Following the addition of the Exhibition Right to the Copyright Act in 1988, CARFAC (Canadian Artists’ Representation) recognized the need for a collective to manage artists’ copyrights and negotiate fair licensing fees. This advocacy led to the creation of CARCC in 1990, a copyright collective dedicated to licensing and administering copyright for visual and media artists in Canada. In 2015, through a joint initiative with CARFAC and RAAV (le regroupement des artistes en arts visuels du Québec), CARCC officially transitioned to its operating name, COVA-DAAV.

Since then, COVA-DAAV has played a central role in administering exhibition and reproduction royalties on behalf of its affiliated artists, as well as reprography royalties through partnerships with Access Copyright, COPIBEC, and other licensing agencies.

Since 2023, COVA-DAAV has significantly expanded its repertoire of affiliate artists, particularly through its growing international reach. COVA-DAAV now maintains agreements with collective management organizations (CMOs) in over 40 countries, allowing for the representation of international artists in Canada and Canadian artists abroad. As an active member of international networks such as CISAC (the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers), COVA-DAAV continues to strengthen its global presence and advocacy for artists.

As Canadian copyright legislation continues to evolve, COVA-DAAV is committed to doing the same; always exploring new ways to advocate for Canadian artists and to expand its scope of practice in response to the changing realities of the art world.