What is the Fine Art Trade Guild?
The Fine Art Trade Guild is a UK (London based) trade association that has been setting quality standards recognized worldwide by the art and framing industry since 1910. This industry includes artists, art publishers, galleries, art shops, photo shops, framers, restorers, manufacturers and trade suppliers. In fact, everyone involved in putting art on your walls. The quality standards being developed cover Fine Art Prints, framing (including four quality levels of framing), passe-partout board and guidelines for the use of tapes and adhesives in framing.
In 1994, the Guild introduced the professional qualification program for framers: the Guild Commended Framer (GCF) qualification. This is a measure of framers' knowledge and skills. If customers had their work framed by a Guild Commended Framer, they could be confident that their art would be professionally framed using the right materials and techniques. Just over 1,500 framers worldwide have achieved the GCF qualification.
In 2015, the Fine Art Trade Guild stopped administering the old GCF exam and the new Guild Certified Framer exam was introduced. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) became a requirement after obtaining the new GCF qualification. This means that framers must always keep abreast of new standards, techniques and innovations in the industry. Framers are re-certified every four years and must achieve a minimum number of CPD points to maintain their GCF qualification.