About the Society

Fostering the visibility and stature of the visual arts in Canada

The Society of Canadian Artists (SCA) is a national, non-profit artists’ organization dedicated to expanding the visibility and stature of the visual arts. SCA has representation in all of the visual arts media. We respect our historical roots, are aware of our current world, and are future-minded.

Officially founded in 1972 (although germinating since 1957), the Society of Canadian Artists is the young, national, non-profit artists’ organization born to foster and celebrate the visual arts in Canada. We are a collection of some of the country’s most committed traditional and new media artists and we welcome the new, the up-and-coming and the established

What the society does

The Society of Canadian Artists promotes artists working in a wide spectrum of fine art media.  This is just some of what we do:

Fosters a community for artists through exhibitions, workshops, lectures and communications

Recognizes the highest qualities in art through a program of awards

Organizes and administers public exhibitions of the work of members and non-members, adhering to a high standard of artistic excellence

Provides leadership within the arts community in Canada through the encouragement of original, artistic expression and experimentation in all media and all visual art forms

A brief History

In 1957, a group of Toronto artists created the Society of Co-operative Artists. The SCA broadened its vision from local to national in 1972 when it received its charter and non-profit status and became the Society of Canadian Artists.


The SCA is committed to strengthening its national presence in Canada by promoting excellence in traditional forms of artistic expression, and by encouraging acceptance and growth of contemporary and experimental forms of visual art.

Want to Read More?

You can read more in an article written by Alan Bates in an extract from "20th Anniversary of Society of Canadian Artists", published in 1987

60th Anniversary - 2017

The Society of Canadian Artists celebrated it's 60th anniversary in 2017 with several special events.