Who We Are

The Art Dealers Association of Canada (ADAC) was founded in 1966 as a not-for-profit trade organization, binding together the largest representation of major private commercial galleries in Canada, who in turn represent the country’s leading visual artists, both contemporary and historic.

As Canada’s leading professional arts trade organization we strive to raise the profile of Canadian Visual Art and Artists, exploring and expanding markets for Canadian Art Dealers and their artists both in Canada and Internationally. Our membership has a unique expertise and knowledge base in an extremely esoteric but profitable sector. We seek to amplify the voices of all Canadian Visual Artists, not only with the goal of exposing the world to their talents, but also as a way to realize monetary value and revenue from our government’s continued investment in Canadian Culture.

ADAC is a supporter of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and we seek to protect and promote the interests of Canadian Indigenous Artists, including the repatriation of the rightful properties of Canadian Indigenous Nations back to Canada.

For over 30 years the ADAC has provided an unparalleled Appraisal Service to public institutions who are receiving fine art donations. We specialize in seamless and professional appraisal services with an emphasis on Canadian Cultural Properties Review Board (CCPERB) applications.

We strive to continuously expand and serve our membership; including both established and emerging art dealers, fostering a robust association from various backgrounds and specialities. We create and ensure vital programming and professional development initiatives for our members through opportunities at home as well as abroad. Through these opportunities we aim to help promote our members, but also Canadian Visual Arts as a whole. As an association we ensure that our members are aware of important information pertaining to their businesses and the Art world.

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Black and white photograoh of Mira Godard looking up at a large painting of a geometric female figure

Mira Godard with Picasso's Nu Sur un Divan at Marlborough Godard Gallery, Toronto ca. 1974. From the Toronto Star Photograph Archives.

History

In the early 1960’s, a group of art dealers in Montreal decided to form an association that would represent the top dealers in Canada who were committed to setting a standard of professionalism based on respect for one another, their artists, and the broader arts community. The association was established to provide a professional platform that would set ethical standards for operating galleries, lobby government on issues affecting the visual arts, and consider the problems of fake, forged and misrepresented art. Their efforts were realized in 1966 when the Canada Council for the Arts (CCA) invited a group of dealers to Stanley House, New Brunswick, to discuss establishing a closer liason with the visual arts community.

The dealers who attended were: Dolores Booth, Mira Godard, Avrom Isaacs, Walter Moos, and John Robertson. David Silcox, the CCA representative, and Jake Moore, CEO of Brascon and a notable collector, were also present. As a result of this meeting, the vision of the national art dealers association was formed. The association was officially incorporated on September 6, 1966 as the Professional Art Dealers Association of Canada/L’Association professionnelle des galeries d’art du Canada. In 2001, the membership voted to change the name to the Art Dealers Association of Canada / Association des Marchands d’Art du Canada.

Black and white photograph of Avrom Isaacs seated in a white midcentury modern chair inside the Isaacs gallery, with landscape paintings on the walls behind him

Avrom Isaacs at the Isaacs Gallery in Toronto, ca. 1970. From the Toronto Star Photograph Archives.

Advocacy

ADAC strives to create and foster opportunity and community in the visual arts, which can be realized in many forms. The Art Dealers Association has a dedicated Advocacy Committee and Foundation Committee that works towards the betterment of the Membership as well as Canadian Art as a whole. 1986, the ADAC established its Foundation, a registered charity empowered to receive donations for the purpose of supporting the visual arts and giving back to the community.

We are currently in the works of creating the “Avrom Isaacs Award” which supports the remembrance and legacy of Canadian art dealer Avrom Isaacs.

Avrom discovered and supported the career of many of Canada’s best-known artists, such as Michael Snow and William Kurelek, and helped bring Inuit art to the forefront as a contemporary art in its own right. In honour of Avrom Isaacs and his contribution, this award will be presented to a mid-career artist who shows great talent and promise, as a means to recognize their achievements and support their continued practice.

To donate to this initiative please do so here.

ADAC also has a Lifetime Achievement Award, which was established in 2001. The award was put on hold due to the Covid-19 Pandemic but will be reinstated soon. This Award is given to an ADAC member who has, in the span of their career, shaped the Canadian art world, and beyond.

Past Recipients:

Avrom Isaacs, 2001
Walter Moos, 2002
Faye Settler, 2003
Walter Klinkhoff, 2004
Michel Moreault, 2006

Uno Langmann, 2007
Ian Muncaster, 2008
Roger Bellemare, 2009
Mira Godard, C.M., 2010
Torben Kristiansen, 2011

Gerard Gorce, 2012
Olga Korper, C.M., 2013
Miriam Shiell, 2014
Patricia Feheley, C.M., 2015
Douglas Maclean, 2016

Paul Wildridge, 2018