Celebrate Craft Year

What Is Craft Year?

Craft Year is a celebration of contemporary fine craft that takes place every five years. It is a national festival promoting events from all across the country, and an opportunity to create craft events and activities, or simply re-brand your existing programming for Craft Year. This could include exhibitions, workshops, festivals, studio tours and more.

Through the CitizensofCraft.ca platform, we will highlight Canadian craft events at the local, regional, national and international levels in an effort to connect and build community both through, and for, craft.

CRAFT YEAR:
PAST & FUTURE

With three Craft Years under our belt, the program continues to shift and grow, adapting to new digital realities while maintaining a core focus: to celebrate the handmade. See our reports from Craft Year 2007, Craft Year 2015, and Craft Year 2020 (coming soon), and join us in planning for a whole new future with Craft Year 2025.

Why Craft Year

How Does Craft Year Work?

Craft Year is an ongoing initiative rooted in education, connection, and dialogue about the world of craft. It is a path to forging new connections between craft artists, supporters, and the public at large. An opportunity for everyone to connect with the Citizens of Craft movement, discover craft artists and events across Canada, and celebrate the story of craft.

Craft Year ... Will

1/ Encourage craft artists and arts based organizations to make new connections

2/ Increase craft exploration and investment through new opportunities and public events

3/ Foster craft activity, awareness and recognition in unexpected places!

Upcoming Events

Get involved in Craft Year. Attend an upcoming event or start your own!

Samplers: From the MCML Collection
February 22, 2021 - December 31, 2021

1-329 Cumberland Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 1T2

Fibre

Form(er)
May 07, 2021 - June 26, 2021

1, 329 Cumberland Ave
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 1T2

Glass, Mixed Media

Beaux Arts: An exhibition with the Vancouver Metal Arts Association
April 08, 2021 - June 30, 2021

3075 Slocan Street
Vancouver, British Columbia V5M3E4

Jewellery, Metal, Sculpture

Emerging Artists of 2021: Redefining Fine Craft
June 05, 2021 - June 30, 2021

1-1666 Johnston St.
Vancouver, British Columbia V6H 3S2

Ceramics, Fibre, Furniture, Glass, Jewellery, Metal, Sculpture, Wood

Show all Events

Build Partnerships

Collaborate & Connect

Craft Year is intended to be educational and engaging, to share our collective passion for craft. We encourage you to seek out cross-sectoral opportunities for craft to shine. Reach out to new potential partners and build new relationships.

We recommend you reach out to partners working in these areas, to open a conversation about how craft affects us all, in:

Healthcare
Science & Technology
Business

Social & Cultural Communities
Tourism
Environmental

Do you have a proposal? An idea for an innovative project? Use Craft Year as a reason to reach out, to open doors, and to start talking about craft’s role in society at large.

Don’t forget - Craft Year can be a
powerful tool to support your activity:

Highlight special Craft Year partnerships in your funding proposals.
Reach out to your local government to champion craft based initiatives. Invite government representatives to be a part of your Craft Year events.
Introduce yourself or your organization to local artist guilds, galleries, and events in your region and beyond.
Challenge yourself to do something new for yourself, and for others who live, breathe, and make craft!

Become A Council Member

The Citizens of Craft platform is active between Craft Years. Join your local craft council to stay connected, and build a Citizens of Craft profile of your own, today.

Become a Member