This past year has been an exciting one for the Canadian Crafts Federation (CCF/CFMA). Since our last Annual Report, we’ve been hard at work on new projects designed to support the professional craft community with the help of our Craft Council members and craft organization affiliates! As we look back at 2023-2024, we’re thrilled to share some highlights from our 2023-2024 Annual Report.

Advocacy: Behind the scenes, we’ve been making sure the voices of Canadian craftspeople are heard. From securing funding for provincial craft councils to pushing for more substantial federal support, we’ve been focused on keeping the craft sector solid and sustainable for years to come.

Digital Strategies: Thanks to a $250,000 grant from the Canada Council for the Arts, we launched the Digital Strategies Project, which includes resource-sharing portals that help our members stay connected and collaborate more efficiently. And this is only the beginning – we’re excited to keep innovating and expanding in the digital space.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: We participated in CPAMO’s Train the Trainer program, which promotes equity and inclusion within art service organizations. We’re deeply committed to ensuring that the CCF/CFMA remains welcoming, accessible, and anti-racist in all of its practices.

Awards: This year also saw the creation of a permanent fund for the Robert Jekyll Award, guaranteeing that craft leaders will continue to be celebrated for years to come. Robert Jekyll’s generous endowment honours his lifelong dedication to craft and his vision for a thriving, connected craft community.

Looking Ahead: And the best part? We’re already looking ahead! In December 2024, we’ll open Coast to Coast to Coast in Montreal, a national showcase of Canadian craft talent in collaboration with the Conseil des métiers d’art du Québec. The exhibition will travel with us to Ottawa in February for our 2025 Craft Symposium: Crafting Connections! We can’t wait to highlight the diversity and creativity of craftspeople from every corner of the country.

This is just a sneak peek of what we’ve been up to! For all the details, read our full 2023-2024 Annual Report here. We’d love to hear from you! Let us know in the comments if there are any projects or ideas you’d like us to focus on in the coming year.