The Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA) is a national organization founded in Kingston, Ontario in 1941 and now headquartered in Vancouver. Nationally, The Federation of Canadian Artists was instrumental in the formation of the Massey Commission in 1949 and the subsequent formation of The Canada Council. In the west, the FCA established the Painting in the Parks programs in BC in the 1950’s, a program funded by Canada Council grants and copied around the world. Notable past Chairmen of the BC region of the FCA included Alan Edwards, B.C. Binning, Donald Jarvis, Gordon Smith and JAS McDonald. Currently, the FCA has nine chapters throughout BC and Alberta and a permanent gallery on Granville Island in Vancouver: Federation Gallery.

The Victoria Chapter, with 125 members from Sooke to Lands End, and from Mill Bay to Saltspring and the Gulf Islands, offers regular programs and workshops designed to raise artistic standards by stimulating participants to greater heights of achievement. The Victoria Chapter includes notables such as Robert Bateman, Dorothy Oxborough, David Goatley, Catherine Moffat, Clement Kwan, Marcia Semenoff, Margot Clayton, Marney Ward, Peter Paterson, Mary Ann Laing and Anne Hudec.

The Victoria Chapter holds monthly meetings featuring art demonstrations, critiques, and guest speakers chosen for their expertise in the professional and technical aspects of a career in the arts. It offers workshops by outstanding artists, open to members and their guests.

Each year in the spring and fall, the Chapter holds a show juried by FCA signature members (those who have attained their ‘signature’ status by achieving and maintaining work of professional standard, are themselves ‘juried’ in to this status). Approximately 100 paintings are submitted for each show, with one third to one half selected for the show. Jurors look for the “wow” factor, good composition, mastery of the artist’s medium and technique, and originality of style. The result is a first class exhibition, varied in style and media, featuring the best works of 30 – 40 of the region’s top artists.

The Federation of Canadian Artists endeavours to provide artists with an organization
through which they can share ideas, and learn and grow as artists.