As a non-profit arts organization, founded in 1935, the Maritime Arts Association's stated intention was to carry out promotional and educational activities in the Maritimes to increase the general public's knowledge and appreciation of art and to encourage art activities by uniting for a co-operative effort all interested groups and individuals, securing and offering for circulation exhibitions, arranging lectures and other activities.

Throughout its existence the primary activity of the M.A.A. involved the organization and circulation of exhibitions. It organized an annual traveling exhibition of its members' work (and in the late 1960's and early 1970's organized annual exhibitions in association with the Atlantic Winter Fair), as well as bringing in exhibitions on offer from galleries and associations outside the region - such as the National Gallery and the Canadian Society of Painter-Etchers & Engravers. Additional activities included the publication of the magazine "Maritime Arts" in the early 1940's (it eventually became "Canadian Art Magazine"), of the book "Maritime Artists Vol.1" in 1967 (a proposed second volume never made it past the planning stage), and the compilation of a slide collection of member's works. Lectures were also organized in the 1940's.

The Association's broad mandate, encompassing interested groups and individuals, which had served in the early years to create an artistic community also gave rise to the organization's biggest problem - the issue of standards. By the 1960's, with a number of artists and gallery administrators critical of the quality of some of the work in M.A.A. exhibitions, the debate arose as to what facet of the artistic community the Association should represent. In preparation for the Arts East conference of 1980 the executive stated its intention to represent the interests of working, professional artists throughout the entire Atlantic region. The Association appears to have folded at that point.