CARFAC History

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.

“No one is more qualified to speak on behalf of artists than artists themselves.”
— Jack Chambers, CARFAC founder

  • Jack Chambers
    1968-1971

    Sylvain Voyer
    1971 – 1976

    Bill Lobchuck
    1976 – 1978

    Dale Amundson
    1978 – 1981

    Gary Greenwood
    1981 – 1982

    Pat Durr
    1982 – 1984

    Ricardo Gomez
    1984 – 1987

    Claude Theriault
    1987 – 1989

    Jane Martin
    1989 – 1991

    Glen McKinnon
    1991 – 1992

    Leopold Faulen
    1992 – 1996

    Mike MacDonald
    1996 – 1999

    Acting Reps
    1999 – 2001

    Audrey Churgin
    2001

    Pat Durr
    2002 – 2005

    Mike MacDonald
    2005 – 2006

    Gerald Beaulieu
    2006 – 2009 & 2010 – 2011

    Mario Villeneuve
    2009

    Grant McConnell
    2011 – 2015

    Susan Tooke
    2015 – 2017

    Ingrid Mary Percy
    2017 – 2019

    Paddy Lamb
    2019 – 2023

    Theresie Tungilik
    2023 – Present