Ontario Society of Artists
The Ontario Society of Artists is Canada's oldest continuously operating artists' society (founded 1872), operating as a Toronto-based registered charity that serves professional visual artists across Ontario through membership, juried exhibitions, conservation advocacy, and member events.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1872
- HeadquartersToronto, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Ontario Society of Artists does
The Ontario Society of Artists (OSA) is Canada's oldest continuously operating artists' society, founded in 1872 and headquartered at The Arts and Letters Club, 14 Elm Street, Toronto, Ontario. It is a Canadian registered charitable organization (registration #119068401RR0001) operating as a nonprofit membership society governed by an elected volunteer Executive Council, with a current staff of approximately 8. Its core mission is fostering and promoting the visual arts throughout Ontario, and it is the only artists' organization for 150 years to have held the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario as its Honorary patron. The OSA's core products are its professional membership program, annual juried exhibitions (Open Juried Exhibition, MESW/Members Exhibition Small Works, Western Hub Exhibition), themed exhibitions such as 'Food for Thought', conservation advocacy campaigns (Standing Up for Old Growth Forests, Alliston Aquifer, Escarpment, White Bear Forest), annual member events including the Fall Art Retreat at Haliburton Forest, and commemorative publications such as the 150th anniversary book 'Breath. Heart. Spirit. The OSA 150 Years'. Underlying technology is the Wild Apricot membership management platform, which powers the website, member directory, payment processing, email communications, and online store.
The business model is subscription- and event-driven rather than commercial. Revenue streams include annual membership dues ($150 for Ontario residents, $35 for out-of-province members, due May 1), one-time new-member application fees ($45), exhibition entry fees ($25-$35 per submission), merchandise and book sales ($40 member/$45 non-member for the commemorative book plus $15 flat postage), and charitable donations. Distribution is conducted through direct member engagement, partnerships with Ontario galleries (John B. Aird Gallery, Donna Child Fine Art Gallery, Art Gallery of Georgina, Belvedere Gallery-Castle Kilbride, Latitude Gallery 44) as exhibition host venues, and through the Art Gallery of Ontario and Ottawa Art Gallery as book distribution partners. Marketing relies on the OSA website, monthly email newsletter, Instagram (@osaartists), and word-of-mouth through the member network.
Ontario Society of Artists firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ontario Society of Artists
- Legal name
- Ontario Society of Artists
- Website
- https://ontariosocietyofartists.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1872
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Ontario Society of Artists is Canada's oldest continuously operating artists' society (founded 1872), operating as a Toronto-based registered charity that serves professional visual artists across Ontario through membership, juried exhibitions, conservation advocacy, and member events.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ontario Society of Artists industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Visual Arts Society Services
- NAICS
- Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (711510)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro industry
- Public Art, Arts Councils & Grantmaking ProgramsArt Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit)Arts Education & Community Arts ProgramsCultural Festivals & Events Organizations
Keywords
Where Ontario Society of Artists is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toronto
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ontario Society of Artists business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: Annual membership dues from professional artists in Ontario. Annual fee of $150 for Ontario residents, $35 for out-of-province members.
- Membership Application Fees: One-time application fee of $45 for new members seeking to join the OSA.
- Exhibition Entry Fees: Fees for entering juried exhibitions such as the MESW (Members Exhibition Since Wayback) and Open Juried Exhibitions. Prices range from $25-$35 for members.
- Publications and Merchandise: Sale of commemorative publications including the 150th anniversary book 'Breath. Heart. Spirit. The OSA 150 Years' at $40 for members, $45 for non-members.
- Donations: Charitable donations from supporters. OSA is a Canadian registered charitable organization with registration number 119068401RR0001.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Membership - Ontario Residents |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Membership - Out of Province |
| One time/ perpetual license | One-time | New Member Application |
| One time/ perpetual license | One-time | 150th Anniversary Book - Member Price |
| Transaction based/ take rate | One-time | MESW Exhibition Entry - Member |
| Transaction based/ take rate | One-time | Food for Thought Exhibition Entry |
| Unit Pricing | One-time | Fall Art Retreat |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Ontario Society of Artists product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Ontario Society of Artists is a membership-based nonprofit art society that promotes visual arts throughout Ontario through annual juried exhibitions (Open Juried Exhibition, MESW, Western Hub), member services (directory listings, mentorship, networking), an annual Fall Art Retreat, conservation advocacy initiatives, and commemorative publications such as the 150th anniversary book 'Breath. Heart. Spirit.'
Product overview
The Ontario Society of Artists, founded in 1872, operates as a membership-based art society offering a portfolio of interconnected services including membership programs, art exhibitions (Open Juried Exhibition, MESW, Western Hub Exhibition, and regional shows), conservation initiatives (Standing Up for Old Growth Forests, Alliston Aquifer protection), annual art retreats, and an online store. The society maintains an online store selling the commemorative 150th anniversary book, membership applications, and exhibition entry registrations. Communication services include monthly newsletter distribution. The organization uses Wild Apricot membership software as its technology platform for website, membership management, payments, and communications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Membership Program Annual professional artist membership providing exhibition opportunities, member directory listing, networking, mentorship, and career promotion for Ontario-based professional visual artists across traditional mediums, mixed media, fibre art, photography, digital art, sculpture, video, installation, and performance-based art.
- Open Juried Exhibition Annual juried open exhibition accepting submissions from artists across Canada, evaluated on originality, artistic composition, and excellence in chosen medium. The 151st edition 'The Unquiet North' (2025) was hosted at Donna Child Fine Art Gallery; the 152nd edition (2026) will be hosted at the Art Gallery of Georgina.
