The Canadian Crafts Federation and Craft Alliance Atlantic are heading across the pond for Collect 2019! A delegation of five Canadian craft sector leaders will travel to London for four days of exploration and networking, learning more about the opportunities for Canadian exchange and building new connections in the lead up to Craft Year 2020.
The prime directive of the mission is to open doors for Canadian artists to access Collect 2019, an event presented by the UK Crafts Council. It is the premiere gallery-presented art fair dedicated to modern craft and design and provides an opportunity to discover and invest in exceptional work produced in the last five years by living artists. Collect will occupy the whole of the Saatchi Gallery for four days with 45 galleries – the largest number of participating galleries in the fair’s history – selected by an independent panel of experts, selling the work of over 400 artists. Alongside the galleries, Collect Open returns providing a platform for 15 individual artists to show ambitious and conceptual craft-led installations.
Our collective goals are to further develop export markets for Canadian contemporary fine craft producers through this market intelligence trade mission. Craft Alliance Atlantic brings their expertise spear-heading successful educational missions and exhibitions to SOFA Chicago. They hope to continue the momentum generated at SOFA to expand into new key export markets in the UK. Meetings with Craft Council staff and leadership, and with contacts at the Cockpit Arts residency program as well as the Canada House gallery will open more doors and increase interest in Canadian exchange for the future. Additionally, connections between the North American and European World Craft Council will be strengthened, taking our international contacts to a global level.
Want to follow along with CCF/FCMA Director Maegen Black while she’s in the UK at Collect 2019? Make sure to follow us on Instagram to see the sights.
Artist: “Moon Jar” by Akiko Hirai, Photo: Tony Hay