- As an artist joining the CAC, initiation begins at the Associate Artist level
- A show of commitment, participation and acceptance into CAC-organized exhibitions elevates the artist’s recognition within the organization
- Once a year all Associate Artists are invited to submit an application for Artist Membership consideration (generally in the late summer/early fall)
- Artist Membership Submissions are reviewed by a varied panel of volunteer Artist and Signature members (the panel changes each year)
- The panel will make their selections based on the applicant’s technical skill, originality, consistency, commitment to the CAC, and if they believe the artist will enhance the Gold Medal Exhibitions
- After the Associate Artist becomes an Artist Member, s(he) will be invited to submit work for important group exhibitions, including those with museums and the Gold Medal
- Every two years, current active Signature Members are given a list of Artist Members via the Signature Artist Committee and asked to checkmark those which they recommend as excellent candidates to be elected as fellow Signature Members
- The Artist Members with the highest percentages of votes from Signature Artists are then reviewed by the Board of Directors
- The Board of Directors must unanimously agree to accept each proposed candidate for Signature membership
- After the Board of Directors cast their votes, the accepted Artists are notified as having been elected to Signature status
