No one is more qualified to speak on behalf of artists than artists themselves. — Jack Chambers, CARFAC founder
1968
Canadian Artists’ Representation is founded in London, Ontario when a group of artists, headed by Jack Chambers, Tony Urquhart and Kim Ondaatje organize themselves collectively to demand the recognition of artists’ copyright. They begin issuing minimum copyright fee schedules and continue to produce them regularly.
1971
Members form Canadian Artists’ Representation/le Front des artistes canadinens to advocate at the federal level.
1975
Canada becomes the first country to pay exhibition fees to artists, after successful lobbying by CARFAC. Based on CARFAC’s minimum copyright fee schedule, the Canada Council makes the payment of fees to living Canadian artists a requirement for eligibility for Program Assistance Grants to Public Art Galleries.
1988
CARFAC’s lobbying results in the federal Copyright Act Amendment. The Act recognizes artists as the primary producers of culture, and gives artists legal entitlement to exhibition and other fees.
1999
CARFAC is certified by the Canadian Artists and Producers Professional Relations Tribunal as the collective bargaining representative for visual and media artists in Canada, as recognized by the federal Status of the Artist legislation.
2000
Le RAAV, le Regroupment des artistes en visuels du Quebec, and CARFAC sign a joint Memorandum of Understanding that facilitates the membership of RAAV in CARFAC.
2003
CARFAC begins to expand its services in the northern territories, with offices opening in 2005 in Nunavut, and the Yukon in 2006.
2007
A new agreement on a fair level of payment for artist fees was struck between CARFAC, RAAV, CAMDO and the CMA. The four organizations agreed to form a joint committee to pursue common goals.