—Governance structure

The RCA is a registered national non-profit organization. The Academy is administered by an elected Governing Council (GC) composed of delegates from all parts of Canada, on a rotating basis. The GC is comprised of a mix of Academicians and non-members elected for their expertise. The RCA Executive Committee is appointed by GC members, and is comprised of a President, two Vice-Presidents, a Secretary and a Treasurer.

—Governing Council

Robert Tombs, RCA*
President

Peter Jacobs, CM, FCSLA, FASLA, RCA*
Vice-President

Stüssy Tschudin, RCA*
Vice-President

Derwyn Goodall, RCA*
Secretary

Eric Sullivan*
Treasurer

Gina Jones, CPA, CA, CF, ICD.D
Councillor

Anthony Kemp, FRAIC, RCA
Councillor

David MacWilliam, RCA Councillor

Leslie Reid, RCA
Councillor

Penelope Stewart, RCA Councillor

Luc Courchesne, RCA Councillor

Udo Schliemann, RCA Councillor

—Mission and Vision

Our mission and vision are to promote excellence in the arts and to advocate for Canadian artists and artistic endeavors. The RCA encourages new generations of artists, supports innovation in all forms of artistic endeavor, and promotes the exchange of ideas related to visual culture for all Canadians.

—Mandate

Celebrating the achievement of excellence and innovation by visual artists across Canada, encouraging new generations of artists, and facilitating the exchange of ideas about visual culture for all Canadians.

—Land acknowledgement

The Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (RCA) acknowledges that our office, located in Ottawa, is on the unceded ancestral Territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation. The RCA recognizes the Algonquins as the customary keepers and defenders of the Ottawa River Watershed and its tributaries. We honour their long history of welcoming many Nations to this beautiful territory and uphold and uplift the voice and values of our Host Nation.

—Diversity statement

The arts are a form of free speech that can play a central role in any society. The diversity of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts membership suggests that, by embracing inclusive policies, we affirm the dignity of those we serve, regardless of age, education, income, heritage, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, immigration status, physical or mental capabilities, or gender identity.
The RCA is committed to tolerance and understanding and acts to ensure that people can enjoy its programming free from any attempt by others to impose values, customs or beliefs. We are not complacent about our progress to date, and recognize that there is more work to be done in order to achieve diversity in all of our activities.
We have a strong contingent of linguistic minority and Indigenous members, and actively seek new members on an annual basis.

—What is an Academician?

Royal Canadian Academy of Arts members are invited annually to nominate accomplished individuals, from a wide range of art, design and fine craft disciplines, for membership in the RCA. Candidate submissions must include a nominator, a seconder, and three supporters. Submissions are then reviewed by a jury of RCA members, and those selected are inducted during the annual awards dinner. All participants of this process must be ‘members in good standing’ which requires the payment of annual dues.