MEMBER RESOURCES
How to prepare, photograph and deliver your work — and where to find everything your membership includes.
Everything a member needs between joining and hanging a show: the gallery’s rules for images, hanging and delivery, what it costs to miss them, and where to find the rest of your membership.
If you are new to exhibiting with the FCA, start with the rules below.
Getting your work into the gallery
The practical rules for photographing, preparing and delivering your work. Most declined images and most delivery charges trace back to one of these.
Photographing your work
JPEG only; other formats are not converted for you. At least 1500 pixels on the longest side at 300 ppi (1500 to 2000 pixels is ideal), 24-bit colour or better, and no more than 24 MB. Photograph the work straight on, without flash or glare. Crop so only the artwork shows, with no frame, border or background, and keep the colour true to the original.
How to photograph your work (PDF) →
Preparing work for hanging
Wire every piece a third of the way down from the top with D-rings and plastic-coated picture wire, whatever its size. No string, no plastic line, no eye hooks, no saw-tooth hangers and no French cleats: they damage other paintings in storage and mark the walls. The gallery replaces unsuitable hardware at $20 a piece, rising to $30 after three infractions.
Dropping off and collecting
Deliveries are accepted during gallery hours, and every piece needs a signed contract fixed to the back: that contract is your agreement with the gallery. Collect on or after the Thursday after the exhibition closes. Returns happen Wednesday to Friday only. If someone else is collecting for you, tell us in writing at [email protected].
Shipping and display instructions (PDF) →
Copyright and Federation standards
Working from photographs is accepted practice, but substantive use of stock images or a professional photographer’s work is not, even with permission. Reference photos must be your own, or an amateur’s with their express consent. Stock images may be used only for anatomical study, and must be incidental to the finished work (FCA policy 7.1.5). Work made in courses and workshops can’t be entered in juried exhibitions or status portfolios.
Gaye Adams, SFCA, on copyright (PDF) →
Written for Art Avenue in 2016. Where it differs from the policy above, for example on using someone else’s photograph with permission, the policy is the rule.
What it costs to get it wrong
$20Per piece, to replace hanging hardware that does not meet the standard. D-hooks and plastic-coated wire only — no string, no plastic line, no eye hooks.
$30Per piece, once you have had three infractions. The charge goes up; the requirement does not change.
DeclinedAny image that is not a JPEG, is under 1500 pixels on the longest side, is under 24-bit colour, or is over 24MB. Nothing is converted for you.
DeclinedAny image showing a frame, border or background. Crop so only the artwork is visible, and keep the colour true to the original.
RefusedAny piece arriving without a signed contract affixed to the back. That contract is your agreement with the gallery.
A weekTurn up outside Wednesday to Friday to collect and you will be making a second trip. Returns happen on those three days only.
None of this is arbitrary. Eye hooks damage other members’ paintings in storage and mark the gallery walls, and an image that misreads on screen misrepresents your work to a juror who will never see it in person.
Your membership, one click away
Members’ Area
Partner offers and their codes, Art Avenue online, the chapter resources and your receipts, in one place once you sign in.
Open the Members’ Area →
Directory listing and letters
Exhibiting status puts you in the member directory, and Elected status adds AFCA or SFCA to your name wherever your work is shown.
Browse the directory →
Member discounts
Partner offers on art supplies, framing, shipping and grants software.
View discounts →
Art Avenue magazine
The FCA membership magazine, four issues a year, with a digital copy included in your membership.
Read Art Avenue →
Submission calendar
Every deadline for the year, ordered by when a call closes rather than when the show opens.
Open the calendar →
Open calls
Every exhibition taking entries now, with its deadline, fees and eligibility.
See open calls →
Juror Orientation Manual
How FCA jurying works, useful whether you are entering a show or jurying one.
Read the manual (PDF) →
Membership levels
Supporting, Exhibiting and Elected status: what each costs and what it opens up.
Compare membership →
Gallery store
Exhibition catalogues, the official Federation art calendar and selected books.
Visit the store →
Studios and venue rental
Studios on Granville Island by the month, and a classroom available by the day.
See rentals →
For chapter executives
If you sit on a chapter board, the chapter resources page covers what needs to be shared with the Federation office and when — affiliate lists, board member changes, chapter news for Art Avenue, and registering qualifying shows.
Useful links for artists
Organizations outside the FCA that can help with copyright, artists’ fees and funding.
Copyright and artists’ rights
- CARFAC, Canadian Artists’ Representation: fee schedules, model contracts and advocacy
- Copyright Visual Arts (formerly CARCC), the copyright collective for visual artists
- Copyright Board of Canada
Funding and arts councils