The Canadian Crafts Federation (CCF/FCMA) is honoured to announce the 2024 Robert Jekyll Award shortlist. This prestigious award celebrates individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the Canadian craft community through leadership, advocacy, and innovation. The nominees—Melanie Egan, a long-standing arts administrator and curator at Harbourfront Centre; Susan Furneaux, a fibre artist and educator championing fine craft in Newfoundland and Labrador; Dr. Carol E. Mayer, an anthropologist and founder of the North-West Ceramics Foundation; and Alain Piroir, master printmaker and founder of Atelier-Galerie A. Piroir—have each demonstrated outstanding dedication and influence in advancing the craft sector. Read more about each nominee below.
Melanie Egan
Since 1991, Melanie Egan has led the Harbourfront Centre’s Craft & Design Studio, supporting emerging artists through its residency programs. As a curator, she has organized over one-hundred exhibitions, challenging traditional understandings of craft and championing inclusivity and diversity. She is Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Toronto International Jewellery Festival and has played key roles in supporting several other community arts projects and festivals.
Melanie Egan’s extensive career has significantly shaped the landscape of contemporary craft in Toronto and beyond. Her leadership, curatorial work, and advocacy for emerging artists continue to influence the craft sector, fostering innovation, diversity, and community engagement.
Susan Furneaux
Susan Furneaux is an artist, educator, and advocate for Newfoundland and Labrador craft. Specializing in natural dyeing and hand embroidery, Furneaux’s practice reflects her deep connection to the environment and the cycles of life, often incorporating organic materials with fibre.
For more than two decades, she has taught in the Textiles & Apparel Design Program at the College of the North Atlantic. Furneaux has also been a committed volunteer within the craft sector, serving on several boards, including the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador, and as Executive Director of the Atlantic Canada Économusée Network.
Susan Furneaux’s lasting impact on Newfoundland and Labrador’s craft community is evident through her fibre practice, as well as her dedication to education and leadership. Her outstanding leadership continues to shape the craft sector in the region and beyond.
Dr. Carol E. Mayer
Anthropologist and curator, Dr. Carol E. Mayer has made significant contributions to ceramics curation, research, and public engagement in Canada for over thirty-five years. As Senior Curator, (Pacific & Ceramics), Mayer oversaw the University of British Columbia’s Museum of Anthropology (MOA) international ceramics collection of over 2,000 pieces. In 2015, she expanded UBC’s engagement with the ceramic arts by establishing the Judy Cranmer Ceramic Lab. In 2022, she transitioned to the role of Research Fellow in Ceramics at MOA, where she is currently leading the From the Land project, which explores the history and evolution of ceramics in British Columbia.
Beyond her curatorial work, Mayer is the founding president of the North-West Ceramics Foundation (NWCF), where she has served on the board for over thirty years. During her tenure, she has been instrumental in establishing scholarships, awards, residencies, and endowments that have benefited ceramicists, collectors, museums, galleries, and the public.
Alain Piroir
Alain Piroir is a master printmaker and book artist. His practice blends traditional techniques with modern approaches, raising the profile of printmaking both nationally and internationally. Since 1975, Piroir has collaborated with some of the most iconic figures in Quebec and Canadian art, including providing printing and technical support for Jean-Paul Riopelle.
His Montreal studio, Atelier-Galerie A. Piroir, is a hub for print media. There, Piroir mentors emerging printmakers. The studio’s gallery space invites the public to experience contemporary printmaking in its creative context. Exhibitions are held within the studio, where visitors can watch artists at work, attend demonstrations, and participate in workshops. Since 2011, in recognition of his influence, an award in the name of Atelier-Galerie A. Piroir has been presented annually at the Biennale d’estampe contemporaine de Trois-Rivières.
Piroir’s dedication to preserving and innovating printmaking has left a lasting impact on the field. Through his mentorship, collaborations, and commitment to public education, he continues to shape the future of printmaking.
Each of these nominees has made profound and lasting contributions to their respective fields, playing a vital role in shaping and advancing the craft community in Canada. We look forward to celebrating their achievements and announcing the recipient of the Robert Jekyll Award at our 2025 symposium, Crafting Connections.