MANDATE

Forest City Gallery (FCG) is an artist-run centre founded on artistic autonomy with a commitment to excellence in programming exhibitions and events that reflect and address recent developments in cultural production. FCG serves to foster and support contemporary art, promoting dialogue among local, regional, and international arts communities. FCG represents artists of all disciplines and career levels with a focus on emerging artists and practices.  

VISION STATEMENT

A thriving artist-run culture. 

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MISSION STATEMENT

An artist-run center that fosters and supports contemporary art, promoting dialogue among local, regional, and international arts communities. 

VALUE STATEMENTS

FCG strives to be an alternative exhibition and artist venue through providing diverse programming and educational skills training for artists, administrators, educators, and advocates. In order to remain inclusive, FCG emphasizes community engagement through facilitating both open access and ongoing dialogue with community members and partners. 

FCG proves itself to be resilient through remaining adaptive to the challenges and struggles of the changing climate in the arts. We provide a support system for artistic agency that fosters growth and criticality. FCG commits to be a formative platform for artists. 

BRIEF HISTORY

FCG was founded in 1973 by a nationally recognized group of London artists and musicians. As one of Canada’s first artist-run centres, FCG became a catalyst for the development of artist-run culture, contributing to the conception of ARCCO (Artist-Run Centres and Collectives of Ontario) and CARFAC (Canadian Artists’ Representation/Le Front des artistes canadiens). FCG is committed to paying all exhibiting artists and lecturing artists in accordance to CARFAC rates. In doing so, FCG promotes and facilitates the professionalization of visual artists. As the only artist-run centre in London, FCG is an important venue for introducing contemporary artistic practices to Londoners. 

Read FCG's current Strategic Plan.

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Forest City Gallery is situated on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Lunaape, Huron-Wendat and Attawandaron Nations, which have been sites of human activity for over 10,000 years. We have a responsibility to honour the Treaties that enable us to be here, as well as look to the leadership of the local First Nations: Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, Oneida Nation of the Thames, and Munsee Delaware Nation. FCG acknowledges the longstanding relationships that these Indigenous Nations have to this land and Deshkan Ziibing, and we acknowledge the historical and ongoing injustices that Indigenous Peoples endure due to Canada’s discriminatory policies and broken Treaties. We are currently navigating what our responsibilities to these Nations and Peoples looks like, and we are seeking to build meaningful relationships.

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We have a responsibility to these Nations through the Dish With One Spoon wampum, an understanding initiated by the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, the land and future generations that invites allied nations to peaceably share and care for the land and Great Lakes in the same spirit of reciprocity. This land acknowledgement is a reminder to ourselves and others to honour these relationships and responsibilities everyday.

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To acknowledge this traditional territory is to recognize its longer history, one predating the establishment of the earliest European colonies. We also acknowledge the colonial frameworks within which Forest City Gallery operates and the need to identify and remove barriers on an ongoing basis.

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COMMUNITY

FCG is a member of CARFAC Ontario, Pillar Nonprofit Network, and Imagine Canada.