The CCF/FCMA packed a wide range of activity into a brief visit to our nation’s capital in late March, including advocacy, networking, research, collaboration and even a little celebration. At the invitation of the Governor
General of Canada, a significant crew of Craft sector representatives attended the Governor General’s Visual Arts Awards, celebrating the Saidye Bronfman Award Winner for 2013, ceramic artist Greg Payce. Joining in this special event was CCF/FCMA Administrative Director Maegen Black, Ontario Craft Council Executive Director Emma Quin, CCF/FCMA Board Member representing Manitoba Alison Norberg, curator and gallery owner Lisa Pai of L.A. Pai Gallery, Canada Council for the Arts Program Officer José Niaison, Toronto based jewellery and metal artist Annie Tung, Ottawa based textile artist Laura Faquier, Director of Materia Amélie Marois,
and OCC Vice President and Dean of Haliburton School of the Arts, Sandra Dupret. The awards presentation and ceremony gave credit to a fabulous slate of 8 significant contributors to the field of Canadian contemporary art. For more information on the winners and the awards, see here. In the days after the festivities, meetings took place with representatives from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Visual Arts Alliance and Canadian Heritage, each providing new insight into potential partnerships, programming and projects at the national level. New projects were brainstormed and outlined, and collaboration has begun, so watch for new and exciting activity from the CCF/FCMA and our partners across the country.