The Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA) is a not-for-profit organization, dedicated to the promotion and professional development of artists, and services for art collectors. Established in 1941 with André Biéler as its first president. Other leaders have included Group of Seven painter, Lawren Harris. Dedicated to its aim of gradually raising the artists' standards by stimulating participants to greater heights of achievement, they opened what is believed to be the first completely artist-sponsored gallery-workshop-studio in Canada. The Thompson Nicola Shuswap is a Chapter of the FCA. You can reach the FCA website by clicking on www.artists.ca.
The Federation of Canadian Artists Gallery on Granville Island has a website to help display and publicize the 20 or so shows they have each year. There is the Spilsury Medal Show which is the Annual Signature members competition. Another is the FCA's international open juried show called Painting on the Edge. Another one of the shows is open to any student who had taken a FCA course or workshop in the past year. The others are juried shows open to Active and/or Signature members of the FCA. The FCA's online gallery can be reached at www.federationgallery.ca.
The Canadian Institute of Portrait Artists (CIPA) is a not-for-profit organization that was founded by Pilar and Daniel Izzard of Vancouver. Daniel was also CIPA's first President. The role of the Canadian Institute of Portrait Artists is to introduce Canadian portraiture at all levels of expertise to the Canadian and world stage. It encourages mentorship by its most Senior Members. CIPA holds an annual portrait exhibition which is open to members and non-members alike. Last but not least, CIPA offers valuable "commissioning" information for corporate, governmental and private clients.
For further information you can visit the web site at the following address: www.portraitscanada.com