members throughout Canada and Chapters in Alberta and B.C. The FCA is dedicated to raising artistic standards by stimulating participants to greater heights of knowledge and achievement by offering what is believed to be the first completely artists' sponsored gallery in Canada. Currently the Federation is the only national-level visual arts organization that manages their own full-time art gallery.
The Federation Gallery is located on Granville Island, in the heart of Vancouver's art and culture community. Our gallery features twice-monthly juried exhibitions of works by emerging and Signature members as well as three juried international open shows held annually; Painting on the Edge, the Annual International Representational Exhibition, and the Annual International Mail-in Art Exhibition.
The FCA also holds special collaborative exhibitions with other Canadian art societies. Hosting an extensive education program that is open to all artists, the FCA provides workshops, classes, critiques and lectures in the fine arts media, with instruction by successful established artists who can help all artists to explore and develop their artistic interest and talent. Membership in the FCA is open to all who appreciate art.
We are dedicated to continuously develop our education program so we can offer artists the resources to flourish. The Federation offers a wide range of online and in-person courses and classes. From classical art training to business training - we help artists grow and develop in every way.
The Foundations Program is a series of 10 classes, each focusing on 10 different foundational concepts of visual art. These classes provide a high-level overview of what every artist should know so you can review your own skillset, understand where you are within your personal practice, and be able to see where there is room for improvement.
The Retreat is the Federation of Canadian Artist's largest educational and social event of the year. In the company of our Master Instructors and your artist comrades you will experience some of the most breathtaking plein air painting locations Western Canada has to offer and develop your skillset in a fun environment.
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