The Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA) was founded in 1941 by professional Canadian working artists, including Emily Carr and several members of the iconic Group of Seven. The FCA has members from across Canada, as well as regional Chapters in Alberta and British Columbia. As part of their mandate to raise artistic standards, they support a national art gallery on Granville Island where selected members may exhibit their work.

The West Kootenay Chapter of the FCA (WKCFCA) was formed in 2001 by 30 area artists whose work had reached the juried standard for acceptance into shows at the Granville Island gallery. Today we have expanded to include members from the Boundary, East Kootenay, West Kootenay and beyond. In addition to meetings four times a year at which we offer demonstrations and artistic critiques, we host workshops in various media with local, national and international instructors and organize juried Chapter shows.