Although Francophone visual artists have always been present in all regions of Alberta, it was not until 1997 that they were able to gain a foothold in the city. It is thanks to the efforts of Gisèle Boutin-Desjardins, who incorporated the Société francophone des arts visuels de l'Alberta that year and organized the opening of CAVA, the Centre for Visual Arts of Alberta. The goal of the society is to raise awareness of the importance of visual arts, and to promote the creative development of artists and the dissemination of their work.
Initially located in La Cité francophone, CAVA moved in 2003 to the corner of 91st Street and 95th Avenue. It is CAVA that sets up the annual Jazz'Arts, a gala event which combines live jazz music and visual creation in real time.
The CAVA also offers professional development workshops, opportunities for artists to meet, and summer art camps. In 2005, the center commissioned twelve artists from six regions to create the mural entitled Les régions se racontent. The mural, consisting of 66 two-by-two foot panels, was created to mark the province's centennial and remains the only outdoor mural representing the Francophone community.
October 2022 marked the opening of Café CAVA, a cozy place where patrons can enjoy a coffee while discovering the latest works of Francophone artists from across Alberta.