Who Are We?

History

In April 2002, the Artist-Run Centres and Collectives of Ontario (ARCCO) organized the Convergence conference in Ottawa. Convergence was a forum that provided the opportunity for artist-run centres to meet from across the country, and to consider the idea of a national organization. It was generally agreed at this meeting that the regional model of advocacy – where it had existed – was very effective and should be promoted, and that rather than recreate ANNPAC, these associations should continue their advocacy efforts at all levels of government. However, there was also consensus that there were many common issues that could benefit from a collaborative effort. After a second meeting that followed the Tiré à part/Off-Printing conference in Quebec City, presented by the Regroupement des centres d’artistes autogérés du Québec (RCAAQ), a working committee was set up to develop structural models for a national association that would be flexible enough to accommodate regional differences and interests.

Finally, on March 1^st, 2004, following the InFest conference organized by the Pacific Association of Artist-Run Centres (PAARC) in Vancouver, representatives from centres across the country agreed to form the Artist-Run Centres and Collectives Conference / La Conférence des collectifs et des centres d’artistes autogérés (ARCCC/CCCAA), a coalition of regional associations and specific caucuses. A provisional Board was elected with the mandate to establish the working mechanisms of this new association. ARCCC/CCCAA was officially incorporated in May 2005 and has been active since then, representing and advocating for Canadian artist-run organizations on the national and international scenes.

As of January 2011, through the regional and specific associations that comprise its membership, the Artist-Run Centres and Collectives Conference represents some 170 artist-run centres and collectives.

Members of the Conference

As of January 2011, the Conference comprises seven regional and two culture-specific associations:

• Association of Artist-Run Centres from the Atlantic (AARCA) Incorporated in 2005, AARCA represents a dozen artist-run centres in Newfoundland & Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Being spread over four provinces makes communication difficult, but the association is making good progress in establishing links with other arts advocacy groups to improve funding in the region.
• Le Regroupement des centres d’artistes autogérés du Québec (RCAAQ) RCAAQ is the oldest and largest regional association, having celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2006 and boasting more than 60 members across Quebec. The organization is very active, coordinating advocacy, workshops, publications and networking. RCAAQ is also an important partner in the Mouvement pour les arts et lettres (MAL) coalition to improve arts funding in Quebec.
• Artist-Run Centres and Collectives of Ontario (ARCCO) Active since 1988, ARCCO represents over 40 artist run centres and collectives across Ontario. In November 2008, ARCCO hosted the national conference for artist-run centres hot buttons / points chauds in Ottawa.
• VERRUE (Manitoba) VERRUE comprises an energetic mix of artist-run centres, public galleries, alternative festivals, service-providers and events programmers. VERRUE’ s primary objective is the exchange of information, but the organization also lobbies to affect change and to raise awareness of issues concerning the arts in Manitoba.
• Plains Association of Artist-Run Centres (PARCA) Saskatchewan-based PARCA represents eight centres located in Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert. Its chief mission is to advocate for the priorities of artist-run centres in the province and to facilitate communications and networking.
• Alberta Association of Artist-Run Centres (AAARC) AAARC facilitates advocacy, networking, and development for eight artist-run centres in Alberta. Its activities aim to enhance awareness of artist-run culture within Alberta in order to provide more effective advocacy in the long term.
• Pacific Association of Artist-Run Centres (PAARC) British Columbia-based PAARC has been active since 1988, and, with limited financial means, has been able to advocate very efficiently for its members as well as raise the profile of artist run activities within the province. PAARC now has a membership of nearly twenty centres, including the addition of new centres from Vancouver and the BC interior.
• The Aboriginal Region The Aboriginal Region is currently comprised of four artist-run centres in Saskatchewan, and is working to expand its membership to Aboriginal artist-run centres in other provinces. The Region advocates for Aboriginal artist-run centres in Canada, giving voice to the unique challenges of programming Aboriginal contemporary art.
• L’Association des groupes en arts visuels francophones (AGAVF) Active since 1998, AGAVF advocates for the interests of francophone groups and collectives, mostly artist-run centres, in linguistic minority situations. Its membership currently comprises centres and collectives in Nova Scotia, New-Brunswick, Ontario and Manitoba.

Representatives

• The Association of Artist-Run Centres from the Atlantic (AARCA) is represented by Michael McCormack, Director of Eyelevel Gallery in Halifax NS;
• The Regroupement des centres d’artistes autogérés du Québec (RCAAQ) is represented by Bastien Gilbert, Executive Director of RCAAQ in Montreal QC;
• Artist-Run Centres and Collectives of Ontario (ARCCO) is represented by Jewell Goodwyn, Executive Director of ARCCO in London ON;
• VERRUE is represented by Hannah Godfrey, Program Director of AceArtInc. in Winnipeg MB;
• The Plains Artist-Run Centres Association (PARCA) is represented by Brenda Cleniuk, Director of Neutral Ground in Regina SK;
• The Alberta Association of Artist-Run Centres (AAARC) is represented by Todd Janes, Director of Latitude 53 Contemporary Visual Culture in Edmonton AB;
• The Pacific Association of Artist-Run Centres (PAARC) is represented by Jonathan Middleton, Director-Curator of the Or Gallery in Vancouver BC.
• The Aboriginal Region is represented by Michel Boutin, artist and Artistic Coordinator of the Indigenous Peoples Artist Collective in Prince Albert SK;
• L’Association des groupes en arts visuels francophones (AGAVF) is represented by Lise Leblanc, Executive Director of AGAVF in Ottawa ON.

Board of Directors

The representatives of all nine associations form the Board of Directors:

• President: Todd Janes
• Vice-President: Jewell Goodwyn
• Secretary: Bastien Gilbert
• Treasurer: Lise Leblanc

Directors

• Michel Boutin
• Brenda Cleniuk
• Hannah Godfrey
• Michael McCormack
• Jonathan Middleton

Past Presidents

• Cindy Baker
• Jonathan Middleton
• Michelle Bush
• Bastien Gilbert

Staff

• Director: Annie Gauthier
• Graphic designer and webmaster: Benoit Pontbriand

The Artist-Run Centres and Collectives Conference is a member of the following associations

• Visual Arts Alliance
• Canadian Conference of the Arts
• Canadian Arts Coalition
• Cultural Human Resources Council