While it might not seem like the end of the year for most folks, those who run on an April to March fiscal calendar are wrapping up another year of activity. For the CCF/FCMA, we are at a particularly important year end, as we complete a three year cycle at the end of March, 2014.

Reflecting on the past three years, the CCF/FCMA is proud of the many steps taken to strengthen the organization, and to reach across borders to effect change. Our biweekly enews and web updates have kept the community informed. We’ve participated in national and international events like SOFA Chicago, the Cheongju International Craft Biennale, the Wonju Hanji Paper Festival, the Nunavut Arts & Crafts Summer Festival, the World Craft Council National Assembly, and many more, bringing a Canadian craft perspective wherever we go.

We are particularly proud of our newest program, the Annual National Craft Symposium, which brings leading thinkers in craft to the national stage, encouraging discussions of craft theory, collection, production and development. Hindsight/Foresight at the National Gallery of Canada and 10,000 Hours in partnership with the Craft Council of British Columbia were breakthroughs for the organization.

Looking towards the future, we have more exciting projects in the works! Our third annual national craft symposium, titled ‘Heirloom’, will take place in Charlottetown, PEI, this September. We are also tweaking the itinerary and plans for our annual conference, to better meet the needs and wants of our membership. The most exciting program we have coming up is, of course, Craft Year 2015.

At our most recent board meeting we approved our next three year strategic plan, which can be viewed online here. We would like to thank the Canada Council for the Arts for their operational and project support, and all the Provincial and Territorial Crafts Councils, who make what we do both possible and meaningful for the craft artists and organizations of Canada.