FAQ
THE FOREST–COMMON GROUND®
Frequently Asked Questions
Please note that most of the initial FAQs related to project submissions and participation. Since submissions have closed, we’ve updated the FAQs to reflect the current status of The Forest – Common Ground® (TFCG) initiative.
What is TFCG?
TFCG is an all-Canadian art book and installation featuring photographs of trunks and ground cover, taken by 500+ participants from across Canada, creating an immersive experience that emphasizes that a strong forest is a diverse forest.
Why was TFCG created?
Canadians are concerned about the next generation's future. Climate change is an important issue—yet we can’t agree on the best way to fight it. And inter-regional dissatisfaction, alienation, and fragmentation were growing.
That sense of Canada going in the wrong direction was somewhat diminished by the 2026 tariff war with the US, resulting in a patriotic spike in everything Canadian. Still, while a “come together” moment, the fundamental disconnect across Canada remains. So…what to do?
TFCG responds to these concerns. It showcases an important aspect of our natural landscape and the forest as both sanctuary and sustainer, supporting a diverse, strong, and accepting community with a shared understanding of who we are and where we want to go.
How can I support TFCG?
We issued a call for submissions (now closed) to photographers (amateur and professional) across Canada to submit digital images for the book and exhibit. Nevertheless, you or your organization can support TFCG in several ways, such as purchasing the book (see the TFCG Book Tab) or sponsoring the installation (see the Sponsor Tab). For further information or to discuss how you can be involved, please use the form on the Contact page.
When will the book be available for purchase?
We released the digital version of the book in late 2026. Please see the TFCG Book Tab for details on how to order.
What is the installation schedule?
The goal is to open the exhibition in Edmonton in the summer of 2027/28 (approximately a 15-day exhibition). Other Canadian exhibition sites will follow.
How many images will TFCG include?
The book includes 450+ trunk and ground-cover images, with at least five from each of the ten provinces and 3 territories. The number of the installation images will be close to that, though the final total has yet to be determined. It will also vary, depending on venue dimensions.
Who owns the trunk and ground cover images?
Photographers retained sole ownership of the original submitted and unedited images and could use them for personal or professional purposes, provided they do not use them to reproduce an image similar in likeness, size, and materials to the final tree used in the exhibition. TFCG did not retain copies of the original images.
TFCG owns the final images used in the book and installation and/or made available for sale.
How are the selected Photographers compensated?
Photographers and interviewees will receive a share of various revenues generated by the initiative, including: exhibition revenues; revenues generated by the sale of the entire forest; revenues generated by the sale of that photographer’s trunk or ground cover image; and revenues generated by the sale of a trunk incorporating a participant’s portrait or that of a family member.
Further detail as to the compensation and excluded revenues may be found on this website under the Rules Tab.
What if I want to purchase a piece of art?
After the book’s print version is published, we will include the final images on the website. At that time, we will offer limited-edition, full-sized, acrylic-mounted, metallic paper prints of each Forest image. The art comes ready to hang, complete with a wooden back frame so it stands out from the wall 1 1/2" and hardware.
Shipping within Canada is free!! International buyers should use the Contact Page form to ask for a quote.
Please note images are numbered and sold sequentially 1 through 10. Plus, all art sales, given they are made-to-order, are final.
What will TFCG do with its profits?
TFCG is committed to the sustainment and re-establishment of forests in Canada for the current and future generations. That is why we will donate our net Canadian exhibition and retail proceeds to support the efforts of various charitable organizations, including those dedicated to reforestation, environmental preservation, and climate change initiatives in Canada.