- OSA MESW (Members Exhibition Small Works)
Companies that use Ontario Society of Artists
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Ontario Society of Artists technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Ontario Society of Artists partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- John B. Aird GallerycoreRegular host venue for OSA annual Open Juried Exhibitions. The OSA's 149th Open Juried Exhibition was held at this Toronto gallery in 2023.
- Donna Child Fine Art GallerycoreHost venue for the 151st OSA Open Juried Exhibition 'The Unquiet North' in 2025. Located at 365 Evans Avenue, Suite 101, Toronto.
- Art Gallery of GeorginacoreHost venue for the 152nd OSA Open Juried Exhibition (March 20 - April 26, 2026) at 149 High Street, Sutton West, ON.
- Belvedere Gallery - Castle KilbridecoreHost venue for the 2026 OSA Western Hub Exhibition at 60 Snyder's Rd. W., Baden, Ontario.
- Nipissing Regional Curatorial CollectivecoreCollaborated on the 150th anniversary exhibition 'Breath. Heart. Spirit' held March 1 – April 1, 2022 at their North Bay location.
- The Broken Forest GroupminorCollaborated with OSA for the 'Standing Up for the Escarpment' conservation project in 2023 to bring awareness to development plans near Collingwood, ON.
- Escarpment Corridor AllianceminorPartner in the 'Standing Up for the Escarpment' conservation awareness project.
- Art Gallery of OntariominorDistribution point for the OSA's 150th anniversary book 'Breath. Heart. Spirit. The OSA 150 Years'.
- Ottawa Art GalleryminorDistribution point for the OSA's 150th anniversary commemorative book.
- Latitude Gallery 44minorGallery that successfully sold art during the OSA 2024 'Standing Up for White Bear' exhibition and will show pieces from the 2025 Alliston Aquifer conservation project.
- Centre for Contemporary Canadian Art (CCCA)corePartnership for archiving OSA historical materials from 1872 to 2003, including exhibition catalogues, photographs, and historical texts. Also involved in the Millennium Archive Project.
- Wild ApricotcoreWebsite platform, membership system, payment processing, email communications, and online store functionality for the OSA.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ontario Society of Artists competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Art Gallery of Ontario: Major Toronto gallery and existing OSA distribution/book partner; a broader incumbent that operates at much larger scale but shares Ontario visual-arts programming territory.
- National Gallery of Canada: Canada's national art institution with far larger resources; relevant as a benchmark and as a potential partner/funder for OSA's conservation and archival initiatives.
Others
- Canada Council for the Arts: Federal arts funding body that supports Canadian artists and arts organizations; comparable as a stakeholder in OSA's funding ecosystem rather than a direct competitor.
- Ontario Arts Council: Provincial arts funder that is a likely grant source for OSA's exhibitions and conservation programs; relevant as an enabler/funder rather than a competitor.
Direct peers
- Society of Canadian Artists: A national, member-elected artists' society that runs juried exhibitions and member services; directly comparable in structure, membership-driven exhibitions, and Canadian visual-arts scope.
- National Arts Club (New York): A historic, member-driven arts organization offering exhibitions, residencies, and events; conceptually similar membership-club model serving professional artists and arts patrons.
- Canadian Artists' Representation (CAR): National association advocating for artists' rights and fees; overlaps with OSA's professional-artist mandate and competes for institutional advocacy relationships.
- Federation of Canadian Artists: A member-based federation serving visual artists across Canada with chapters, juried exhibitions, and awards — competing for the same Ontario and broader-Canadian artist pool.
- Royal Canadian Academy of Arts: National Canadian academy founded in 1880 for elected professional artists; mirrors OSA's juried-membership model, exhibition programming, and archival mission, making it the closest comparable peer.
Regional players
- Royal Society of British Artists: UK-based elected society of visual artists with juried exhibitions and membership programs; comparable institutional structure, though operating in a different geography.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ontario Society of Artists social profiles
Digital presenceOntario Society of Artists compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Ontario Society of Artists financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ontario Society of Artists leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Ontario Society of Artists funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ontario Society of Artists M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ontario Society of Artists
What does Ontario Society of Artists do?
The Ontario Society of Artists is a membership-based nonprofit art society that promotes visual arts throughout Ontario through annual juried exhibitions (Open Juried Exhibition, MESW, Western Hub), member services (directory listings, mentorship, networking), an annual Fall Art Retreat, conservation advocacy initiatives, and commemorative publications such as the 150th anniversary book 'Breath. Heart. Spirit.'
Is Ontario Society of Artists a public or private company?
Ontario Society of Artists is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Ontario Society of Artists founded?
Ontario Society of Artists was founded in 1872. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Ontario Society of Artists based?
Ontario Society of Artists is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Ontario Society of Artists make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are membership Application Fees, exhibition Entry Fees, publications and Merchandise and donations.
Who are Ontario Society of Artists's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Art Gallery of Ontario and National Gallery of Canada. Others are Canada Council for the Arts and Ontario Arts Council. Direct peers are Society of Canadian Artists, National Arts Club (New York), Canadian Artists' Representation (CAR), Federation of Canadian Artists and Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. Royal Society of British Artists is listed as a regional player.
Does Ontario Society of Artists have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ontario Society of Artists.
What industry is Ontario Society of Artists in?
Ontario Society of Artists's product category is Visual Arts Society Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAHAH, Public Art, Arts Councils & Grantmaking Programs, with a secondary code of THAJADAH, Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit). Its NAICS code is 7121 and its SIC code is 8600.