Forest City Gallery: Growing art in London
London is a great centre for the arts. Apart from the nationally famous art programs at Fanshawe College and Western University, London is also home to several galleries. To mention some privately owned galleries, for example, there is the Jonathon Bancroft-Snell Gallery located on Dundas Street. This gallery displays the largest selection of contemporary Canadian ceramics in Canada. There’s also the Michael Gibson Gallery, located at 157 Carling Street, where they have promoted the art of emerging and well-established regional and national artists since 1984.
But apart from the privately-owned galleries, London holds in its heart a special initiative that challenges the market and the establishment, while promoting culture and the arts in the region. We are talking about the Forest City Gallery (FCG), of course. FCG is an artist-run centre founded in 1973 by a nationally recognized group of London artists and musicians. Soon after its inauguration, Forest City Gallery helped the development of the artist-run culture. FCG contributed to the creation of CARFAC (Canadian Artists’ Representation) and ARCCOO (Artist-run Centres and Collectives of Ontario).
“Forest City Gallery is a non-profit centre. Their activities are made possible through government grants, sponsorships, and donations.”
The Forest City Gallery not only offers a space, but also commits to paying artists and lecturers in accordance to CARFAC rates, and by doing so, promotes and supports the professionalization of visual arts. In its decades-long history, the Forest City Gallery has become an important venue for introducing contemporary artistic practices in London, by fostering exhibitions and resident artists, promoting dialogue among local and international arts communities, and by representing all kinds of artists with a focus on emerging artists and practices.
Like many institutions, the Forest City Gallery had to adapt during the pandemic. In a world where visiting places in person was not allowed, galleries and museums had to reinvent ways to keep promoting and following their mission. Forest City Gallery hosted many virtual exhibitions and events during the pandemic, bringing people together even during hard times. Another big change FCG has announced was their new address. After many years located on Richmond Street, now they have moved to 1025 Elias Street, and their new space will be open to the public as soon as COVID restrictions allow it. Among other things promoted by FCG, there are also studios for rent and residency programs for artists.
Forest City Gallery is a non-profit centre. Their activities are made possible through government grants, sponsorships, and donations. FCG also works with a membership system. By becoming a member, you will be supporting the gallery and also getting a series of benefits like limited edition merchandise, preferred entry to workshops and an admittance to the annual Members’ Show and Sale. Volunteering is also a great option to get involved with the Forest City Gallery, support our local artist community, and even get community service hours. As a small artist-run centre, they are always looking for more volunteers to help the project going. To learn more about Forest City Gallery and their programming, check their website: www.forestcitygallery.com.