ABOUT
OUR STORY
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.
For FCG's current Strategic Plan click here.
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We are situated on the traditional land of the Anishinaabek, Haudenausaune, Lenape, Huron-Wendat, and Attawandaron peoples who have long-standing relationships to the region of southwestern Ontario and the City of London. In close proximity, there are 3 local First Nations communities: the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, Oneida Nation of the Thames, and Munsee Delaware Nation. In the region of Southwestern Ontario, there are 9 First Nations and a growing Indigenous urban population. We would like to recognize the significant historical and contemporary contributions of local and regional First Nations and all of the Original peoples of Turtle Island (North America) to the development of Canada.