It would be nice if there was some sort of clearing house that might help organize this for like-minded artists. So instead of being in a room of 100 people for a conference or general meeting you get together with no more than say 10 people for coffee, show and tell, and general brain storming. Canadian Artist's Representation. This organization informs artists about artist's rights, copyright legislation, cross-border shipping, and makes further networking possible. It also informs artists of competitions, shows, arts employment, and other opportunities.
Various regions publish online newsletters.
There are also many excellent regional commercial artist representation sites. The short answer is to produce proper art. This does not mean conservative art, modern art, constipated art, camp art. It means top work from whatever camp. It may be demanding art that makes a statement, or it may be merely something that enhances somebody's life.