Dr. Carol E. Mayer Honoured for Her Contributions to Canadian Craft

The Canadian Crafts Federation (CCF/FCMA) is thrilled to announce Dr. Carol E. Mayer as the 2024 Laureate of the Robert Jekyll Award for Leadership in Craft. This prestigious award honours Dr. Mayer’s remarkable dedication to advancing Canadian craft as an anthropologist, curator, advocate, and volunteer.

For more than 35 years, Dr. Mayer has made significant contributions to ceramics curation, research, and public engagement in Canada. Her journey in the field began in the 1970s at the Museum of Vancouver, where she served as Curator of Decorative Arts. In 1987, Dr. Mayer was invited to join the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Museum of Anthropology (MOA), where she served as Senior Curator (Pacific & Ceramics). During her time at MOA, she oversaw the museum’s international ceramics collection, which includes over 2,000 pieces. She worked closely with potters to understand the technical aspects of their craft, translating this information into a wealth of expertise in ceramics curation. Dr. Mayer has shared her knowledge in publications such as The Potter’s Art (UBC Press, 1997) and Made of Clay: Ceramics of British Columbia (D&M, 1998).

In 2015, she furthered UBC’s engagement with the ceramic arts by establishing the Judy Cranmer Ceramic Lab, a residency program that has supported ceramicists from across Canada. Today, Dr. Mayer is a Research Fellow in Ceramics at MOA, where she leads the “From the Land” project, exploring the history and evolution of ceramics in British Columbia.

In addition to her curatorial work, Dr. Mayer is the founding President of the North-West Ceramics Foundation (NWCF), where she has served on the Board for over 30 years. Through her leadership, she has played a pivotal role in establishing scholarships, awards, residencies, and endowments in support of ceramicists. Notably, she launched the NWCF Award of Excellence, as well as two Awards of Recognition for emerging and senior potters, and a national award for critical writing on Canadian ceramics.

“As both a paid professional and volunteer, she uses her unique position, resources, and skills to raise the status and appreciation of ceramics. Students, practitioners, collectors, museums, galleries, and the public benefit from her indefatigable endeavours.” – Amy Gogarty

In 2023, Dr. Mayer was honoured with the Citizen of Craft Award by the Craft Council of BC. With this latest recognition, her outstanding achievements are being celebrated once again with the Robert Jekyll Award for Leadership in Craft. This award highlights distinguished individuals who have made lasting contributions to the craft sector, and Dr. Mayer is a most deserving recipient.

The CCF/FCMA extends its heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Carol E. Mayer for her exceptional work and lasting impact on the craft community in Canada. We also congratulate all of this year’s nominees for their outstanding contributions, including the 2024 Robert Jekyll Award shortlist: Melanie Egan, Susan Ferneaux, and Alain Piroir.