“arca” is a nickname created from the official acronym of the organization’s full name: Artist-Run Centres and Collectives Conference/Conférence des collectifs et des centres d’artistes autogérés (ARCCC-CCCAA).

Artist-run Centres (ARCs) are non-profit organizations, run by and for artists, that support new and innovative practices in the arts. With a rich history that spans over thirty years, ARCs have had a significant impact on the cultural ecology of Canada and around the world. Generally, these centres exhibit contemporary art that parallels the larger public institutions and private commercial galleries, thereby offering an alternative to artists in determining how their work is represented. The majority of Canada’s internationally recognized contemporary artists, curators and cultural practitioners have emerged from the artist-run centre movement. [definition adapted from the Pacific Association of Artist-Run Centres’ website, www.paarc.ca]

Collectives are groups of artists, generally less structured than those in artist-run centres, who have assembled to work towards common goals.

As of March 2009, there are approximately 170 artist-run centres and collectives in Canada that are members of a regional or a specific association. They are spread out across the country, in major cities as well as in less densely populated areas.

Yes. There are artist-run centres (or artist-run “spaces” or “initiatives”) in the United States, in many European countries, in Australia and in Asia. It seems, however, that it is in Canada that this structure has flourished, and a solid network has been established over the last 35 years.

In Canada, the first artist-run centres appeared in the early 1970’s. The model can nevertheless be traced back to the Vienna Secession that was founded in Austria in 1897.

The Artist-Run Centres and Collectives Conference is a national organization of autonomous associations formed in 2004 to advocate for artist-run centres at the national level. These autonomous associations are either based on geographical regions or on specific cultural groups. You can find basic information, history and so forth at www.arccc-cccaa.org.

Members of arca are associations formed primarily of artist-run centres. Most of these associations are regionally based, but some are “culture-specific” (Aboriginal, francophones in linguistic minority contexts, etc.).

Admission criteria are flexible as to allow for membership or representation when issues arise that threaten or adversely affect Canadian artist-run culture.

No. Only regional or specific associations of artist-run centres or collectives can become members.

The organization is based in Montreal, but is at work across Canada. arca does not have an office that is open to the public. Requests for information can be made by phone, email or regular mail.